Australia 6-1 Ireland
Ireland suffered another Men's FIH Pro League defeat on Tuesday, as reigning FIH Pro League champions Australia showed their class in a 6-1 victory.
Following a tight first half in Antwerp, three quick goals in the third quarter saw Australia pull away, before a final effort in the closing stages put the game out of reach for Ireland.
After playing so well to earn their first win of the 2024/25 Men's FIH Pro League against world No 2-ranked Belgium on Sunday, Ireland came into this encounter on a real high.
However the Aussies, ranked No 5 in the world, had too much firepower.
Australia set out their stall early on, pressing Ireland high and winning a penalty corner inside the first three minutes. Jeremy Hayward was the go-to option, making no mistake in flicking the ball past Luke Roleston to break the deadlock.
Australia continued to apply the pressure, a ball across goal providing Blake Govers the chance to double their lead. A number of shots tested Roleston in the Irish net, but the keeper was on song to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Ireland responded. Johnny McKee stepped forward in the press to win the ball and release Banbridge Peter Brown down the right flank. Brown weaved his way into the circle, offloaded to Ben Walker who found McKee free to flick into the top corner, drawing Ireland level going into the end of the first quarter.
The intensity carried into the second quarter, this time with attacking phases coming early for both teams. It was Australia’s turn to put their press to work, picking the pocket of Louis Rowe, and working the ball into the circle. The initial chance was stopped but a stick tackle on Nathan Ephraums inside the circle resulted in a penalty stroke, which Blake Govers dispatched to restore Australia’s lead.
Australia asked further questions of Ireland throughout the second quarter, but the Green Machine's defence provided the answers to go into the break trailing by just a single goal.
The second half began as the first ended, with Australia winning the ball in the press and forcing Roleston into a series of saves.
Cooper Burns eventually made use of the Hockeyroos attacking options, pulling the ball off the baseline onto his reverse stick and lifting over the onrushing Roleston to score Australia’s third.
Australia added a fourth and fifth in quick succession before the end of the third quarter, the first coming from a penalty corner which Connar Otterbach deflected into the roof of the net, followed by a Jack Welch strike after an Irish defensive error.
Govers grabbed his second - and Australia's sixth - to put the cherry on the cake.
"I think we struggled to keep up with the pace in the second half, and I think we went a little bit flat and into our shells which is never a good thing to do against Australia," Ireland captain Lee Cole reflected.
"They are a world-class outfit, they have always been. I think everyone in this league is and that’s the real challenge. Stringing performances together is where we need to improve."
Ireland play Australia again on Wednesday at 2.30pm.
