Gene Muller hailed a fighting weekend’s work that salvaged third place from the women’s hockey World Cup qualifiers to limit the damage to Ireland’s world ranking after disastrous beginnings.
An impressive 3-0 win over hosts Chile on Saturday – with first-half goals from Megan Frazer, Cliodhna Sargent and Nikki Symmons doing the damage – was backed up by a battling performance against tournament winners Australia.
Cliodhna Sargent is congratulated by team-mates Emma Smyth and Michelle Harvey after scoring Ireland's second against Chile. Picture: HockeyPress Argentina
They ultimately lost 4-1, a flattering scoreline for the Hockeyroos in a game that hinged on a harsh penalty stroke decision in the 48th minute which killed off Irish hopes.
of a famous result.
Ireland, spurred on by Nikki Symmons and Emma Smyth, were the side driving forward at the time, attempting to reel in a 2-1 deficit after Alex Speers’ excellent deflection had narrowed the margin created by Hope Munro’s early double.
Nicole Arrold converted the stroke, though, and Shelly Liddelow added a late fourth to augment the scoreline but Muller was pleased with how his side bounced back after deflating defeats to Scotland and Malaysia.
“It was a fighting performance against Australia, closer than 4-1. We gifted them a goal at the end and the stroke came just at the wrong moment. Those situations happen so many times in a crowded circle and I don’t think it deserved a stroke. We were totally on top and that killed us.
“I was really happy with those last two performances after we didn’t play well in the first two games.
“Every team we played came off a rest day before we played them and sometimes that advantage is significant, especially in the Malaysia game.”
The extraordinary situation that beset the tournament build-up, thanks to the volcanic ash cloud, also played a part in Muller’s opinion, though he was anxious to state that each team was affected in different ways.
“There were so many uncontrollables. I don’t want to speculate but these were unusual circumstances.
“We would never arrive just two days before a tournament and play no training games. There was no time to get the travel out of the system and it did impact us, there’s no doubt in my mind.”
Ireland’s victory over Chile proved vital in reducing any fall down the rankings and are likely to stay 15th in the world list, staying just ahead of the South Americans.
Scotland will make a big move up from 23rd but remain hamstrung by their tie-in with Britain which sees them receive a reduced percentage of Olympic ranking points which makes it difficult to breach the top 15.
Ireland's Megan Frazer shields the ball from a Chilean player. Picture: HockeyPress Argentina
Speaking afterwards, captain Eimear Cregan was pleased with the resilience shown after a tough opening to the tournament.
“It was an excellent performance today from the whole squad, really committed, work rate was really high. I don’t think the score reflected the game, we were in it for large patches and we started the second half brilliantly and played them off the park. The tactics worked to a tee and we grew in confidence as the game went on.
“At 2-1 down, we were in the ascendancy but the umpire gave the stroke which made it a lot tougher to get going. We played good hockey throughout, though, and showed what we can do.
“In circle play, there’s always going to be nudging and pushing from both players. We think it’s harsh but you have to go with the umpire’s decision.”
IRELAND: M Goode, M Harvey, C Sargent, E Cregan (capt), E Clarke, B Cleland, L Jacob, A Speers, N Symmons, E Smyth, L Colvin
Subs: S McCay, J O’Halloran, M Frazer, A O’Flynn, N Small
Final standings (points, goal difference): 1. Australia 12pts (+18) 2. Scotland 9pts (+7) 3. Ireland 3pts (-5) 4. Chile 3pts (-9) 5. Malaysia 3pts (-12)
* For more of HockeyPress Argentina’s photos from Ireland’s game with Australia, click here, and for the Chile game click here. For the live match-tracker from the game, click here and for interviews to download and listen to with Gene Muller, click here and with Eimear Cregan, click here.
Post Author:
alangood
9 Replies to “Ireland salvage third place”
Thats almost 4 years of a fulltime women’s coach and what progress has there been?
Leaving aside Celtic Cup – Muller has coached side at 5 major events. 4 times they haven’t reached their seeded position.
RE: Celtic Cup, seeded to win it – yet to win it under Muller. Last Time was under Graeme Francey.
How are Munster and the Other branches standing for this guy? Why should he be entrusted with turning Munster players lives upside down and asking them to move to Dublin, when he cant get results from performances????
When Gene does eventually leave the Only losers will be the players (who have wasted their time, when deserved a better coach to help them qualify) and the clubs outside of Dublin! Who have been adversely effected by his new plans.
As usual the Branch will bow to the IHA as expected and leave some of the best talent leave for Dublin to centralise, and they will watch the younger ones follow suit if this stupidity is not stopped.
The IHA should be professional enough to know that Gene is not performing, and be looking for a replacement before it is too late. As a friend mentioned to me there is no soccer manager analagy that we can use for Gene’s record with ireland, as they would have been sacked a long time ago.
Indeed, it’s all Muller’s fault. Our players are superb, it’s all to do with the coaching. Don’t be so naiive.
I agree Gene’s record is not great, and perhaps it is time for a change, but you also have to look at the players, who did not perform at the tournament, including those ”more experienced” players. They have admitted this themselves.
I think it’s all too easy to blame one person, have a look at the videos on youtube and tell me the players did their best. I don’t think so.
re:indeed i agree there is a lot that falls on the shoulders of the players but do you think the right players are out there? i look at the current team and i am positive that there are better players for almost 70% of the spots on that squad.
that is why i think the performances have faltered under Gene
Just a quick response!
