Irish players depart the Belfield pitch after the goalposts blew over. The match was delayed for more than three hours before the weather conditions relented. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Canada have still not managed to defeat either Ireland A or the senior side in four games, after the latter recorded a 2-0 win at Belfield earlier today.

The game was delayed for three and a half hours as inclement conditions were blowing the goalposts over, and when it finally got underway, Ciara O’Brien gave the Irish a 13th-minute lead from a short corner.

That advantage was augmented soon after by Nikki Symmons, who cracked the ball home from the top of the circle. This was exactly the kind of response Ireland coach Gene Muller was looking for after his side had spurned a host of chances in Friday’s 1-1 draw.

Ireland had the better of a second half dominated by the weather, and forced the only corner of the half, but Rachel Mulligan was unable to connect with Symmons’ strike at the far post.

The hosts’ netminder Louisa Healy was called into action just once in the second half, saving well from a Canadian breakaway. The sides meet again at 2pm tomorrow.

IRELAND: L Healy (GK, Loreto), E Clarke (Ulster Elks), B McKeever (Ballymoney), S McCay (Ulster Elks), C McKean (Loreto), A Speers (Pegasus), C O’Brien (Chelmsford), N Symmons (Loreto), L Colvin (Loreto), L Jacob (UCD), M Harvey (Pegasus).

Rolling Subs: C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), R Mulligan (Armagh), M Frazer (Ballymoney), N Small (Loreto).

UCD's Roisin Flinn hit Ireland's equaliser against Canada today. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Roisin Flinn celebrated her return to the Irish senior women’s hockey team by grabbing the equalising goal as the hosts were held to a 1-1 draw by Canada in the first of a three-game series at Belfield earlier today.

UCD forward Flinn, back on home soil after some time off travelling, slotted home from close range after Cathy McKean had struck an upright in the 48th minute.

Flinn had also been on target in Ireland A’s 2-0 win over the same opposition earlier this week, a match that suggested the senior side wouldn’t be troubled too much by the Canucks.

But the visitors took a shock seventh-minute lead thanks to Tiffany Michaluk’s stinging reverse yesterday, and although Ireland dominated thereafter they spurned a series of chances, with Flinn and Alex Speers the main culprits.

They criminally failed to convert a two-on-one with Canadian keeper Azelia Liu in the first half, while Ireland found the visitors netminder in inspired form overall, as she saved well from penalty corner efforts by Michelle Harvey and Nikki Symmons.

Irish coach Gene Muller lamented his side’s failure to convert their opportunities, and will be hoping for better when the sides clash again tomorrow afternoon (2.30pm).

Ireland A's Mel Ryan escapes from a Canadian attacker at Belfield this afternoon. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Ireland A scored a convincing 2-0 victory over Canada at Belfield to get their five-games series off to the best possible start.

Both strikes came in the first half, the opener a well worked short-corner move which saw the ball worked back to injector Roisin Flinn, who slapped home at the near post.

The second arrived shortly after via a 20th minute short corner switch to Nicola Evans, and the Irish were in command throughout against a side that had caused the full senior team some problems at last year’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria.

Ireland restricted the visitors to just one short corner – saved comfortably by Hermes stopper Emma Gray – and had a flurry of chances to augment their lead, striking the crossbar at one stage in the second half.

“We are working on some key tactical play, and the girls performed in every aspect we were working on,” said Ireland A coach Guy Garrett. “This was a step up for a lot of them to play against a senior side, and I couldn’t have asked for more from them.”

It was a particularly notable occasion for followers of Munster hockey, who saw Cork C of I’s Mel Ryan and UCC’s Audrey O’Flynn make their first appearances in an Irish jersey.

Other Munster girls to make an appearance were Quins’ Cliodhna Sargent and UCC’s Julia O’Halloran, the latter making an exception to her self-imposed year-long sabbatical from international hockey to add some experience to the side.

Ireland A take on the Canadians again today (2pm), before the senior side face them three times next weekend.

Ireland A: E Gray (GK, Hermes); H Stevenson (GK, Railway Union); S McCay (Ulster Elks), R Flinn (UCD, capt), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), N Evans (Hermes), M Frazer (Ballymoney), M Ryan (Cork C of I), N Atcheler (Hermes) L McInerney (UCD), M Harvey (Pegasus), J O’Halloran (UCC), A O’Flynn (UCC), C Watkins (Hermes).