Right: GB skipper Kate Walsh with the Setanta Trophy. First a reality check. Nobody in the German camp is going to lose much sleep over their failure to win the Setanta Trophy. This was not the Olympic Games. On the other hand, the comprehensive defeat that they suffered at the hands of Great Britain’s women in the final here in Dublin this afternoon cannot be written off as a fluke. A rock solid defence and a forward line that can find the net – for too long one of the major failings of the England squad – combined together to give GB a remarkable win and one a sense of optimism. No doubt the Germans were holding something back. The important matches are in Beijing in a couple of months’ time. But perhaps so too were the British? Make no mistake about it, the Germans are a good side, but a team that includes the likes of Keller, Rinne, Kuhn and Stockel, took almost two full halves of play to find the net, by which time the result was done and dusted. Sarah Thomas scored after only seven minutes and Charlotte Craddock made it two just before the break. Rachel Walker and Crista Cullen added to the tally in the second half. The German’s only goal was a consolation from a penalty corner, with four minutes left on the clock, scored by Anke Kuhn. Final score 4-1.
Danny Kerry’s mix of youth and experience has been a revelation in this match, with some of the younger members of the squad impressing, in particular Chloe Rogers, seventeen year old Charlotte Craddock, and Alex Danson. But make no mistake about it. The real test is yet to come.
GB men came third after an uneasy game against Ireland which could have gone either way. GB were first to find the net, seven minutes into the second half, off the stick of Matt Daly. Stephen Dick scored GB’s second eight minutes later. Stephen Butler scored for Ireland with just over ten minutes left.
Right: GB skipper Kate Walsh with the Setanta Trophy.