It will be at least four years before Ireland grace the top tier of European U18 girls hockey after a penalty shootout defeat to Russia saw them relegated yesterday.
On the final day of the EuroHockey Youth Championships, the ‘Little Green Army’ – who featured one Munster player, Abby Oakes (pictured below) in their ranks – needed victory against the Russians to claim sixth place of the eight teams competing in Dublin and avoid the trapdoor.
Yulia Kazakova had Russia in front but two quickfire Irish strikes — an own goal forced by Elaine Carey before Zara Thom teed up an easy finish for Robyn Chambers — turned the game on its head.
Elena Nazarova levelled for Russia ahead of a frantic final period where both sides had big chances to win it, most notably when Chambers rounded the Russian keeper but couldn’t finish.
With it finishing 2-2 and the two sides evenly matched across all parameters in Pool C, it was left to penalty shuttles to decide it. Ireland failed to convert four of their five efforts and Russia claimed a 2-1 victory.
On Saturday, Ireland had missed their first chance to avoid the drop when losing 4-1 to Belgium, Carey’s booming reverse-stick strike the sole bright spot for Richie Malone’s side after they had gone 3-0 down.
When Ireland look back on this tournament, they will pinpoint the 3-2 loss to France in their final pool game as the turning point. Needing a draw to advance to the last four, Carey teed up Chambers for Ireland’s go-ahead goal on three minutes but it was all France thereafter.
Chloe Baccar and Ines Lardeur had turned the scoreline around in France’s favour by half-time but Ireland looked well set when Aisling Cronin touched in Millie O’Donnell’s pass in the 51st minute to make it 2-2.
But France pushed forward with menace for most of the final quarter, Lardeur eventually getting their reward from their 13th penalty corner with three minutes remaining.
Previously, a top-quality performance from goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran couldn’t prevent Ireland losing 6-0 to a powerful Netherlands side.
The Randalstown netminder was in inspired form as the ‘Little Green Army’ spent much of the game on the back foot, with Millie O’Donnell and Jess McGirr also to the fore in a rearguard action against the holders and tournament favourites.
On day one, Millie O’Donnell’s creativity helped Ireland get off to a perfect start with a 5-0 win over Wales.
The Old Alex starlet set up three of her side’s four goals at UCD as the “Little Green Army” broke down a packed Welsh defence, all the goals coming in the second half.
A rebound off Carey’s reverse fell kindly for Kilkenny girl Emma Duncan to break the deadlock, and the goals flowed thereafter with O’Donnell’s disguise sweep teeing up Cronin before another pinpoint pass allowed Duncan to nab her second.
Sarah Hawkshaw deflected home O’Donnell’s sweep from a corner before skipper McGirr notched the fifth, roofing a reverse off a final hooter corner. As the first shot on goal in the set-piece it shouldn’t have stood, but was given nonetheless.
Ireland will now play in the EuroHockey Youth Championships II in 2015, where they’ll bid to earn promotion back to the top tier in 2017. The Netherlands claimed overall victory in Dublin.
Elena Nazarova levelled for Russia ahead of a frantic final period where both sides had big chances to win it, most notably when Chambers rounded the Russian keeper but couldn’t finish.
With it finishing 2-2 and the two sides evenly matched across all parameters in Pool C, it was left to penalty shuttles to decide it. Ireland failed to convert four of their five efforts and Russia claimed a 2-1 victory.
On Saturday, Ireland had missed their first chance to avoid the drop when losing 4-1 to Belgium, Carey’s booming reverse-stick strike the sole bright spot for Richie Malone’s side after they had gone 3-0 down.
When Ireland look back on this tournament, they will pinpoint the 3-2 loss to France in their final pool game as the turning point. Needing a draw to advance to the last four, Carey teed up Chambers for Ireland’s go-ahead goal on three minutes but it was all France thereafter.
Chloe Baccar and Ines Lardeur had turned the scoreline around in France’s favour by half-time but Ireland looked well set when Aisling Cronin touched in Millie O’Donnell’s pass in the 51st minute to make it 2-2.
But France pushed forward with menace for most of the final quarter, Lardeur eventually getting their reward from their 13th penalty corner with three minutes remaining.
Previously, a top-quality performance from goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran couldn’t prevent Ireland losing 6-0 to a powerful Netherlands side.
The Randalstown netminder was in inspired form as the ‘Little Green Army’ spent much of the game on the back foot, with Millie O’Donnell and Jess McGirr also to the fore in a rearguard action against the holders and tournament favourites.
On day one, Millie O’Donnell’s creativity helped Ireland get off to a perfect start with a 5-0 win over Wales.
The Old Alex starlet set up three of her side’s four goals at UCD as the “Little Green Army” broke down a packed Welsh defence, all the goals coming in the second half.
A rebound off Carey’s reverse fell kindly for Kilkenny girl Emma Duncan to break the deadlock, and the goals flowed thereafter with O’Donnell’s disguise sweep teeing up Cronin before another pinpoint pass allowed Duncan to nab her second.
Sarah Hawkshaw deflected home O’Donnell’s sweep from a corner before skipper McGirr notched the fifth, roofing a reverse off a final hooter corner. As the first shot on goal in the set-piece it shouldn’t have stood, but was given nonetheless.
Ireland will now play in the EuroHockey Youth Championships II in 2015, where they’ll bid to earn promotion back to the top tier in 2017. The Netherlands claimed overall victory in Dublin.