Germany cruise past Craig Fulton’s Ireland side with second-half onslaught

Germany 6 (C Zeller 2, M Fuerste, F Fuchs, C Ruhr, C Wesley)
Ireland 2 (J Bruton 2) Ireland succumbed to a second-half German onslaught to end their two-match series in Krefeld with a 6-2 loss.

Jonny Bruton’s pair of first-half goals had seen Craig Fulton’s side level at 2-2 toward the end of the first half but four goals without reply soon saw the Olympic champions racing out of sight.

Moritz Fuerste and Florian Fuchs had given the Germans a flying start with a pair of goals in the first 15 minutes.

Three Rock Rovers striker Bruton, though, turned things around. First, he finished off Kirk Shimmins' excellent run and then tied the game when he finished off a move started by his clubmate Mitch Darling, via Timmy Cockram, sliding in at the back post.

Christopher Ruhr, however, ensured Ireland went into the half-time break behind before another pair of Christophers – Wesley and Zeller – provided the finishes for the second half goals.

Ireland return to camp in Dublin this week before a series in France next week as part of their World League 3 build-up when the Olympic places will be doled out.