The two sides traded chances from penalty corners early on before the home side took the lead.
The ball was pushed across goal by Kina and turned into the net off an Irish stick.
Ireland weren’t behind for long, however. Some attractive interplay in attack from the Irish pulled the Belgian defence out of position and the ball found Johnson, who popped in the equaliser at the back post.
Ireland bookmarked the third quarter by scoring in the first and the last minutes.
Captain Sean Murray, who was again outstanding, won the ball in midfield to set his side on the attack. He found Walker who provided the perfect incisive pass for Johnson to flick home.
Ireland had to absorb a lot of Belgian pressure, but it came as no surprise that it was Murray who provided the breathing room their play deserved.
Once again, he won the ball, burst into the circle with pace and then found the back of the Belgian net with a super reverse stick shot.
Ireland’s defence was again brilliantly marshalled by Shane O’Donoghue and Luke Madeley, and they coped with all Belgium threw at them in the final quarter.
The icing on the cake came in the closing minutes when Walker knocked in a rebound after a penalty corner routine had broken down. The goal stood after the umpires had checked and found no obstruction.
Ireland held on for what is only their second win in twelve Pro League games but, in what was always going to be a learning process, they’ve shown that they are taking the lessons and applying them quickly.
And as if the appetite wasn’t already whetted, Ireland and Belgium will next meet on the first full day of competition at the Paris Olympic Games on Saturday 27 July.
