Gene Muller watched his side create decent opportunities throughout their five-and-a-half games – the final tie with Belgium was called off at 1-1 due to a waterlogged pitch – but for a return of just four goals.

Three of those came from defenders at short corners, which also produced the main near misses, though Nikki Evans’ brilliant reverse-stick strike against Belgium – a first goal from play since Aine Connery’s against India in December – did end things on a brighter note.

Chloe Watkins of Ireland and Lisa Deetlefs of South Africa both miss a high ball during the Investec Series Womens International Hockey match between South Africa and Ireland from Randburg Hockey Stadium on January 25, 2012 in Randburg, South Africa. Picture: Duif du Toit / Gallo Images

Cork Harlequins defender Cliodhna Sargent’s pair of corner bashes helped Ireland open their tour with a 2-1 defeat of South Africa.

She netted 43 seconds from time to hand Ireland their first ever victory over South Africa, winning their warm-up game at high altitude in Randburg. It was her second of the evening with Jade Mayne’s rebound the response from the home side who had gone unbeaten in four matches against Ireland in the past 18 months.

Things took a turn for the worse in their second build-up clash, this time with the Belgians, who will host Ireland’s Olympic qualifier at Beerschot in March.

Stephanie de Groof’s 11th minute goal – on her 5oth cap – handed Belgium a 1-0 win, with Audrey O’Flynn’s close calls at corner time representing Ireland’s best chance at replying. Louisa Healy also saved a de Groof penalty stroke.

With the Investec Tri-Nations Series getting underway a day later, world record goalscorer Pietie Coetzee nailed a penalty corner drag-flick past the outstanding Emma Gray in the seventh minute to clinch a 1-0 win for South Africa.

It brought her tally to 231 goals in 234 matches but she was left disappointed as she could not make further use of another seven corners.

Ireland then fell to their third successive 1-0 loss as Sofie Gierts pounced to give Belgium their second consecutive win over the girls in green.

They started off in decent fashion, winning an early corner while Emma Smyth struck the outside of the goal before Belgium picked up some momentum and they hit the front in the 17th minute when Gierts gobbled up a rebound created by Jill Boon’s initial shot.

O’Flynn clattered the bar with a corner 40 seconds into the second half as Ireland began to turn the screw, but again goals weren’t forthcoming.

Ireland did have the consolation of remaining unbeaten in their two matches thereafter, and were unlucky not to claim a first win as Nicolene Terblanche’s goal five minutes from time cancelled out Michelle Harvey’s early drag-flick in a 1-1 draw with South Africa.

Their final game was called off at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch. The girls in green were drawing 1-1 with Belgium at the time, thanks to Nikki Evans’ searing backhand strike as Ireland finally scored from play.

Next on the agenda for Ireland is a three-day training camp in Beerschot on February 25 before the Olympic qualifier begins on St Patrick’s Day.

Warm-up matches

Ireland 2 (C Sargent 2) South Africa 1 (J Mayne)
Ireland 0 Belgium 1 (S de Groof)

Investec Tri-Nations Series 

Ireland 0 South Africa 1 (P Coetzee)
Ireland 0 Belgium 1 (S Gierts)
Ireland 1 (M Harvey) South Africa 1 (N Terblanche)
Ireland 1 (N Evans) Belgium 1 (S Gierts) (abandoned due to waterlogged pitch)

Injury to his central panel was a rarity in 2011 but leaves the Irish boss with a string of concerns ahead of next month’s Olympic qualifiers in Dublin. Jermyn (ankle) is one such worry while skipper Gormley (knee) and schoolboy David Cole (broken shoulder) also miss out on the Valencia trip.

Cork C of I drag-flicker Jermyn is not always a starter for Ireland these days but his drag-flicking ability – along with Timmy Cockram’s – remains vital to Ireland’s cause.

The ankle injury suffered while training with his club last October, which restricted him to minimal game-time in the series against the Netherlands last month, is still causing concern.

John Jermyn's ankle injury is an ongoing concern for Ireland.

