Ireland's target at the start of the European Nations' Cup finals, qualification for the fifth-eighth place play-offs, proved beyond them in Cologne yesterday evening when they lost their final pool match 2-1 to Spain. The result left them second from bottom of pool B, ensuring that they can finish no higher than ninth at the tournament, their lowest ever placing.
It had all started so well, too. Ukraine could only beat the Czech Republic 3-1 earlier in the day, a result that meant a win by any margin over Spain would have been enough to see Ireland snatch fourth place on goal difference. Those prospects looked better still when Sarah Kelleher gave the Irish the lead after just five minutes, when she was first to the rebound following a save by the Spanish goalkeeper from an Arlene Thompson short corner strike. Four minutes later Lynsey McVicker was desperately unlucky not to extend that lead when, after diving to reach another corner rebound, she hit the left post. From then, though, the Spanish, who had nothing to play for, having secured third place in the pool, took a grip of the game, pinning Ireland back for long periods and only for Tara Browne's goalkeeping they would have gained a more comprehensive victory. They had a goal ruled out in the 20th minute, after Nuria Camon's effort was adjudged to have been hit from outside the circle (a hotly disputed decision) but they finally broke Browne's resistance four minutes in to the second period when Silvia Munoz turned home Camon's fiercely struck cross from the left. Between then and the end of the game Spain won another eight short corners (to add to the six they forced in the first half), their winner coming from their fifth in the 58th minute when Sonia Barrio, a member of the Olympic gold-medal winning team at Barcelona, slotted home Sonia de Ignacio's switch to the left.
By the time Ireland forced their first short corner of the second half, in the 67th minute, their fate was all but sealed - and when Thompson's shot was ruled to be raised, any hopes of a dramatic comeback were ended. Riet Kuper could not hide her disappointment but conceded that Spain were the better team and deserved their victory. Ireland now have three free days before they play in the ninth-12th place play-offs where they are likely to first meet Belgium.
Ireland: T Browne, L Caulfield, A Thompson, D Sixsmith, C O'Kelly, M Logue (capt), S Kelleher, R Kohler, C McMahon, J Burke, L McVicker. Subs: K Mills, C Carey.
Spain: E Carrion, M Barca, S de Ignacio, M Martin, S Barrio, S Munoz, L Lopez, M Feito, M Telleria (capt), E Urquizu, N Camon. Subs: N Moreno, M Gonzalez, M Prat, E Goikoetxea.
Umpires: A van Dyk and J Zhang.
