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Ireland hold Dutch to double in EuroHockey opener

Updated / Sunday, 10 Aug 2025 09:36
Ireland goalkeeper Lizzy Murphy kept the score down with a sucession of saves (Image: World Sport Pics)
Ireland goalkeeper Lizzy Murphy kept the score down with a sucession of saves (Image: World Sport Pics)

Ireland 0-2 Netherlands

Ireland began their EuroHockey Championship campaign with a battling 2-0 defeat to the sport's dominant side Netherlands in Pool A.

The Dutch women, who are bidding for a historic fifth European crown in a row, having also won the last three World Cups and two Olympic Games, took the lead eight minutes in.

Lizzie Murphy, who made a string of superb saves throughout, blocked a shot from Lisa Post but the ball rebounded off the body of Sarah McAuley and fell for Joosje Burg to tap into an empty net.

Ireland (ranked 11th in the world) used their video review, hoping to concede a penalty corner instead, but the official ruled that advantage had been correctly applied.

Ireland continued to frustrate the Dutch in the second quarter, matching them across the pitch to limit their ability to generate meaningful chances. A rare error at the back gave Captain Pien Sanders a chance at goal from a tight angle, but the ball went high and wide to keep the score at 1-0.

With two minutes remaining in the half the Netherlands worked the ball well down the left, winning a penalty corner. Yibbi Jansen was once again the go-to option for a dragflick, but Sarah Torrans performed her defensive duties well yet again to charge down the effort.

Ireland forced their first penalty corner four minutes into the second half but the delivery bobbled for Christina Hamill who scuffed her effort on the sodden pitch.

Three minutes later, the Dutch doubled their lead. Róisin Upton was harshly penalised for a nudge on Pien Dicke and Janssen, having previously been denied by Murphy, drilled the ball home from what was their fourth short corner.

In the final minute of the quarter, Mikayla Power slipped Katie Mullan through but Josine Koning came off her line smartly to save.

Into the final quarter and Marleen Jochems was shown a green card (two-minute sin bin) as Ireland forced another penalty corner, Hannah McLoughlin's shot well stopped by Koning.

Murphy then accidentally diverted the ball into McLoughlin's face but made a good save from the resulting penalty corner, the Netherlands' seventh.

Thankfully, McLoughlin was able to return to the action as Ireland closed out the game without further concessions, Murphy called into action once more to deny Frederique Matla from a penalty corner.

A late chance flashed past the back post for the Dutch and the game ended on a very credible scoreline for Ireland.

Speaking after the match, Ireland captain Sarah Hawkshaw told RTÉ Sport: "The Dutch are the best in the world, and they're the best in the world for a reason. But I am just so proud of the team for the defensive effort.

"To run down so many penalty corner attacks from one of the World’s best dragflickers; I’m just so proud.

Ireland will now face France (19th in the world) on Monday, hoping for a high-scoring win that would likely set them up for a chance to beat Germany (6th) on Wednesday and reach the semi-finals.

"We approach that [France] game no different to any other," said Hakwkshaw.

"We have a solid defence and we want to maintain that. We want to get more out of opportunities on the ball, be more patient and build in attack, and grow into the game a little bit more."

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