Richard Sykes and Brian Doherty both fit the bill as defenders with corner skills to fill the gap while utility man Bruce McCandless is available after injury and has the edge in experience. On the goalkeeping front, Ian Hughes steps out with Stephen West moving up as number three keeper following Iain Walker’s shoulder surgery last week.

Centurion Phelie Maguire has been added to the panel as part of a half-dozen players taking the place of a quartet of the Alicante selection for the latest 26 player panel.

On the trip, Ireland will play five matches against sides ranked higher in the world; Spain twice and Belgium three times.

They are coming off the back of two draws with Great Britain at Bisham Abbey; notable results in their own right but the side were annoyed not to have eked out a win.

Paul Gleghorne – whose brother Mark, a former Irish international, lined out for GB – finished off a fine team goal in game one (1-1) while Timmy Cockram’s pair of drag-flicks, including one on the final hooter, salvaged a 2-2 draw in the second encounter.

Ireland (Valencia, February 4-13): David Ames (Beeston), Jonny Bell (Lisnagarvey), Peter Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers), Chris Cargo (Reading), Peter Caruth (Annadale), Tim Cockram (Lisnagarvey), Mitch Darling (SCHC), Brian Doherty (Beerschot), David Fitzgerald (Monkstown), Paul Gleghorne (Instonians), Conor Harte (SCHC), David Harte (SCHC), John Jackson (Braxgata), Stuart Loughrey (Loughborough Students), Jason Lynch (Royal Racing Club Brussels), Eugene Magee (Dragons), Phelie Maguire (Hurley), Geoff McCabe (R.S. Tenis), Bruce McCandless (Banbridge), Andy McConnell (Hurley), Shane O’Donoghue (UCD), Ian Sloan (Cookstown), Richard Sykes (Monkstown), Gareth Watkins (Monkstown), Michael Watt (R.S. Tenis), Stephen West (Three Rock Rovers)

Match schedule: February 6: Ireland v Spain, 12pm;  February 8: Ireland v Belgium, 12pm; February 9: Ireland v Belgium, 12pm; February 12: Ireland v Belgium, 4pm; February 13: Ireland v Spain, 12pm

They began with a 4-1 defeat as Paul Revington’s charges were playing their first game together since last August’s European championships.

The Dutch were sharpest early on, with Billy Bakker netting inside the first 60 seconds. Conor Harte rattled the post with a drag-flick but Bakker’s second and a Valentin Verga effort had the Netherlands — without the dropped veteran duo Teun de Nooijer and Taeke Taekema — cruising at 3-0 by the break.

Ireland, for whom Shane O’Donoghue and Jason Lynch were among newer faces in the panel, found their rhythm after the break and Peter Blakeney finished off a fine counter-attack. But Klass Vermeulen had the final say for the Dutch nine minutes from time.

In game two, Ireland were again left to rue the concession of an early goal but upped their performance levels as they lost 2-1.

Former World Young Player of the Year Robbert Kemperman put the Dutch in front in the fourth minute and Roderick Weusthof doubled the lead before half-time, before John Jackson’s wicked reverse-stick strike pulled one back for the Irish.

Game three finished 3-1 to the Dutch, but this was a close tie as Ireland pushed hard in the closing ten minutes for a leveller after Chris Cargo had reduced the margin to the minimum with chances to equalise.

But the Dutch had the details in their favour and closed out the tie in the 67th minute when Valentin Verga notched his second of the series to complete a 3-1 win.

Sander de Wijn’s corner variation and a Roderick Weusthof strike around the 20th minute made it 2-0 after an even opening but the Irish upped their game in the second period.

Reading man Cargo finished off a swift counter to pull one back but Verga had the last say in this series as the Dutch head for 22 days in Australia while Ireland go to Bisham Abbey for two games against Great Britain on Thursday and Friday. A short hop back to Ireland next weekend precedes a flight back out to Valencia to take on Spain and Belgium.

