Ireland 2-4 Spain
Ireland fell to a 4-2 loss against Spain their third FIH Pro League pool match in Bhubaneswar, India on Thursday.
The two sides had faced each other in the recent Olympic Qualifiers tournament in Valencia, where Spain beat Ireland in the semi-finals. The Green Machine subsequently defeated Korea 4-3 in the third-placed play-off to book their spot at the Paris Olympics.
This is Ireland's first appearance at the FIH Pro League. They are the lowest ranked nation at the tournament.
Head coach Mark Tumilty rang the changes, rest oring the five players to the line-up who were rested in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to Australia. Luke Madeley, Daragh Walsh, John McKee, Sean Murray and Tim Cross sitting out on this occasion. Spain too had several changes from their previous match.
Spain went in front in the 12th minute when Pere Amat got along the end line and passed to Enrique Gonzalez who fired home from the edge of the semi-circle.
The Spaniards led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter. They increased their lead Miralles converted a penalty corner in the 19th minute to score 2-0 to Spain.
Ireland got on the scoresheet six minutes later. Jeremy Duncan cut into the circle and passed to Jonathan Lynch who fed Ben Johnson. His cross found Matthew Nelson, and his shot deflected home to make it 2-1.
In the 41st minute Marc Miralles went on a mazy run into the Irish circle. He teed up Marc Reyne who bundled the ball into the goal at the second attempt to make it 3-1.
Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter. Lee Cole converted the penalty corner to make it 3-2 in the 52nd minute, but with Ireland in pursuit of the leveller, Spain got the vital goal to put the game beyond reach on 57 minutes.
Borja Lacalle passed it into the middle of the circle and Enrique Gonzalez first-timed it to the back of the net.
"We fielded the most experienced team we probably could have today," said Tumilty.
"We hope that the things we have learned from this first round of games will stand to us in the games ahead of us next week and especially tomorrow against India.
"We have been creating chances we just need to be more clinical in front of goal"
Ireland: Jamie Carr (GK), Shane O'Donoghue, Lee Cole, Jonathan Lynch, Luke Witherow, Peter McKibbin, Peter Brown, Michael Robson (C), Matthew Nelson, Jeremy Duncan, Ben Johnson
Subs: Charlie Rowe (4 mins), Kevin O'Dea (8 mins), Ben Walker (4 mins), Sam Hyland (10 mins), Conor Empey (4 mins), Nicholas Page (4 mins)
Spain: Luiz Calzado (GK), Xavier Gispert, Enriqe Gonzalez, Marc Reyne, Marc Miralles, Jordi Bonastre, Gerard Clape, Andrea Rafi, Borja Lacalle, Alvaro Portugal, Rafael Vilallonga
Subs: Eduard De Ignacio-Simo (3 mins) Alvaro Iglesias (C) (3 mins), Alejandro Alonso (3 mins), Pere Amat (3 mins) Pol Cabre Verdiell (3 mins), Bruno Font (3 mins), Rafael Revilla (GK) (46 mins)
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