Goalkeeper Lizzy Murphy hailed an “unbelievable” 60 minutes for Ireland women despite a 2-0 defeat to world No.1 Netherlands in their EuroHockey Championship opener on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Loretto stopper was thrust into the spotlight as Ireland’s No.1 after Ayeisha McFerran was forced to pull out of the Championships through injury.
Ireland had, by a distance, lost their four games against the Dutch since the 2018 World Cup final. But Murphy pulled off a string of glove and boot saves to keep Ireland in the game against a side unbeaten at these Championships since 2015.
Murphy said: “We were such a unit today and it just felt we were so connected on the pitch. Everybody knew what they had to do and we knew going up against the world No.1 it was going to be some defensive battle.
“All 18 girls put bodies on the line and they absolutely killed it out there. To play against the best in the world at a Europeans is a surreal feeling. It’s actually hard to put words on it, it was unbelievable.”
Ireland staved off a first Dutch penalty corner within the first 90 seconds from Yibbi Jansen, who had scored in 14 of her last 16 matches as the world’s best flicker.
The Oranje opener did arrive in the ninth minute from a piercing three-way interchange from their own 23m. Murphy had brilliantly blocked the final shot before Joosje Burg touched home the rebound.
Ireland, for all their lack of possession and chances, did well to hold out consistent Dutch circle penetration and three first-half penalty corners thanks to Murphy’s saves.
Ireland’s first corner set piece came in the third quarter but Christina Hamill scuffed her shot. Minutes later, Jansen finally found her range and struck low with fizzing power past Murphy’s stretched right boot.
Ireland twice had chances to claw back the deficit in the second-half, the second saw Katie Mullan’s scoop cleared off the line as their best chance.
Ireland next play France on Monday in a must-win game to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals for the first time.
“We have to go out and perform against France as well,” said Murphy. “This is not the end, It’s only the first game and anything can happen at a European A division.
“I think it’s just set up so nicely. Going into the game against the Dutch, it was about taking it quarter by quarter and see what happens. And look, here we are at the end.”
