Play
Dancer desperate for his Irish side to find their feet in attack
Ireland women's hockey head coach Sean Dancer prior to their SoftCo Series victory over Great Britain at Queen's University, Belfast last weekend. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
With the monkey of a first international win over GB off their backs, the Irish women will look to double-down today (3pm, BBC NI and RTÉ Players) and land a best-of-three win from their Softco Series.
Though the series at Queen’s is uncapped, the Green Army did relish breaking that duck, dedicating the result to much-loved Hockey Ireland staffer Vivienne Clarke who passed away in February.
More than the result, though, coach Sean Dancer is hoping his side can replicate more of the second-half aggression shown as he attempts to mould the side more into his image and away from a more cautious approach.
“The key thing for us, with the ball, is to try and be more aggressive and move it better,” Dancer said of the key phases which worked in Sunday’s 2-1 success.
“In the attacking third, we want to go more at them, back our skills. We do have skilful players and I want to see them take on any defence they play against.
“You’ve got that attacking instinct in the girls and this style really suits them so I am glad they are starting to bring that out.”
Dancer is expected to ring the changes again with as many as five players likely to be swapped in and out.
Online Editors
Most Watched
Play
Play
Play
Play
Play
Latest
- Ireland set for 110,000 extra doses of Pfizer vaccine as delivery of jab accelerated in Europe
- Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney's libel battle returns to court
- CJ Stander unhappy with IRFU contract offer as he announces shock retirement from rugby at end of this season
- Roy Curtis Opinion Horseracing is blessed to be able to turn to Willie Mullins to author a powerful message of redemption
- Pandemic support payment for 465,000 unemployed to be reviewed in June