O’Brien and Symmons get Ireland back on track

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).