Ireland 1-2 Scotland
The Ireland women’s team’s hopes of a 9th-10th play-off spot suffered a huge blow after a 2-1 loss to Scotland in the first of their two pool classification games.
After an energy-sapping effort in defeat to Belgium less than 48 hours earlier, Ireland looked weary in the opening minutes with the energy belonging to Scotland, who won a flurry of early penalty corners that forced Ireland into defensive duties.
Scotland eventually found the breakthrough from a set-piece, Ellie Mackenzie providing the deflection in front of Lizzy Murphy to lift the ball into the roof of the net.
Scotland carried their positive momentum into the second quarter, winning yet another penalty corner that was successfully defended.
A rare Irish attack eventually proved fruitful as Emily Kealy reacted quickest to a saved Christina Hamill effort to flick the ball into the back of the net and draw Ireland level in the 26th minute.
Ireland weren’t on level terms for long as Scotland grabbed another early in the second half, Charlotte Watson controlling a crash ball into the Irish circle and firing an inch-perfect strike into the roof of the net.
Ireland mounted a response immediately after as Niamh Carey did well to find goalscorer Kealy who won Ireland a penalty corner, but Scotland cleared their lines.
A second opportunity followed as Michelle Carey played a ball across the face of goal where Kealy once again came close, but the delivery was just out of her reach.
Ireland continued to search for their equaliser in the final period, but the battles in the days prior looked to be taking their toll as individual errors in the attacking third meant ventures into the Scottish circle were few and far between.
The result sees Ireland drop to third in Pool C behind the USA and Scotland.
Ireland will play the USA in their second pool outing on Monday as they look to get back into that 9th-10th play-off race.