Ireland returned home from the Home Nations in Portsmouth after achieveing 3rd place in the tournament.  The redeveloped team were both encouraged and frustrated by this result.

In August Ireland went to play in the Home Nations Tournament in Portsmouth with a new management structure and a new squad with a lot to prove.  Ireland have been regarded as the ‘kicking boys’ at this tournament for a couple of years and have been unable to get the results they have deserved.

With two matches on the Saturday they knew it was going to be a busy and tiring day for the team.

The first match was against Wales and it was not a great start for the team as they lost 2-0 to a good Welsh team going down to two heavily contested penalty flicks.  It was a case of ‘if only’ for the Irish, if only they could have converted some of their penalty corners, if only they had not hit the post, if only..............  However as a team they performed well and worked hard for each other but were disappointed with the result as they felt they deserved more.

On the Saturday afternoon Ireland faced a strong Scottish team that had played England earlier in the day.  Ireland went down 1-0 to an early goal but maintained their composure and were soon back on level terms after an excellent goal from a Reilly cross that was blasted home by Pinion.  Ireland kept up the offensive and were soon in front after a strike from a penalty corner by Murray.  Scotland equalised in the second half but with 10 minutes to go Reilly picked up the ball just outside the 23m line and after a blistering run through the defence rounded the keeper to give Ireland a much deserved win.

The final game was on the Sunday against the ‘old’ enemy England.  It was a very even contest for the first 35 minutes that saw England score first but Ireland equalised through Redpath and then pressured England right up to the interval.  However it was a game of two halves and Ireland never really started after the break and it was not long before England were 2 goals up and the Irish heads were down.  England finally won the game with a comfortable 8-1 score line more down to fitness and squad size than anything else.   

The squad are now looking forward to and preparing for the World Cup in Hong Kong at the end of October.