Ireland in battle to stay in Pro League after German defeat

Ireland 0-3 Germany

Ireland again went down to defeat against Germany in their penultimate FIH Pro League match, losing 3-0, but it was an improved showing from the Irish following their 7-0 reverse against the same opposition on Sunday last.

Another date with Great Britain awaits on Thursday for Mark Tumilty's side where a win will be required to keep their chances of staying in the Pro League alive

Tumilty made three changes to the starting line-up, with Lee Cole and Peter McKibbin returning in defence and David Harte named in goal.

Germany took the lead when they were awarded a penalty stroke which Timm Herzbruch converted in the 36th minute. Gonzalo Peillat converted a penalty corner in the 43rd minute to double their lead and a breakaway counter-attack produced the third goal in the final minute from open play by Thies Prinz.

Both sides came out of the traps and had chances early in the first quarter. Germany's Timm Herzbruch's shot was blocked over the bar by David Harte in the third minute and a few minutes later Ireland's John McKee forced German netminder Alexander Stadler to make a save at the opposite end of the field.

Ireland got the only penalty corner of the first quarter but Shane O'Donoghue's drag flick inadvertently hit Moritz Ludwig and a free hit was the outcome. The Irish almost took the lead when a cross from Nick Page flashed across the face of the German goal towards Ben Johnson who failed to connect with it. Ben Walker flicked a shot just wide of the German goal two minutes later.

In the third quarter things began to change. Moritz Ludwig, later chosen as player of the match, ran down the inside right channel and his shot was flicked over the bar by Malte Hellwig in the 31st minute.

Germany won their first penalty corner of the match on 36 minutes. Gonzalo Peillat's drag flick hit Kyle Marshall, who was guarding the post, on the arm, and a penalty stroke was the outcome. Timm Herzbruch made no mistake from seven metres out to fire his side in front.

The Germans increased their lead when Gonzalo Peillat converted a penalty corner with a rapid drag flick that flew past Lee Cole on the left hand post to make it 2-0. Ireland asked for a video referral after Constantin Staib found the net. The ruling was that Staib had used the backstick during the shot so the goal was overruled and Ireland kept their referral.

In the 58th minute an Irish penalty corner saw Lee Cole's original drag flick saved by Stadtler and Hannes Muller blocked the second effort. When Germany regained possession they launched a counter attack, Moritz Ludwig went on a run from deep in the German half and sent a ball through for Thies Prinz to score. His initial effort was saved by Harte but he was on hand to net the rebound.

Reflecting on the performance, coach Tumilty said: "I thought in the first half we played some of our best hockey as a group. We probably left a few chances out there and that's something we need to work on during the next six to eight weeks as we head towards Paris. We don't get many chances against teams of this calibre.

"If we can get three points against GB it might give us a chance of staying in the Pro League. GB have been really clinical and it's a challenge we have to embrace.

"If we can stay in the Pro League it will be huge for our programme."

Ireland: David Harte (GK) ; Kyle Marshall ; Lee Cole; Nicholas Page; Peter McKibbin ; Sean Murray; Daragh Walsh ; Peter Brown; Ben Walker; Ben Johnson ; Matthew Nelson

Subs used: Tim Cross [ 4 mins] ; Jeremy Duncan [ 3 mins] ; John McKee [ 3 mins] ; Michael Robson [ 7 mins] ; Shane O'Donoghue [ 7 mins ] ; Jonathan Lynch [ 5 mins] ;

Germany: Alexander Stadler (GK) ; Thies Prinz; Johannes Grosse; Timm Herzbruch ; Gonzalo Peillat; Marco Miltkau; Hannes Muller; Mario Schachner ; Malte Hellwig ; Antheus Barry ; Moritz Ludwig ;

Subs used: Raphael Hartkopf [ 6 mins] ; Constantin Staib [ 6 mins] ; Martin Zwicker (C) [ 3 mins] ; Erik Kleinlein [6 mins] ; Luca Wolff [ 6 mins ] ; Phillipp Holzmueller [ 6 mins]

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