04 July 2009

Ireland bow out of WUG with a defeat to France

World University Games, Belgrade, Serbia
Team Ireland
 
Saturday round-up - Football  
By Chris Barnes
Team Ireland Press Officer in Belgrade

In football, the Irish women bowed out of the competition after losing 1-0 to France at the FC Lokomotiva stadium.
A scrappy first-half goal from the French was enough to knock the Irish out of the main competition leaving them in third place of Group D with only the top two advancing to the quarter finals.
Ireland pressed hard for the equalizer but couldn’t find a way through the French defence. A hail storm 10 minutes from time saturated the players and pitch, and the game was halted for the severe weather to subside.
The games resumed after a five minute respite, but the break had knocked the Irish women off their rhythm and they didn’t find the two goals they needed.
Manager Sue Ronan said: “I think that we lost our momentum with the rain just finishing us off. But we played well and pressured the French throughout. I think we were unlucky not to get anything from the game which is disappointing for the girls.”