Ireland hand out 3-0 whitewash to Scots in Glasgow
Ireland saw off a determined Scots side to win all three matches in ‘The Celtic Series’ at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow. Taking the series on Saturday with their second win from two, they cruised to victory in the third match to win the series and the trophy 3-0.
The first few minutes of the match were fairly even, but Ireland always looked the more dangerous, forcing Lucy Camlin in the Scottish goal to pull out a couple of fine saves.
The visitors were unlucky about 10 minutes in as they had a couple of strikes on goal deflected wide.
Scotland were defending well, but, with less than two minutes left in the quarter, Ireland scored their first goal, Kathryn Mullen latching onto the ball a few metres out and smashing a reverse strike into the net for 1-0.
Early in the second quarter, Ireland were pressing again, but the Scots cleared the ball, then saw their chance at an equaliser from a penalty corner fired wide.
Eight minutes into the quarter, Ireland scored their second open play goal from a drive into the area deflected into the net by Naomi Carroll.
Scotland made a few forays into Irish territory, but, despite getting the ball across the front of goal, just couldn’t manage to get that final touch to worry the keeper, but they were looking well capable of opening their tally.
A final touch that did worry a keeper, unfortunately, came at the other end as the visitors kept up the PC conversion success in the 29th minute with their third goal, Hannah Matthews supplying the tap in.
Scotland did have the final chance of the half, but they couldn’t get a stick on the ball amid a near post scramble and the half ended 3-0 to the visitors.
Scotland had a fair bit of possession and territory early on in the second half, but, once again, it was Ireland who scored. This was from another PC conversion with the goal coming from Emily Beatty who turned the ball in from a couple of metres outside the near post for 4-0.
Scotland left it late, but they were beginning to press the Irish defence and got into the D on more than one occasion, but just couldn’t find that vital touch to get on the score board
The home fans had to wait until the 54th minute to celebrate a goal at the Irish end when a well worked play pulled one back for the Scots. Picking up the ball in midfield, Bex Condie sent an arrow of a pass through the defence to Hanna McKie, on her own in the D. Despite playing in her debut match, McKie kept her composure and hammered the ball past the keeper with a reverse strike for the goal.
However, almost before the support had regained their seats, Ireland had struck back at the other end with their fifth goal, this one a copy-cat of their fourth, right down to the scorer, Emily Beatty.
Scotland put their all into the final few minutes and battled hard, but Ireland soaked up the pressure until the final hooter to take ‘The Celtic Series’ and the trophy three games to nil.
Ireland now go off to the World Cup to see what they can do against some of the big(ger) girls in World hockey, while Scotland go on to play another three-match series against Italy, in about 10 days, as they build towards their 2019 campaign.
Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.
