Irish women’s hockey team from one-match World Cup after victory in Belarus

Niamh Carey’s incredible start to her international career continued as her 48th minute goal earned Ireland a 3-2 victory over Belarus in Pisa, making them one win within the 2022 World Cup.

t had a remarkable job when Belarus-Russian goalkeeper Maryna Navitskaya knocked him down, but still managed to fall to the ground and knock the ball to the back board.

In the past, Ireland had started brilliantly with Lena Tice and Anna O’Flanagan taking a 2-0 lead within 4 minutes. Belarus fought against Sviatlana Bahushevich and Ryta Batura.

But Ireland kept its nerve when skipper Katie Mullan selected Carey in a beautiful line in a circle from which Carey decided the race.

“It really wasn’t the way we wanted the game to move forward, especially when we went 2-0 up so early,” coach Sean Dancer estimated.

“Thanks to Belarus -Russia for coming back and playing some great plays. Their coach [Herman Kruis] has certainly done good things with them, and it became a fierce struggle, but in our honor the girls continued to fight and won what is the main goal. “

“It’s still or die! Last tomorrow, but we always knew this was going to happen. We take up the challenge and we don’t have the illusion of whether we’re playing Scotland or Wales [at 3pm Irish time]. We need to bring it in and probably bring in a little more than today! “

The green army could hardly have started better when Michelle Carey burned in the middle to win the first minute penalty corner. Lena Tice drove home from the top with an accurate blow 1-0.

The speed that Carey showed was a sign of things to come when her, her twin sisters Niamh and Sarah Hawkshaw’s direct run caused havoc throughout the tie.

In the fourth minute, Anna O’Flanagan was credited with the actual melée resulting from Niamh Carey’s shot and the shot that attacked goalkeeper Maryna Navitskaya behind. Naomi Carroll got the first bite and O’Flanagan followed for sure.

But all perceptions of Belarus-Russia would have been beaten by Docket, quickly dissipated when Sviatlana Bahushevich cleverly clicked close in just a fifth minute.

At the point it seemed to be the finish line when the game was open, Ireland wanted to take advantage of its speed in every opportunity to stretch the game.

For the dancer, the pace of the twins Sarah Hawkshaw, Sarah Torrans and Carey was a key factor, but allied with how Belarus approached the road, it made the Helter-Skelter match.

“One of our strengths is speed and skill, and we definitely want to bring it in as much as possible. The way Belarus placed its press and structure allowed the game to be fairly transparent. Eventually, it probably became too open, ”he said.

In fact, it was a surprise that the draw survived the second and third quarters without further action on the scoreboard. Niamh Carey scored from the penalty spot, putting the ball in near the top left corner. A crack in the soil attacked the pole.

The Green Army could no longer use its fifty penalty angles and Sarah Torrans ’painful loss from the Hawkshaw Cross.

When they created better opportunities, Belarus always looked like they were on the hunt, forcing some major interventions from Hannah McLoughlin and Róisín Upton.

And so it turned out in the final quarter from the first corners of the Belarusians, and Ryta Batura finally rushed home after a couple of deviations.

As soon as they were level, Ireland responded with Mullan’s rangy pass and Carey’s brilliant goal. It scored two goals in two limited international matches for current UCD student raised at the Railway Union, and a memorable outcome.

And Coach Dancer has been excited about this week’s versatile game: “It’s a high conversion rate, two out of two!

“The impressive thing he brings is his engine, his speed and endurance make people really hard to stay with him. He got really great touches when we needed them.”

It will take Ireland to the finals of this tournament, where the World Cup ticket will eventually be settled with Scotland or Wales.

Women’s World Cup qualifiers

Ireland 3 (L Tice, A O’Flanagan, N Carey) Belarus -Russia 2 (S Bahushevich, R Batura)

Ireland: A McFerran, M Carey, R Upton, K Mullan, L Tice, H McLoughlin, C Watkins, S Torrans, S Hawkshaw, A O’Flanagan, N Carey. Subscribers: E Getty, Z Malseed, N Carroll, D Duke, E Curran, S McAuley, L Murphy.

Belarus -Russia: M Navitskaya, I Siamionava, H Zhylevich, U Kasabutskaya, D Belavusava, R Batura, Yubko, S Bahushevich, K Papkova, M Nikitsina, V Lapitskaya. Subscribers: N Shtsin, K Mihunova, K Kutai, D Hanets, A Sys, K Zhuk, T Liavonava.

Judiciary: H Harrison (Eng), C Martin-Schmets (Bel).