Muller had named a 20-strong squad who will travel on January 22 to Johannesburg for their six-game tour to thee Randburg stadium in Johannesburg  to play Belgium – who Ireland will face in Beerschot in March’s Olympic qualifiers – and the host nation.

For Frazer, it will be her first appearance in the side since 2010’s World Cup qualifiers in Chile while Healy has not donned the goalkeeping smock since the summer of that same year.

Megan Frazer playing for Ireland at the 2008 Celtic Cup in Garryduff. She has since won two NCAA titles Stateside with the Maryland Terrapins. Picture: Adrian Boehm

They are among six returnees to the selection from December’s tour of Argentina, joining the experienced quartet of Emma Clarke, Lisa Jacob, Emma Smyth and Nikki Symmons — just back following a hip operation before Christmas — adding 422 caps to the mix.

Missing out from the central preparation programme (CPP) are Niamh Atcheler, Hannah Bowe, Anna O’Flanagan and Niamh Small, all of whom played in Argentina.

Muller said: “This tour gives us an opportunity to build on the progress we made on our tour to Argentina in December.

“Both South Africa and Belgium are in the final stages of preparing for an Olympic qualification tournament, and therefore these games will be very competitive.  We will use these matches for match preparation and for player trials before settling on our Olympic qualifying team.”

Meanwhile, Ireland’s men will face four of the world’s top eleven sides in an intense five-week period as preprations ramp up for March’s Olympic qualifiers in Dublin.

For Paul Revington’s men, it gives them their first match practice since beating Spain 3-2 in August in a fifth place playoff in the European championships.

First up is a three-match series against world number three the Netherlands as part of a warm-weather camp in Alicante before the side travel to England and Bisham Abbey for a two-match series with Great Britain.

A week’s break preludes a return to Spain and Valencia where the second training camp will be interspersed with two games against the Spaniards and four ties with Belgium.

The IHA also this week confirmed February 29 as the date on which the squads for the respective OQTs will be announced.

IRELAND senior women’s panel for South Africa tour (club/caps): A Connery (Hermes, 41 caps); E Clarke (St Albans, 117); L Colvin (Loreto, 67); M Crowley (Hermes, 26); N Daly (Loreto, 26); N Evans (Railway Union, 18); M Frazer (University of Maryland, USA , 25); E Gray (GK, Hermes, 40); M Harvey (Pegasus, 72); L Healy (GK, Loreto, 53); L Jacob (Hermes, 93);  S McCarthy (Hermes, 37); S McCay (Old Alex, 127); A O’Flynn (Hermes, 50); C Sargent (Cork Harlequins, 100); E Smyth (Railway Union, 51); A Speers (Railway Union, capt, 111); N Symmons (Loreto, 161); P Smithwick (GK, Old Alex, 7); C Watkins (UCD, 26).

Paul Revington: Won three trophies with Ireland, finished 5th in Europe and helped the side rise two places to 16th in world rankings. Picture: Adrian Boehm

The annual International Hockey Federation (FIH) awards are voted for online by players and supporters worldwide, with All Star panels for both the men’s and women’s games named.

Revington was named alongside Australian Colin Batch, who led Belgium to the Olympics, as an All Star coach, and becomes the first Irish coach to claim such an accolade.

It follows a stunning year that saw his young side produce an above-ranking fifth place finish in August’s European championships.

Ireland also annexed the Celtic Cup, Champions Challenge II and INSEP Five Nations — where they were the lowest-ranked side in contention — trophies, with a 5-1 mauling of world number six Korea the individual highlight.

The side also jumped two places to 16th in the world, and will enter March’s Olympic qualification tournament on home soil in Dublin with confidence.

For the full list of FIH All Star players and coaches, click here.

Audrey O'Flynn (left) and Cliodhna Sargent have become mainstays of the Irish women's team's defence. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Sargent became just the 20th female player in Irish hockey history to notch 100 caps, and at 23 she is the second youngest to do so — team-mate Shirley McCay, who reached the ton in April, is six months younger than her.

O’Flynn hit the 50-cap mark in yesterday’s clash, reaching the landmark in less than two years since her debut against Belgium in February 2010.

