India wrapped up their Ireland tour with back-to-back wins, sending a strong message ahead of the FIH Pro League European leg. They beat Ireland 2-1 today after a dominant 4-0 win in the opening match.
Unlike the first game, the second match was far more competitive. The opening quarter ended goalless, but India stuck to their counter-attacking style and struck first in Q2. After stealing the ball in their own half, they broke quickly, and Shilanand Lakra slotted it home.
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Ireland responded by raising the intensity, but India struck again in Q4. Dilpreet Singh finished off a quick break to make it 2-0. Louis Rowe pulled one back almost immediately for Ireland, setting up a tense finish. Ireland kept pushing for an equaliser, but India’s defence stayed sharp. A late penalty corner save sealed the win.
Earlier, in the first match, Dilpreet Singh starred with a brace in a commanding 4-0 victory. India, usually structured under coach Craig Fulton, came out attacking. Mandeep Singh opened the scoring in Q1, and Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner to double the lead.
Fulton’s emphasis on defensive organisation remained clear. Even as Ireland threw players forward, India held their shape and hit back on the counter. Dilpreet scored twice off breakaways to complete the win.
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These matches gave India the ideal warm-up for the challenges ahead. With Belgium, the Netherlands, and Australia coming up, confidence from these results could prove vital. India currently sits third in the standings, just one point behind leaders England.
In the European leg, India will face some of the best teams in the world. The Ireland tour showed solid defensive structure, effective counter-attacks, and clinical finishing. Coach Craig Fulton will be pleased with the team’s organisation and clarity heading into bigger challenges
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