’50 Saves of Gray’ help Ireland to bronze

Ireland were left thankful for what one wag termed “The 50 Saves of Gray” as they claimed a brilliant bronze at the Champions Challenge I tournament in Dublin yesterday. Goalkeeper Emma Gray enhanced her reputation as one of the fastest improving netminders in the world as Ireland went down fighting 2-1 against the USA in the semi-finals.

That set up a grudge game against regular nemesis Scotland in the bronze medal game, with the girls in green twice coming from behind through Emma Smyth and Niamh Atcheler to draw 2-2 after extra-time. Gray saved twice in the ensuring penalty one-on-ones before Ireland’s most capped player of the all time, Nikki Symmons, finished the job in a 4-3 shoot-out win. On Saturday, Gray earned her new nickname as she duelled all day with USA hitwoman Katie O’Donnell, Ireland coming out on the wrong end of a 2-1 semi-final defeat that was mainly down to the concession of too many corners. Lauren Pfeiffer’s switch flick proved decisive after O’Donnell had cancelled out Lisa Jacob’s sliding deflection which put Ireland into dreamland inside four minutes. It all means there are plenty of positives for whoever comes in to take the coaching reins on a full-time basis, though interim coach Denis Pritchard will have strengthened his own case with these performances. “Coming from behind twice and to dominate the second half and extra time is a fitting testament to the girls’ physical and mental preparation,” Pritchard said afterwards. “To finish three places above our tournament ranking is extremely satisfying and motivating for all involved.” Ireland finished above Olympians South Africa and Belgium here while tyros Katie Mullan, Brenda Flannery, Nicola Gray and Atcheler haven’t been found  wanting in a high-stakes environment. Australia won the tournament with an emphatic 6-1 victory over the USA in the final. <iframe width=”640″ height=”480″ src=”http://irishhockeyphotographers.zenfolio.com/zf/core/embedgallery.aspx?p=338a85210ffd05211CCCCCC03e111111F5F5F5DDDDDD555555cccccc.2″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” style=”background-color:#555555;”></iframe>