Róisín Upton says Ireland's inability to control proceedings after taking the lead against Spain proved costly in the 1-1 draw at the EuroHockey Championships in the Netherlands.
Sean Dancer’s side began their final pool match against familiar foes Spain knowing that only a victory would be enough to send the Green Armey through to a first ever semi-final.
Despite taking the lead in the opening two minutes through Upton, the Spanish were level before the end of the first quarter and that was how the game finished, meaning the women in red squeezed Ireland out on goal difference.
A win would have also guaranteed Ireland a place at the 2022 World Cup finals, but there is still a chance for them to secure the final spot for next year’s event.
Ireland will now contest Pool C where the winner of the four-team round-robin group will claim fifth and World Cup qualification.
Speaking after the match, Upton, who gave Ireland the lead from a penalty corner, says it was the period after the goal that proved decisive, with Spain claiming a well-deserved equaliser through Begona Garcia 10 minutes later.
"I think after we scored in the first half, we just put ourselves under too much pressure and we needed to manage that phase of the game much better," she said.
"We responded well in the second, third and fourth quarters, but we just weren’t clinical enough."
Ranked seventh in the world – one place ahead of Ireland – Spain were always going to be a tough nut to crack, but Upton believes her team lacked a cutting edge when they did manage to string a few phases together.
"We know each other so well, we play each other so often, but it’s just about hanging on to the ball more.
We have two games to play, so we can't be disappointed for too long
"We did it in phases, where we strung six, seven passes together and then you open them up, but it’s just getting that connection.
"We’re getting the ball through, but we’re not getting a connection with a high forward. Then you need midfielders coming through, putting them under pressure.
"They closed up the middle. We’ll debrief, but we have two games to play, so we can’t be disappointed for too long."
