19/03/2026
Disappointment in Croatia at the European Deaf Futsal Championships
Valiant went down fighting with our staff member Rebekah Grant scoring again, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get Ireland into the European Championship Final.
Ireland 1-3 England
Ireland had the measure of their rivals for long periods of the first half but had keeper Brooke Dunne to thank for a string of saves throughout the first period. Ireland did have chances of their own also with Catherine Grier hitting the post in the 6th minute after rounding the English keeper, while Laura McGuinn and Rebekah Grant both shot narrowly wide for the Irish.
After the break, England upped the tempo of the game and used their numerical advantage to good effect, constantly rotating their larger squad, and within four minutes of the second half, this advantage paid dividends. England broke swiftly with a swift interchange of passing, carving the Irish Defence apart to open the scoring. A minute later, the English broke again, but this time fired narrowly wide of the Irish upright.
If the English thought the entire second half would be plain sailing, then they hadn't realised how resilient this Irish side can be. Catherine Grier proved to be a constant thorn in the English side, picked up the ball in her own half and powered past two English defenders before squaring the ball to an unmarked Grant, who tapped home to equalise at the back post.
Ireland remained level for all of three minutes when England again broke to once again take the lead, with the score now 2-1. Again, Ireland fought back with Rebekah Grant's long-range shot being tipped over the bar by the English keeper for a corner. From the resulting corner, Grant's snapshot rattled the crossbar with the English keeper well beaten.
With just 3 minutes remaining and Ireland pushing for an equaliser, the English broke again, curling an unstoppable shot past Dunne in the Irish goal to finish the game off.
The Irish Deaf Women's Futsal Team must dust themselves down and go again on Saturday as they compete for bronze at the 7th European Deaf Futsal Championship
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