Irish enjoying a solitary win in the France and Ireland Three Test series
All the matches of the three Test series had an identical solitary finish, where Ireland won over France by a 2-0 goal score on April 23, 24 and 25 respectively.
This international meet was made possible when France’s women Head Coach, Steven Colledge, and his technical team grouped up in Dublin, Ireland from April 22-25.
The first match was played on April 23 at the Pembroke Wanderers HC, Dublin followed by the next two matches, both played in the National Hockey Stadium at University College Dublin on April 24 and 25.
In the first match, Ireland’s Michelle Harvey shot both the goals of the game, each in one half. The match closed with Ireland defeating France at 2-0.
In the second match, the first half went score-less until the opening goal that was delivered by the Irish Audrey O Flynn, mid-way through the half. Flynn attempted a beautiful drag flick right into the net, inaugurating the score at 1-0. Ireland dominated
in the first half, but failed to add another score by the end of the first half.
The second half continued with the Irish invasion at the French defence circle time and again, yet hardly, succeeded to add up a score in the 55th minute of the match. This score became possible when an Irish pair shared a pass in order to take
the second lead score for the team. This pass was made by Lisa Jacob to Miriam Crowley, who shot a hit to seal the scores at 2-0. An Irish squad member, Gillian Pinder, appeared on the field to make her debut. This became possible because Michelle Harvey was
sitting out on the bench due to her facial injury.
The third match of the series was a memorable one for the Irish captain, Shirley McCay, who completed her 100 caps for Ireland, yesterday.
The first goal was sealed when a quick hit from Nicola Symmons was deflected by Anna O Flanagan into the top of the net, scoring her first international senior goal and putting Ireland on lead by 1-0.
The second goal of the last match was shot in the 64th minute of the second half as a result of a penalty-corner. This shot was sent home by the Irish Cliodhna Sargent, sealing the match at 2-0 followed by a 3-0 series win for Ireland.
It was the final preparation for France before leaving for the 2011 European Championship in August, this year. With four months left, it is a high-time for the French women team to get all set in terms of physical and strategic stamina with an objective
to end up in Group A of the upcoming championship.
Before this, the French women played a three-match series against Italy and managed to end up the series with a 2-1 lead.
While selecting the squad for the Irish tour, names of few of the best French women slipped away due to their injuries and they were substituted with some young hockey talents.
The 16-member French National women hockey team that featured this series consist of Emilie Begue, Marie Billore, Charlotte Boyer, Sunita On Halluin, Anne-Sophie Daire, Margaux Of Galzain, Anabelle Got, Juliet Hevin, Louise Lebaindre, Julie Martinot, Rosa
Padilla, Juliet Parent, Helena Plumart, Elise Preney, Apolline Rogeau and Claire Sansonetti.
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