The Ireland Women’s team have drawn nil-all with Mexico in their first game at the World University Games in Taiwan.
Donegal pair Amber Barrett and Niamh McLaughlin both started for the Irish, but Glenfarne’s Ailbhe Clancy and Mohill’s Dearbhaile Beirne did not feature.
Next up for the Irish women at the tournament is a tie against Canada on Sunday.
The Irish men’s team also played out a draw in their opening game against France.
Sligo’s Ross Taheny put in a commanding display at centre-back as the Irish kept a clean sheet.
They next face Mexico on Sunday.
REPORTS
WOMEN’S MATCH
Team Ireland’s women’s football team opened up their World University Games campaign with a scoreless draw against Mexico on a scorching afternoon in Hsinchu County Second Stadium.
Mexico dominated for large parts of the game but were more often then not restricted to long range efforts which Amanda Budden dealt with comfortably on each occasion. Ireland’s first sign of an opening came when Claire O’Riordan picked up the ball 30 yards out.
The Wexford Youths striker knocked the ball into the path of the overlapping Niamh McLaughlin with the Derry native bursting through the Mexican defence but her final effort couldn’t trouble the Mexican goalkeeper Ofelia Solis.
Ireland were hit a massive blow five minutes before half time when the energetic McLaughlin was forced to be substituted with a dead leg. The Northumbria University masters student will face a fitness test to make Sunday’s now crucial encounter with Canada.
Ireland looked comfortable with containing the Mexican threat in the second period with the creativity of the North American outfit beginning to wane in thirty-two degrees celsius heat.
The back three of Claire Walsh, Shauna Fox and Rebekah Carroll stood firm which forced the Mexicans to try their luck from distance with Budden relatively comfortable barring a Diana Lopez effort which smashed off the crossbar before flying out of play.
Ireland nearly completed the perfect smash and grab with twenty minutes to go when captain Amber Barrett raced through on goal with only the keeper to beat but the Donegal striker’s touch let her down and the ball was collected by Solis.
Ireland will go into Sunday morning’s clash with Canada knowing that three points will guarantee them a place in the Quarter Finals. Anything less will mean that the Girls in Green will be anxiously watching out for the result of Tuesday’s clash between Mexico and Canada.
IRELAND – Budden, Berrill, Walsh, Fox, Carroll, Mustaki, McLaughlin (Kinsella 43’) Ryan-Doyle (Frawley 55’) Nolan (McNamara 73’) O’Riordan, Barrett.
Subs Unused: Badana (GK), McCarthy, Clancy, Byrne, Jarrett, Webb.
MEXICO – O Solis, Perez (Munoz 33’), Pontigo, De la Rosa (Ramos 60), Vazquez (Lopez 54), Zepeda, Evangelista, Robles, Sandoval (Casas 43’) Cadena, D Solis
Subs Unused: Gutierrez (GK), Sosa, Castro, Balderas, Pina.
MEN’S MATCH
Ireland and France played out an entertaining tactical battle under the lights of New Taipei City Xinzhuang Stadium in the opening tie of Pool A of the World University Games Men’s Football.
