Irish coach Riet Kuper returns to what must be a considerably less stressful job with NATO in Holland tomorrow morning after a frustrating fortnight at the European Nations' Cup in Cologne. It did, at least, end on a high for Ireland, with victories over Belgium (4-0) on Saturday and France (4-3) yesterday securing them a ninth place finish.
There were times, though, in both matches that Kuper's claim that Ireland were worthy of a better placing than ninth seemed unconvincing, not least on Saturday when a dismal first-half display against the Belgians saw them fail to breach a defence that had conceded 28 goals in five pool matches.
The second-half performance was greatly enhanced by a heated `telling off' from Kuper during the break that woke the players from their slumber and goals by Sarah Kelleher, Kim Mills, Jenny Burke (a wonderful solo effort after she had beaten five players) and Lynsey McVicker put the team through to the ninth-10th place play-off against France.
This time they started well, taking the lead after 25 minutes, in a half they dominated, when McVicker was first to the rebound after Sandrine Bretonniere saved a shot from Karen O'Brien - it was the Ballymoney playercoach's fourth of the tournament, making her Ireland's top scorer. It was 2-0 six minutes into the second half, Rachel Kohler forcing home another rebound from an Arlene Thompson short-corner strike. But two goals in two minutes from the French, who capitalised on an Irish defence taking an early morning nap, levelled the game. Burke restored the lead with seven minutes to go, pouncing on a loose ball after Daphne Sixsmith's corner strike (Ireland's 10th of the game) was blocked on the line, but, once again, the French came back, equalising from their third short corner with just three minutes left.
Claire McMahon finally put an exasperated Irish bench out of its misery five minutes into extra time when she scored the golden goal that clinched the game and ninth place - and, depending on results elsewhere in the coming months, a possible place in the 2001 World Cup Qualifier. It was a glorious goal, too, the only one of a disappointing tournament for the Pegasus winger. Sarah Kelleher's pass from the halfway line was deflected into her path by French sweeper Sophie Remoue and she kept her cool to slot the ball home.
After the game, Kelleher, who produced her most consistent form since, by her own admission, the 1994 World Cup in Dublin, confirmed that she will be unavailable for the Olympic Qualifier next March having decided to take a "nine to 12 month break" from work and hockey to travel the world. Daphne Sixsmith was, by common consent, Ireland's outstanding player through their seven games and seems set for a long stay in the centre-back role where she formed a good partnership with sweeper Arlene Thompson, another player whose form was praised by Kuper. Two of the teams in Ireland's pool - Germany and England - finished in the top three (with Spain finishing fifth and the Ukraine seventh), underlining just how difficult a draw they received.
Holland retained their title in beating Germany 2-1 with Kuper's niece Mijntje Donners scoring the winner in the 56th minute.
Ireland (v Belgium): S Hutchinson, L Caulfield, A Thompson, D Sixsmith, C O'Kelly, M Logue (capt), S Kelleher, R Kohler, C McMahon, J Burke, L McVicker. Subs: C Carey, K Humphreys, K Mills, K O'Brien.
Ireland (v France): T Browne, L Caulfield, A Thompson, D Sixsmith, P Magill, M Logue (capt), S Kelleher, R Kohler, K Mills, J Burke, L McVicker. Subs: C Carey, C McMahon, K Humphreys, K O'Brien.
