Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw by an organised and obstinate Italy yesterday, leaving the Green Machine on four points from six after day two of the EuroHockey Championships II in Gniezno, Poland. Shane O’Donoghue’s 112th international goal had Ireland buzzing in the seventh minute, but Francois Sior got Italy back on level terms just six minutes later as all the scoring took place in the first quarter. Thereafter, it was a game of patience as the Italians – ranked eight places below Ireland in 22nd – defended deep and resolutely to offer up limited chances. “We didn’t play with the same level of aggression compared to the game against Poland. Ireland – J Milliken, T Cross, J McKee, K Marshall, S O’Donoghue, S Murray, M McNellis, P McKibbin, M Robson, B Walker, B Nelson.

Source: Irish Independent August 18, 2021 01:30 UTC