Green Army Fall 3-0 To World Number 6 Germany

Nikki Evans, captaining the Green Army today, got Ireland off to the brighter start as she linked up nicely with Deirdre Duke to set Katie Mullan up for the shot at the top of the circle but Nathalie Kubalski made an early save. Moments later and Germany had a chance of their own manufactured by Lisa Altenburg as she chipped the ball over Grace O’Flanagan but Shirley McCay was on the line to rise up and bat the ball away from goal. Naomi Carroll chased an aerial almost the length of the pitch into the corner and sent a cross into the box but the diving Duke was inches away from getting the vital touch. Germany were awarded a stroke in the 12thminute, for what was potentially back stick by an Irish defender, but Nike Lorenz fired the ball into the crossbar. The hosts upped the pressure and got their just reward when Alisa Vivot got a deflection in front of O’Flanagan from Altenburg’s initial reverse strike. A well-worked team move from Ireland saw Anna O’Flanagan nearly pull her side level; Hannah Matthews swept the ball to Sarah Torrans who slipped it to Emily Beatty for the pass to Nikki Evans but the ball into the circle was well read by Kubalski who did enough to throw off the waiting O’Flanagan at the back post. Germany racked up 3 penalty corners but their second goal came from a break into the circle that saw Vivot fed the ball on the right-hand side and send a powerful strike into the goal to make it 2-0 moments before the half time whistle.