In mild and sunny conditions Ireland enjoyed more of the early exchanges of this ladies' test match.
Ireland created several half-chances, but could not find the finishing touch, with Lizzie Colvin unable to convert a dangerous cross and Eimear Cregan thwarted at the top of the circle.
England started to gain more control before Clarke, who was dominant in midfield throughout, broke through the middle, but her pass failed to find Kathy McKean.
England went ahead in the fourteenth minute when the Irish defence failed to control a hard ball into the circle and Jenny Hall converted.
England were more dominant at this stage and could have gone further ahead when Unsworth found Mcleod with a long ball down the left, but the pass was miscontrolled. Danson broke through and won a corner which was well saved by Healy off a Kate Walsh drag flick shortly before half time.
Ireland started brightly again in the second period and pressed well, but the final pass was still lacking. Frazer and McKean were lively up front, the latter winning Ireland’s fourth corner which was comfortably saved by Duggan.
Danson continued to cause problems for the Irish defence and in the 44th minute beat several defenders before releasing a high shot across the face of the goal.
Ireland had four more opportunities from corners but the English defence dealt well with the options thrown at them.
Coach Muller was ‘pleased with the overall performance in which Ireland dominated for periods but suffered from a lack of finishing from play or set pieces’. The second and final game takes place on Sunday at 11am.
Ireland: Mary Goode (GK), Louisa Healy (GK), Lauren Barr, Cliodhna Sargent, Bridget Cleland, Emma Stewart, Emma Clarke, Shirley McCay, Nikki Symmons, Emma Smyth, Roisin Flinn, Rachel Mulligan, Eimear Cregan (Capt), Cathy McKean, Lizzie Colvin, Megan Frazer.
