Ireland 0-5 Netherlands
The Irish men's hockey team acquitted themselves well but suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of a Dutch team ranked second in the world in their second Pool B game in Rio.
Ireland had narrowly lost to India yesterday but went into this clash aware that they would be facing a higher calibre opponent, and that point was emphasised early on.
Ireland started reasonably well and forced the Dutch goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann into a number of early saves,
However, that early promise was to be short-lived as Mink van der Weerden converted from the first penalty corner of the game.
Moments later, that advantage was doubled as good play from the Dutch saw 17-year-old Jorrit Croon make it 2-0 after six minutes.
Kyle Good did almost get in behind the Dutch defence at the very end of the quarter, but Stockmann was alive to the danger and got out from his goal to cut it out.
Things went from bad to worse for Ireland half-way through the second quarter when Conor Harte, brother of star goalkeeper David, was injured while performing his defensive duties.
The Kinsale defender was taken off via the medical cart, leading to a big delay in the game which gave Irish coach Craig Fulton a chance to address his side.
Whatever the South African said worked as shortly afterwards Ireland won their first penalty corner of the game.
Paul Gleghorne injected and Ireland attempted to create an opening, but when the shot did eventually come from Michael Watt it flashed well wide of Stockmann's goal.
Conor Harte returned after the interval, but shortly after van der Weerden increased the deficit, again slamming home from a penalty corner.
Similarly to in the first quarter, the Dutch soon followed up with another goal as good play by Valentin Verga on the left flank saw him play it in to Mirco Pruyser in the circle.
Pruyser rounded David Harte in the Irish goal before tapping home to make it 4-0.
That was more or less that as the Dutch spent most of the remainder of the match holding on to possession and patiently trying to create opportunities.
Ireland did have a series of penalty corners in the final quarter, but could not convert, in contrast to the clinical Dutch.
There was also a sting in the tail at the very end as Ireland got caught by a break and Eugene Magee turned the ball into his own net after Jeroen Hertzberger centred.
Mark Irwin believes Ireland can take positives out of the 5-0 defeat to the Netherlands #rterio2016 https://t.co/fksWAfmI0s
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 7, 2016
Ireland: D Harte, J Jackson, R Gormley, M Watt, J Jermyn, E Magee, K Shimmins, M Darling, K Good, P Gleghorne, C Harte
Subs: J Bell, C Cargo, A Sothern, P Caruth, S O’Donoghue
Netherlands: J Stockmann, G Schuurman, B Bakker, S van Ass, J Hertzberger, S de Wijn, S Baart, M Pruijser, R Hofman, R van der Horst, M van der Weerden
Subs: V Verga, R Kemperman, B de Voogd, J Croon, H Turkstra
Umpire: N Stagno, T Pullman
