Ireland U21 Lacrosse Match 4

 

Ireland 9

Czech Republic 4

Eoin Horkan

UL Sports Fields.

 

The Irish u21 team played their first knockout game of the world championships against the Czech Republic at lunchtime today. They  managed to make it 4 wins in a row against the Czechs.

The Czechs managed to win the first face of  off the match and put the pressure on the home team. The Irish defence stood strong for the opening minute. As they drove up the field on the counterattack Conor Foley managed to goal to give his side the lead. The next few minutes of the quarter the Czechs took control of the ball and they eventually broke through what had been a resolute Irish defence. With eight minutes to go they managed to level the tie. In the next play Ireland broke away through Jack Galvin who fed the ball to Sean Horkan to give his side the lead again.  Foley added a third straight   from the face off as Ireland led by two at the end of the first quarter.

The Czechs flew out of the blocks in the second quarter levelling the tie with two quick goals inside the first eight minutes of the quarter. Ireland  who looked under pressure with five minutes to go before half time. This was until Aidan Dempsey came off the bench to score straight away. The last goal of the half came from the Irish side again from the aforementioned Foley.

Ireland were starting to control the play after the break with the defence holding strong and Jack Galvin covering every blade of grass in UL. This control led the Irish side firing into two more goals from Foley and Dempsey who were causing havoc every time the ball came near them. The Czechs responded just before the end of the third quarter leaving three goals between the sides heading into the final term.

The Irish completely controlled the ball in the last quarter of this tie as they closed out for the win. As they had the majority of possession they inevitably managed to net two more goals from Foley and Dempsey as they won out five goal winners in the end.

 

Ireland will play Canada at lunchtime  on Wednesday in their next knockout game .

Ireland: Conor Breen; Matthew Brennan, Ben Collins , Gavin Conlan; Finn Daly. Aidan Dempsey, Jack Doherty, Conor Foley, Jack Galvin, Joseph Gehle Sean Horkan, Liam Horkan, Ridley Horton, Aedan Kearns, Fionn Kinsella , Matt Loftus, Sean Loftus, Patrick McKee, Brady Morin, Kevin Somerville, Michael Songer, Jack Songer, Joe Walsh, Ronan Walsh.