Scots draw with Ireland in Dublin

ELECTRIC IRELAND CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE –
DUBLIN

SCOTLAND  1   IRELAND 
1

Scotland coach Gordon Shepherd continues to defy the
world rankings, today his side drew 1-1 with Ireland, four places
above the Scots, in the second pool match at the Electric Ireland
Champions Challenge in Dublin.   That result leaves both
sides locked together in pole position in their pool with four
points each.

Prior to the hostilities, Nikki Kidd received a presentation on
the occasion of her 100th Scottish cap.

Against the background of a noisy, passionate crowd in Dublin,
it was Ireland who made most of the running in the first half and
had an early “goal” disallowed, at first the award seemed to stand,
but the umpires subsequently consulted and the “goal” was
disallowed.  Amy Gibson in the Scotland goal was forced into
several saves from both open play and penalty corner efforts to
keep the Irish at bay.   Midway through the half Sarah
Robertson made the running, she passed the ball on to Ali Bell but
the Grove Menzieshill striker fired straight at the Irish
keeper. 

At the other end Catriona Ralph had to scoop the ball clear from
another Irish penalty corner.   In 27 minutes the Scots
almost took the lead, Kidd`s drag flick was heading for the top
corner but the Irish produced the save of the match to keep the
score level.  But it was the Scots who took the lead at an
overtime penalty corner, the ball was slipped left to Becky
Merchant, she squared it to Catriona Ralph whose miss-hit shot
eluded the Irish keeper and squirmed just over the line. 

In the second half there were chances at both ends, Gibson again
had to block an Irish penalty corner, while a Kidd shot went wide
of the target.   The Irish pressure finally paid off in
59 minutes when Kathryn Mullan`s fierce low reverse stick shot gave
Gibson no chance for the equaliser.   As the match wore
on a Sam Judge cross just evaded Bell, while at the other end an
Irish penalty corner effort was blocked and cleared by Becky
Merchant.

The final few minutes were full of interest, a Kareena Marshall
snap shot was saved by the keeper, the Irish captain Alex Speers
received a red card, and an overtime penalty corner gave the Scots
hope of a late winner but Kidd`s drag flick was again blocked by
the Irish keeper.

Scotland`s final pool game is against South Africa on
Tuesday.

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