Ireland narrowly beaten by Belgium in FIH Hockey Pro League

Charlotte Beggs, Katie Mullan, Niamh Gowing, and Mia Jennings pose with fans. Pic: Front Row Union/Paul Harvey.

Another full-house at the Sport Ireland Campus saw Ireland's Women's side fall to a narrow defeat to Belgium in the FIH Hockey Pro League.

But before that on Saturday, England and Germany Men warmed the crowd up in the morning with a thrilling tie, as onlookers enjoyed an action-packed second half after a scoreless first half.

England’s James Gall broke the deadlock just after half-time before Henry Croft, Samuel Hooper, and Nicholas Bandurak put Germany to the sword.

By the afternoon, the sell-out crowd was primed for the main event as the Ireland Women faced Belgium in their penultimate outing in Dublin. Ireland’s Call bellowed around the National Hockey Pitch as Ireland hoped to build on their performance against England.

Belgium, however, started brightly, scoring twice in the opening quarter to surge ahead.

But Ireland, backed by the roaring crowd, came into their own in the second half. Sarah Torrans’ pulled a goal back in the latter stages of the third quarter and continued to ask questions, but the goal didn’t quite come, and Belgium completed their first stage with a perfect record.

Ireland Women are back in action on Sunday at 2pm when they will take on England for the final game of this week’s FIH Hockey Pro League Dublin series.