Ireland bounce back to take draw

International Friendly:
France 1 (Nicolas Monnier) Ireland 1 (Mikey Watt)
In a vastly improved performance, the Irish team shared the spoils in the second of their two-match series with France in Paris.

Mikey Watt’s (left) 51st minute goal cancelled out Nicolas Monnier’s penalty stroke early in the second half to secure the draw, bouncing back well from Wednesday’s 6-1 loss – Ireland’s biggest ever turnover by the French.

A lively first half ended scoreless with Ronan Gormley and Alan Sothern both going close, the latter with a deft touch to Eugene Magee’s reverse-stick cross that was expertly saved.

Monnier broke the dead-lock in the 41st minute from the spot after David Harte had infringed in the circle.

Ireland had the upper hand for the most part, thereafter, and got their reward when Mikey Watt was the benefactor from a flowing move involving Peter Caruth and Geoff McCabe.

David Hobbs and Joe Brennan both picked up knocks soon after as Ireland continued to press for a winner but it never came, leaving the Irish to settle for a 1-1 draw. They are next in action on October 2 against Scotland in Banbridge.

Ireland: David Harte, Johnny Jackson, Ronan Gormley, Michael Watt, Joe Brennan, Eugene Magee, Peter Caruth, Andy McConnell, Graham Shaw, David Hobbs, Mitch Darling, Alan Sothern, Geoff McCabe, David Ames, Conor Harte, Tim Lewis