Late Mullan goal secures historic victory over Germany

Germany 1 (J Teschke) Ireland 2 (A O'Flanagan, K Mullan)

A brilliant Katie Mullan goal with two minutes to go saw Ireland's women beat Germany – the 2016 Olympic bronze medallists – for the very first time, winning 2-1 in Berlin at the Four Nations Invitational tournament.

The captain latched on to Hannah Matthews's hit and hope from the left side of the halfway line and Mullan did just enough to push it past Julia Ciupka for a famous win.

Anna O’Flanagan had given Ireland the lead with another top class goal, turning the last defender and slamming home following Sinéad Loughran’s classy run in the build-up.

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German captain Jana Teschke equalised right at the end of the third quarter from a penalty corner and they had a series of corner chances to go ahead. Staunch defence, led by goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, kept Germany at bay. Ireland fired some late volleys forward through Deirdre Duke before Mullan got the winner.

Ireland will play China in their second game of the competition on Friday evening before facing South Korea on Sunday. China and South Korea drew 1-1 on Thursday.

They will meet Germany in July, in the group stages of World League Round 3, the World Cup 2018 qualifying event.

Ireland: A McFerran, K Mullan, S McCay, L Tice, G Pinder, C Watkins, N Daly, H Matthews, A O'Flanagan, Z Wilson, D Duke. Subs: N Evans, E Beatty, S Loughran, R Upton, L Colvin, A Meeke, G O'Flanagan.

Germany: J Ciupka, N Lorenz, B Wenzel, C Stapenhorst, J Muller-Wieldand, N Heyn, J Teschke, F Hauke, C Pieper, M Mavers, N Notman. Subs: E Grave, E Martin Pelegrina, M Hayn, C Nobis, H Granitzki, V Huse