Ireland 1 (C Perdue) England 2 (M Giglio, V McCabe)
After a dream start to their first ever Junior World Cup game, when they took a third-minute lead against England in Potchefstroom on Saturday, Ireland fell to a 2-1 defeat that leaves them needing to draw with hosts South Africa on Monday if they are to advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
It was co-captain Caoimhe Perdue who opened the scoring from a penalty corner that had been won by Mikayla Power, but England were level within five minutes after Katie-Jane Marshall was judged to have fouled Maddie Axford in the circle, Millie Giglio converting the resulting stroke.
Come the 42nd minute Vikki McCabe finished off an England counter-attack with what proved to be the game’s deciding goal, Ireland unable to force an equaliser in the closing stages despite intense pressure and a flurry of penalty corners.
It was a fine performance by the team, though, against one of the tournament favourites, so they won’t lack confidence against a South African side that was beaten 3-0 by England in their opening game, leaving them needing to beat Ireland if they are to progress.
Ireland: E McLoughlin, E Paul, S O'Brien, M Power, C Perdue, A Elliott, Y Pratt, C Hamill, L Mulcahy, S McAuley, K-J Marshall. Subs: H Micklem, E Reid, A Taaffe, S Murdoch, R Kelly, A Horan, C Sherin.
Hockey League – Division Two quarter-finals: Corinthian 5 (J McGrane 2, C Seggie, C Vincent, L McGrane), Church of Ireland 0; Queens 5 (Z Wilson, J McCarlie, C Whiteside, R Quinn, E Getty), UCC 0.