She notched Ireland’s equaliser in a 2-1 defeat to world champions Argentina in Parana on Saturday night — a drag-flick to the bottom corner — as Ireland continued to be competitive against higher-ranking opponents while frustratingly letting games slip away.

The pattern continued in last night’s bronze medal playoff against India, with Ireland going in front seven minutes in through Áine Connery but eventually losing 4-1, a scoreline which flattered the Indians, who claimed a couple of late goals while Ireland had Sargent operating as a kicking back to add the gloss.

Connery’s goals have been among the positives for Ireland, with Alex Speers also getting on the scoresheet at a time when the side looked too reliant on their corner strikers – almost exclusively defenders – for goals.

Confidence will be high going into 2012, but there’s nonetheless plenty to work on – in five of the eight games on this tour, Ireland turned potential wins into draws or draws into losses.

Four Nations, Buenos Aires/Parana, Argentina (Irish results only)

Ireland 0 South Africa 2
Ireland 1 (C Sargent) India 0
Ireland 2 (S McCay, C Sargent) Argentina 2
3rd/4th playoff: Ireland 1 (M Harvey) India 1 (aet, India win 4-2 on strokes)

Ireland 2 (A Connery, A Speers) South Africa 2
Ireland 1 (C Sargent) India 2
Ireland 1 (A O’Flynn) Argentina 2
3rd/4th playoff: Ireland 1 (A Connery) India 4

The 23-year-old Cork Harlequins defender could become one of the youngest players to reach the milestone — team-mate Shirley McCay, six months Sargent’s junior, hit the ton mark in April — if she plays in the remainder of Ireland’s games on their tour of Argentina.

Cliodhna Sargent: Has hit three goals in her last four Ireland games. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Sargent scored on her 98th appearance in green in last night’s 2-1 defeat to India and should win cap number 99 against the hosts in Parana on Saturday (11pm Irish time), with the landmark set to arrive in Sunday’s classification game.

Ireland were left to rue some sloppy first-half defending as their hopes of reaching the Four  Nations final were all but ended by the defeat to India.

The Indians scored at each end of the first half to put Gene Muller’s side under the kosh. Sargent rattled home a short corner on 42 minutes — her third in four games — but the world number 13 Asian side held out.

On Wednesday, Ireland again missed a chance to beat higher-ranked opposition as they twice gave up leads in the 2-2 draw with South Africa.

During last week’s first four nations tournament in Buenos Aires, Ireland were beaten just once in normal time in four games, and saw off India before blowing a two-goal lead to draw with world champions Argentina.

Against South Africa this time around, Kilkenny woman Aine Connery got Ireland off to a dream start in the second minute, finishg off after Lizzie Colvin had made the initial inroads down the left.

They held the lead until 11 minutes after the break when South Africa equalised from a Kate Woods corner.

Ireland went straight down the other end and regained the lead as skipper Alex Speers hoovered up a rebound, only for another South African corner to level it again on 53 minutes as fellow corner injector Tarryn Bright did likewise.

There was also a personal highlight during that game for Loreto schemer Niamh Small, who won her 50th cap.

Indeed, they almost pulled off one of their best ever results when they forged an early 2-0 lead against the host nation before Carla Dupuy struck with just four minutes remaining to deny a famous win.

It placed Ireland in Sunday’s bronze medal match with India, a tie which saw a trade of corner goals which led to penalty strokes and the Asian side prevailed 4-2.

Ireland celebrate Shirley McCay's opener against Argentina. Picture: Matias Noe Correa Arce

But it was Saturday’s tie which will provide both pride and frustration. Ireland hit the front when Shirley McCay clubbed home brilliantly first time after Cliodhna Sargent’s corner strike bounced back to the left edge of the circle.

Sargent ‘s second hit found its way in via the right-hand post woman’s stick to put Ireland in dreamland after 18 minutes and it was a lead they held until the break.

Silvina D’Elia swept home a slight corner switch with plenty of sliders making visibility difficult for Pamela Smithwick and it brought the sizeable crowd into the game as they felt the comeback was on.

