Ireland's Pro League Hockey Struggles Continue with Second Narrow Loss to Belgium

For the second time in four days, Ireland fell to Belgium by a single goal in the Pro League, with the final score being 2-1 in favor of the Belgians. The match, held in Dublin, saw Ireland struggle initially but mount a comeback that ultimately fell short.

Belgium, much like in their previous encounter, took a commanding 2-0 lead through goals from Charlotte Englebert and Alix Gerniers. Ireland, however, showed resilience and managed to pull one goal back courtesy of Sarah Torrans. Despite their efforts, time ran out for the Irish team to find an equalizer.

Ireland's next challenge in the Pro League will be against England on Sunday, concluding their first four-game block in the top tier of international hockey.

Reflecting on the match, Irish captain Sarah Hawkshaw expressed frustration with the team's slow start. "We were disappointed with the start of our game, same as the last time, we were just too slow," she said. Hawkshaw attributed the sluggish start to hesitation and doubt in decision-making, which led to errors.

Despite the disappointment, Hawkshaw found positives in Ireland's response to the two-goal deficit. "We came out in the second half and changed momentum and got a lot more off-ball intensity. That really drives this team," she noted. The increased pressure created opportunities, including the crucial goal scored by Torrans.

Belgium dominated the first half, applying constant pressure and capitalizing on Irish defensive mistakes. The home side conceded several penalty corners, from which Belgium scored twice. The first goal came after Aoife Glennon's debut save, with Englebert converting the rebound. The second goal was a close-range deflection by Gerniers.

Ireland improved in the second half but couldn't capitalize on all their opportunities. Torrans' goal, scored with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, sparked hope, but ultimately, Ireland couldn't secure the draw. The team will look to build on this performance as they prepare to face England.

"What we take forward is that we have to take the ball and we have to move it, and we have to back our decision-making and go with real intent," Hawkshaw concluded. She expressed belief in her team's ability to compete with top sides, highlighting the need for a stronger start in their upcoming match.