Ireland 0-2 Germany
Olympic and European champions Germany scored twice in the final six minutes of their Unibet EuroHockey Championship encounter against a brave Ireland side at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London to secure a 2-0 win and advance to the semi-finals of the competition.
Lukas Windfeder fired home a low dragflick to break the deadlock before a superb finish from Florian Fuchs from a quick break out of defence wrapped up victory.
Germany enjoyed 60% of possession during the match and had 23 circle entries, so for large periods this was a test of Irish discipline and concentration.
David Harte and Paul Gleghorne marshalled the backline expertly throughout, while also distributing the ball to their team-mates on the counter-attack.
There were several moments of skilful brilliance from the men in green. Chris Cargo, John Jackson and Michael Robson all took seemingly impossible aerials from the nights sky and set up attacks, while Mitch Darling and Kyle Good were ever-threatening on the ball, darting down the wings but firing wide more than once.
Following their opening win over France, a draw for Ireland against Belgium on Tuesday (1.15pm) will be enough to earn them a place in the semi-finals of the European Championships for the first time.
Ireland: Harte (captain), Jackson, Gormley, Magee, Shimmins, O’Donoghue, Darling, Good, Burton, Gleghorne, Harte
Bench: Cargo, Sothern, Caruth, Robson, Watt, Fitzgerald