And they got their leveller when possession was nabbed on the right wing with Dupuy working her way into the circle and unleashing a reverse.

It could have been even worse as a last minute corner hit Sargent on the line. But Noel Barrionuevo saw her penalty stroke effort kicked away by Smithwick and the draw was attained.

Coach Gene Muller  praised the side’s performance, saying afterwards: “We produced a very mature and committed performance today. Our work rate was fantastic and we were tactically smart. The players loved the fact that we got a result against the world champions in front of their large home crowd.”
The result, combined with South Africa’s 3-2 win over India, saw Ireland drop into the third/fourth playoff against the Asian nation.

Holding more of the play, Ireland looked on course to repeat their victory over three days earlier when Michelle Harvey scored from a corner but Deepika responded in kind from a set-piece to tie the game with 14 minutes left. It sent the game to penalty strokes and India got the edge 4-2.

Ireland are back in action on Wednesday against South Africa in Parana in the second Four Nations tournament.

**Words by The Hook’s Stephen Findlater. To see more of Matias Noe Correa Arce’s photos from the game, click here (requires Facebook)

Ireland (vs Argentina): Pamela Smithwich, Michelle Harvey, Sinead McCarthy, Cliodhna Sargent, Aine Connery, Chloe Watkins, Shirley McCay, Elizabeth Colvin, Niamh Small, Alexandra Speers (c), Audrey O’Flynn.

Subs: Miriam Crowley, Hannah Bowe, Nicola Daly, Niamh Atcheler, Anna O’Flanagan

Ireland (vs India): Emma Gray, Hannah Bowe, Aine Connery, Lizzie Colvin, Nicola Evans, Sinead McCarthy, Shirley McCay, Audrey O’Flynn, Cliodhna Sargent, Alex Speers, Chloe Watkins

Subs: Miriam Crowley, Anna O’Flanagan, Nicci Daly, Niamh Atcheler, Michelle Harvey

Second Four Nations (Parana, Argentina)

December 14: South Africa v Ireland, 8.30pm; Argentina v India, 11pm
December 15: India v Ireland, 8.30pm; Argentina v South Africa, 11pm
December 17: South Africa v India, 8.30pm; Argentina v Ireland, 11pm
December 18: Classifications – 3^rd v 4^th, 8.30pm; final, 11pm

The Derry native, who helped the University of Maryland Terrapins to their second consecutive all-American (NCAA) title, was yesterday awarded the 2011-12 Honda Sports Award in field hockey, designating her as the top student-athlete in the country in that sport.

Megan Frazer playing for Ireland at the 2008 Celtic Cup in Garryduff. She has since won two NCAA titles Stateside with the Maryland Terrapins. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Frazer, a cousin of Manchester United football star Darron Gibson, was the youngest member of Ireland’s European championships squad in 2009 and starred at all levels for her school Foyle and Londonderry, club Ballymoney and Ulster, before moving stateside for college in 2009.

She has been the most successful among a batch of successful Irish players in the USA that also numbers Limerick’s Rebecca Barry and former Ireland A starlet Liz McInerney.

Being based in America has ruled her out of contention for a centralised Irish squad that has been training semi-professionally in Dublin. But in honouring Frazer’s individual award yesterday, the Maryland Terrapins stated she will “spend the 2012 spring semester training with the Irish senior national team for its Olympic qualifier in Belgium in the spring”.

However, no official announcement regarding such a move has been made by Irish senior coach Gene Muller, currently in Argentina with his side for two Four Nations tournaments.

Ireland have already posted an encouraging result in the first of those in Buenos Aires, the sight of Indian jerseys once again spurred them into playing some of their best hockey, as they defeated the world number 13 1-0 on Thursday.

Playing the second of their matches following Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to South Africa, Gene Muller’s 14th-ranked side dominated against a side they’d also beaten at June’s Champions Challenge I in Dublin.