Gene is the one who selects the team.
Gene is the one who selects the tactics.
Gene is the one everyone associates with the job as he is constantly at all the grounds on the search for players who wish to step up into the team, constantly giving players a chance to get into the squad (being sarcastic for this one, has anyone ever seen him at a match in Cork or Ulster? Surely thats part of his role as it is Revingtons too).
Selection if there are better players for 70% of the spots, why not stick up a few candidates? Any of those from Munster?
Good points by both of you.
Have you looked at the youtube videos? Simple basic mistakes made by some very experienced players. Not much a coach can do in those scenarios.
Agree that the head coach has overall responsibility, but players must also put their hands up when their individual mistakes cost goals.
Indeed;;; Can you please forward the link or identify the access to the u-tube video of the Irish games.
If this had been an Irish coach they would have been sacked as soon as the tournament was over, in fact is they would have gone after one Celtic Cup victory.
Time for a change I think in the ladies game.
While it was a fighting performance and all, we did come equal last in this tournament only courtesy of losing by the least goals against Australia. We did the minimum to get third as we did at the Euros where one win from five got us fifth.
Such results have helped sugar-coat each tournament but this was a weak Aussie team from what I saw on the tv, and suggested by Scotland (world 23) coming within minutes of a draw.
I suppose all this stuff, hailing great performances needs to be said for morale and sponsors but it a very Irish, heroic failure tagline which really grates. Have some realism, talk of Olympics on that RTE show made it sound like its just the touch of a ball away… the last euros shows its a hell of a lot further away than that. Likelihood is we draw Holland and Spain next time round in the group stages and need to beat one or other to make London… then into qualifiers. Good luck!!
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Thats almost 4 years of a fulltime women’s coach and what progress has there been?
Leaving aside Celtic Cup – Muller has coached side at 5 major events. 4 times they haven’t reached their seeded position.
RE: Celtic Cup, seeded to win it – yet to win it under Muller. Last Time was under Graeme Francey.
How are Munster and the Other branches standing for this guy? Why should he be entrusted with turning Munster players lives upside down and asking them to move to Dublin, when he cant get results from performances????
When Gene does eventually leave the Only losers will be the players (who have wasted their time, when deserved a better coach to help them qualify) and the clubs outside of Dublin! Who have been adversely effected by his new plans.
As usual the Branch will bow to the IHA as expected and leave some of the best talent leave for Dublin to centralise, and they will watch the younger ones follow suit if this stupidity is not stopped.
The IHA should be professional enough to know that Gene is not performing, and be looking for a replacement before it is too late. As a friend mentioned to me there is no soccer manager analagy that we can use for Gene’s record with ireland, as they would have been sacked a long time ago.
Indeed, it’s all Muller’s fault. Our players are superb, it’s all to do with the coaching. Don’t be so naiive.
I agree Gene’s record is not great, and perhaps it is time for a change, but you also have to look at the players, who did not perform at the tournament, including those ”more experienced” players. They have admitted this themselves.
I think it’s all too easy to blame one person, have a look at the videos on youtube and tell me the players did their best. I don’t think so.
re:indeed i agree there is a lot that falls on the shoulders of the players but do you think the right players are out there? i look at the current team and i am positive that there are better players for almost 70% of the spots on that squad.
that is why i think the performances have faltered under Gene
Just a quick response!
Gene is the one who selects the team.
Gene is the one who selects the tactics.
Gene is the one everyone associates with the job as he is constantly at all the grounds on the search for players who wish to step up into the team, constantly giving players a chance to get into the squad (being sarcastic for this one, has anyone ever seen him at a match in Cork or Ulster? Surely thats part of his role as it is Revingtons too).
Selection if there are better players for 70% of the spots, why not stick up a few candidates? Any of those from Munster?
Good points by both of you.
Have you looked at the youtube videos? Simple basic mistakes made by some very experienced players. Not much a coach can do in those scenarios.
Agree that the head coach has overall responsibility, but players must also put their hands up when their individual mistakes cost goals.
Indeed;;; Can you please forward the link or identify the access to the u-tube video of the Irish games.
If this had been an Irish coach they would have been sacked as soon as the tournament was over, in fact is they would have gone after one Celtic Cup victory.
Time for a change I think in the ladies game.
While it was a fighting performance and all, we did come equal last in this tournament only courtesy of losing by the least goals against Australia. We did the minimum to get third as we did at the Euros where one win from five got us fifth.
Such results have helped sugar-coat each tournament but this was a weak Aussie team from what I saw on the tv, and suggested by Scotland (world 23) coming within minutes of a draw.
I suppose all this stuff, hailing great performances needs to be said for morale and sponsors but it a very Irish, heroic failure tagline which really grates. Have some realism, talk of Olympics on that RTE show made it sound like its just the touch of a ball away… the last euros shows its a hell of a lot further away than that. Likelihood is we draw Holland and Spain next time round in the group stages and need to beat one or other to make London… then into qualifiers. Good luck!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZbe7lNZbQM&feature=channel
Check out the second goal. Two super traps by the Irish centre backs! Who said the players shouldn’t shoulder a huge portion of the responsibility?