Day 1- Women's Team

Finland vs Ireland

With a squad of 16 girls, we set out to play an athletic and experienced looking squad of 16 Finnish girls. We started off slowly, failing to shut down their open side passes and deep puts. We woke up when the score was 6-2, with Finland ahead. They put a zone on, which we managed to rip through (probably thanks to all our practice against the LMS girls' zone!)We brought it level to 8 all, with everyone getting huge d's and playing calm offense. (Notable things here: A huge D from Caoimhe, where the disc was miles above her head and she took it down right in front of her man in front of the endzone. Olly Murphy and Deirdre Corbett running through everything and taking the disc back loads of time. Helen Hobson using all the space in the endzone and scoring loads of times! Fiona Mernagh taking everything out of the air. Megan Reilly catching an amazingly difficult disc, not meant for her, by attempting a layout on the rock hard ground.) We were playing like a team and Finland were scared. They managed to bash in the last point and took the half.

After hiding in a small patch of shade for 10 minutes, we headed back out on the pitch, hoping to pull up level with them. We started on D but managed to turn them and bashed in a score. We took the next point as well, putting us in the lead for the first time in the game. We traded until 11 when we scored three in a row. Time was called and it was a game to 16. We all knew it was so important to get the next point to ensure we'd take the game. It was probably the longest point we played because both teams really wanted it. But Ireland proved the stronger and scored. We got on the line pumped up to play defense and get the disc back. This game was ours for the taking and we wanted it. After a few turns from both teams on silly mistakes (everyone was very hot and very tired), we managed to get a big huck off to Emma Tracey. She was incredibly calm and dumped the disc and ran in to catch the score, though a travel was called on her throw. She again managed to get the disc off and we turned over again. We didn't want to have to play up the length of the field so we played really intense d and turned them on the first pass. We had a lovely cut from Helen Hobson to the break side for the score.

Everyone really played like a team. Everyone managed to get involved in both defense and offense and I'm pretty sure everyone either scored or assisted at one point in the game. I know Fiona, Alan, and I were so proud of everyone on the team for their performance.

MVP of the game: Olly Murphy
Score: 16-11

Australia vs Ireland

We knew this would be a difficult game as they had bageled Germany in the first game. They proved too strong for us and took the game. We were short a few people to heat stroke and injuries, and were really destroyed from playing in the 40 degree heat. We took our chances but nothing worked. We couldn't overcome their experience, their numbers, their agressive defense and amazing throws, or their ability to play in the extreme heat.

MVP of the game: Fiona Mernagh
Score: 0-17

Today we have one game against Columbia at 3pm.