Forcing seven penalty corners, Cork Harlequins’ Cliodhna Sargent rattled home a direct shot on the 43rd minute for the only goal of the game, while Emma Gray’s heroics kept India at bay in the final minutes after Lizzie Colvin’s second yellow card left Ireland a woman down.

Nicci Daly starred in midfield and Sargent’s former Quins defensive partner Sinead McCarthy stood out at the back, giving Muller food for thought ahead of their final game against hosts Argentina on Saturday (8.30pm Irish time).

Against the South Africans, Marscha Marescia’s first-half corner goal and a Celia Smith one from play, at the second time of asking, after the break did the damage.

Revington named the 18 players he brought to the summer’s European championships plus five more who were in the reserve panel – Gareth Watkins, Stuart Loughrey, Iain Walker, Peter Blakeney and Bruce McCandless.

Cork man Lynch, formerly of C of I and Lisnagarvey but now playing with Racing Brussels in Belgium, makes up the 24, essentially replacing Phelie Maguire, who is named in the peripheral squad but is off to India to compete in the fledgling World Series Hockey.

Jason Lynch: Named in 24-man core Irish training squad. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Four more Munster men are named in the 22-strong peripheral squad; C of I’s Clinton Sweetnam and Billy Lynch, plus YMCA hitman Jonny Bruton were there or thereabouts in any case.

David Hobbs’ inclusion suggests Revington suggests the cap centurion still has a role to play, but there is no place for Bandon’s Alistair Smith, who had been involved at A level against Egypt during the summer.

Despite a return to goalscoring form with Pembroke since returning to Ireland, Alan Sothern must make do with a peripheral squad spot while the most eye-catching inclusion is that of David Cole, who is still eligible for the national U18 side.

Revington will base his squad out of Ireland from January 16-29 and February 4-12 to avail of warm weather training, the details of which are not yet confirmed, and will also have the benefit of hosting a number of international games in the run up to the Dublin Olympic Qualifiers.

He said “We enter another exciting period as an Ireland squad on the back of the hard work put in by everyone over the course of the past 18 months.

“While we are identifying a core and narrowed squad for the coming months, the panel of players in the peripheral squad will still indicate the value we place on building and growing an enlarged Ireland squad as we prepare to tackle the new challenges together in 2012.

“The core squad is by no means a ‘closed squad’ and as per previous years there is always scope for players to push their way into selection contention. The period December 2011 to March 2012 will be filled with training and game opportunities for the squad as we prepare to tackle the Olympic qualifier on home soil together.”

Tickets for the OQT will go on sale online on hockey.ie this week, while the IHA are also seeking expressions of interest from volunteers to help out at the tournament.

IRELAND senior men’s squads for Olympic qualifer training

CORE: D Ames (Beeston), P Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers), J Brennan (Glenanne), C Cargo (Reading), P Caruth (Annadale), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), M Darling (SCHC), D Fitzgerald (GK, Monkstown), P Gleghorne (Instonians), R Gormley (Club de Campo), C Harte (SCHC), D Harte (GK, SCHC), J Jackson (Braxgata), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), S Loughrey (Loughborough Students), J Lynch (Racing Brussels), E Magee (KHC Dragons), G McCabe (Santander), B McCandless (Banbridge), A McConnell (Hurley), I Sloan (Cookstown), I Walker (GK, YMCA), G Watkins (Monkstown), M Watt (Santander).

PERIPHERAL: J Bell (Lisnagarvey), P Brown (Banbridge), J Bruton (YMCA), D Carlisle (Banridge), K Carroll (Railway Union), D Carson (Corinthian), D Cole (Monkstown), S Cole (Monkstown), B Doherty (Royal Beerschot), S Dowds (Banbridge), R Flannery (Pembroke Wanderers), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), I Hughes (GK, Cookstown), B Lynch (GK, Cork C of I), P MacDonnell (Lisnagarvey), M Maguire (Royal Uccle), P Maguire (Hurley), S O’Donoghue (UCD), A Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers), C Sweetnam (Cork C of I), R Sykes (Monkstown), S West (GK, Three Rock Rovers)