Irish management hit back in ‘physicality’ row

Day 5 The Irish U16 girls management team have this morning strongly refuted Dutch accusations of “physical violence” in yesterday’s EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships semi-finals in Barcelona. As outlined below, Netherlands coach Kai de Jeger was not happy with the Irish performance, insisting the girls in green “had to intention to play hockey”. However, in a statement read out to Southern Fried, the Irish management refuted such allegations and accused the Netherlands – who trounced Lithuania 23-0 in a pool game – of a lack of repsect. “The Irish camp are very unhappy with the label of being physical,” read the statement. “It was a bruising match, with lots of 50-50 balls contested. “The Irish squad was also unimpressed with the behaviour of the Dutch captain (Frederique Derkx), who refused to play the ball for the last two minutes of the match, as the Irish played a half court defence. She squatted on the 75-yard line, and didn’t play the ball. “The supporters watching booed, while the Irish players patiently waited (in their half court formation). The Dutch coach later apologised to the Irish management for the behaviour of his captain. “These (the Dutch) are wonderful hockey players, who play a fast and physical game. But their lack of respect for others at this tournament questions their values and ethics as ambassadors for junior European hockey.” Back on the pitch, the Irish girls rallied at the death but left it too late as Belgium took bronze at the European Championships in Barcelona with a 2-1 win to end a dramatic week. Sharp-shooter Katie Mullan fired home a 64th minute corner and pressure in the closing minutes earned another corner on the final whistle for Ireland. But they were unable to convert a set-piece which would have earned extra-time in the third/fourth place playoff. Belgium had whipped into a 2-0 half-time lead of a tie short on chances. Ireland’s defence, meanwhile, shone in the second period but clear chances only came to the fore belatedly and while the Irish girls poured forward in the last ten minutes, the Belgians stuck it out. The boys, meanwhile, retained A division status with a 2-2 draw against Poland, playing for the fifth successive game in the midday heat. A ten goal win was needed to snaffle fifth place but that never looked likely and the single point was enough to relegate the Poles. It was 38 degrees this time around but Ireland recovered from the concession of a seventh minute corner drag-flick to lead 2-1. David Cole – who was outstanding next to Matthew Rollins in the centre-backs – equalised with a corner effort before Scott Sullivan’s pass picked out Kirk Shimmins to slot home a one-on-one effort. Again, sharpness in front of goal was a factor in not killing off the tie as two Polish players were sin-binned. They nicked an equaliser a couple of minutes from time with a smart deflection but Ireland held on to stay up. It ended an, at times, frustrating week for the Irish boys who were competitive in each game and might have pushed on for a medal on another week. They created numerous chances but lacked the cutting edge – perhaps due to no competitive warm-up fixtures and a three month wait since the school’s league season – to grab vital goals. U-16 Boys European Championships – Group C final table 1. Russia 7pts (+12) 2. Ireland 5pts (+3) 3. Poland 4pts (-1) 4. Czech Republic 0pts (-15) Day 4 Ireland’s U16 girls found themselves bizarrely accused of an over-physical approach, as they proved unable to stop a Dutch juggernaut in the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships semi-finals in Barcelona earlier today. The Netherlands had hit a remarkable 43 goals in their three pool games,and continued in that vein as captain Frederique Derkx netted four times – two corners and two strokes – in her side’s 5-1 win over the girls in green. Chloe Brown did pull one back from play to make it 3-1 early in the second half – the first goal against the Dutch in this tournament. But while Una McCarthy’s troops did receive a backhanded compliment from Dutch coach Kai de Jeger, they also came in for some harsh criticism from the Netherlands camp. “In the first three matches of this tournament we were two or three goals up after ten minutes. This was not that easy and that took some getting used to for the girls. But they were eager to play, and ultimately this is just an outstanding achievement.” De Jeger said of the encounter: “It was just physical violence. I thought it was inappropriate. They had no intention to play hockey.” Ireland still have plenty to play for however, and are slight favourites on paper in the bronze medal match tomorrow (3pm) against Belgium. Ireland’s U16 boys gave themselves the best possible chance of avoiding relegation in their championships, by defeating the Czech Republic 3-0. Monkstown starlet David Cole’s pair of drag-flicks at the start of each half, plus a Josh Moffett effort, eased the nerves amid 35 degree heat. A draw against Poland – who were tonked 5-0 by Russia, the basement side in Ireland’s initial pool – tomorrow will ensure Ireland will remain in Europe’s top tier, while a win and an avalanche of goals could see them finish fifth. Day 3 Ireland’s U16 girls advanced to the semi-finals of the European championships as they beat Russia 4-0 in Barcelona yesterday evening to finish second in their group behind Spain. They will face the daunting prospect of the Netherlands in the final four; a side who scored a massive 43 goals in their three initial group games. Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan both grabbed their second goals of the tournament while Railway’s Kate Lloyd and Cork Harlequins’ Antonia McGrath were also on the mark. Skipper Upton netted the only goal of the first half from the penalty spot before the Irish pulled clear in the second period. The boys, however, were unable to get the win they needed to advance. Holland’s 4-0 win over Austria meant a three-goal success against Russia would see Ireland through on goal difference. But they fell 3-0 behind and only for a late rally did they avoid fourth place in the pool. Leinster trio Ross Canning, Jordan Sutton and Jeremy Duncan all scored in a whirlwind second half performance. They did have their chances to nick the win in the final ten minutes but the point earned could prove crucial in the coming days. The boys go into Group C – the relegation pool – with one point and now must face the Czech Republic on Friday and Poland on Saturday to decide their fate. U16 Girls European Championships – Group B 1. Spain 9pts (+13) 2. Ireland 6pts (+7) 3. Russia 3pts (-8) 4. Ukraine 0pts (-12) Match schedule (Irish time): Friday, July 16 (6.30pm): Ireland vs Netherlands Saturday, July 17 (TBC): Final/3rd place playoff U16 Boys European Championships – Group A 1. Netherlands 9pts (+17) 2. Austria 4pts (0) 3. Ireland 2pts (-2) 4. Russia 1pt (-15) Boy’s match schedule (Irish time): Friday, July 16 (11am): Ireland vs Czech Republic Saturday, July 17 (11am): Ireland vs Poland Day 2 Ireland’s U16 boys will be looking for a favour from the Netherlands tomorrow, but a place in the semi-finals of the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships in Barcelona is still within their grasp. A 1-1 draw with Austria today leaves Miles Warren’s side in third in their pool, with Adam Fallis’ neat turn giving him the space to push home an equaliser. That goal was grabbed while Ireland were down to ten men in a closely-fought but tempestuous game, which saw Kirk Shimmins sin-binned twice, while Josh Moffett also saw yellow. With whipping boys Russia — who were hammered 12-1 by the Dutch — up next in their final game tomorrow (11am Irish time), the Irish must win and overturn Austria’s goal difference advantage of six.

That task is not beyond them given the central Europeans must tackle the dominant Dutch, and Ireland will have the advantage of knowing what they have to do against the Russians. Ireland’s U16 girls also take on Russia with a semi-final spot at stake, but are in a healthier position having already got a win under their belts. They lost 1-0 to pool favourites Spain yesterday, the winning goal coming in the seventh minute, but a victory of any kind against the Russians is likely to be enough to advance, pending other results. Day 1 Ireland’s U16 girls gave themselves a fighting chance of a semi-final spot at the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships in Barcelona, by hammering the Ukraine 4-0 in their opening game earlier tonight. Limerick-born skipper Roisin Upton continued her fine scoring streak by grabbing her side’s third, with Anna May Whelan, Orla Macken and Katie Mullan also on target. Catholic Institute starlet Upton grabbed her first international goal in the 6-1 demolition of Wales in a warm-up match, and followed that up with another in the recent friendly against Belgium. She and squad-mate Antonia McGrath of Cork Harlequins have also been selected for the Irish U17 team that’s heading to the World Youth Olympics next month. Ireland look set to face a tougher examination today (5pm) when they meet hosts Spain, who eviscerated Russia 8-0, in the second of their three pool games. Overcoming champions the Netherlands proved beyond the Ireland U16 boys side however, as they went down 3-1. Miles Warren’s side matched the Dutch in most aspects and were level at the break thanks to a 20th-minute strike from Pembroke Wanderers starlet Kirk Shimmins. But the Oranje’s counter-attacking skills proved the difference in a tight second half, albeit with a hint of controversy. A shot from outside the circle was deliberately left by Irish netminder Stefan Gallagher, only for the goal to be incorrectly awarded. Ireland  — who feature three Munster boys in Bandon midfielder Scott Sullivan, Munster U16 skipper Richard Lynch and Cork C of I trickster Gary Wilkinson in their squad — are in action again today (11am Irish time) against Austria, who hammered Russia 4-0 to also grab an early initiative.