Passmore’s replacement due to be named in the coming weeks, with the Englishman moving upstairs to a full-time role as high performance director.

Ronan Gormley and Pedro Ibarra square off. Picture: Adrian Boehm

He had much to ponder after Wednesday night’s 4-1 defeat at Belfield, but his young squad responded well yesterday, with a diving Alan Sothern giving them the lead after good work on the end-line from Ronan Gormley.

Keeper David Harte thwarted three successive penalty corners as the Pumas sought an equaliser, but Diego Tanuscio turned the game on its head with two goals inside 60 seconds in the 43rd minute.

His first came from a rebound off Harte, while the second was diverted in from Juan Lopez’ pull-back.

Pedro Ibarra and Gormley faced off (see picture) as the tension mounted – evoking memories of the controversial incident when the Irish captain was allegedly spat at by an Argentinean player last February.

But John Jermyn’s drag with seven minutes to go gave the hosts a share of the spoils, but it could have been different as the final minutes yielded a flurry of activity.

Matias Paredes missed a decent chance for the South Americans, before Harte saved well from a corner.

An end-to-end last 60 seconds saw Peter Caruth gallop down the left wing only to be foiled by Juan Vivaldi. The subsequent break saw Conor Harte on hand to make a great cover tackle.

Thanks again to Stephen Findlater for the details!

Ireland's Tim Lewis gets the ball away under pressure. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Ireland’s lack of game-time together in the past four months since the Celtic Cup was all too apparent as they capitulated against world number seven Argentina at Belfield tonight.

Tim Cockram had given his side a first-half lead with a stunning reverse, but Ireland created next to nothing thereafter and were made pay for some sloppy individual errors in the second half.

Captain Ronan Gormley returned to the line-up despite playing just 15 minutes of hockey this season with Pembroke, while Cork Harlequins’ Mark Black returned after an eight-month rest from the international setup.

The pair made a solid enough return, with Black the most accomplished midfielder on show in the early stages of a tight battle.

Chances were at a premium in the opening half, but Ireland made their single effort count in spectacular fashion on 23 minutes. Fresh off the bench, Keith Black played in Timmy Cockram, who roofed a reverse from the top of the circle.

It proved the only shot of note in the whole half, with only a penalty corner apiece to show in terms of golamouth action.

A young Argentina side, packed with European-based players, created little in the opening half, but the South Americans more than made up for it after the break thanks to a litany of defensive errors.

The warning signs were there when Rodrigo Saliva missed a simple chance after Karl Burns – a repeat offender when it came to giving up the ball cheaply – was dispossessed.

But 11 minutes after the break, Gormley was pick-pocketed by Pedro Ibarra, whose square pass found Lucas Vila for the equaliser.

His brother Matias got the second soon after, a sweet half-volley that clipped the inside of David Harte’s post, and Augustin Corradini sealed the win via Burns’ leg to make it 3-1.

Tim Cockram celebrates his goal. PIcture: Deryck Vincent

Ibarra knocked in a gift-wrapped fourth after Johnny Jackson’s another with seven minutes remaining.

Ireland will be looking for a significant improvement in their second clash with the South Americans at Serpentine Avenue today (12pm), though David Passmore’s decision to field a less experienced side may scupper that ambition.

Passmore admitted his side had unravelled in the second period: “Having dominated the first half so brightly, it was disappointing not to be ahead by more at half time. In the second half we showed our youth and inexperience as we made too many individual errors that Argentina punished.”

IRELAND: D Harte (GK); K Burns, R Gormley (co-capt), M Watt, J Jermyn, E Magee, G Shaw, D Hobbs, T Cockram, J Jackson, T Lewis.
Rolling subs: J Lynch, D Ames, K Black, M Black (co-capt).
ARGENTINA: J Vivaldi (GK); J Gilardi, M Vila, P Ibarra, L Rey, M Paredes, L Vila, J Lopez, M Cammareri, L Rossi, I Bergner
Rolling subs: L Argento, L Cammareri, T Argento, F Callioni, A Corradini, D Tanuscio

See more of Deryck Vincent’s pictures from the game here. My thanks also to Stephen Findlater for helping me overcome geographical boundaries once again!

Passmore has named two panels for the games, with the second taking place tomorrow at Serpentine Avenue (12pm), and has named Ronan Gormley and Mark Black – who returns to the squad after a seven-month absence – as co-captains, even though both are carrying injuries.

“This is a great opportunity for some of the younger players to come in and compete against a top side such as Argentina,” said Passmore.

Mark Black: Returns to Irish fold in a co-captaincy role after a seven-month absence. Picture: Adrian Boehm

“These games will be tough and fast-paced, and the Argentineans will be out to settle a score after Ireland defeated them in the Olympic qualifiers earlier this year. These matches will provide challenging
and entertaining hockey.”

Passmore has opted for a more experienced lineup for tonight’s encounter, with old hands Stephen Butler, Graham Shaw, Karl Burns and Timmy Cockram all involved.

That quartet will make way tomorrow for Conor Harte, Joe Brennan, Geoff McCabe, David Ames and Annadale’s Peter Caruth, who may make his international bow.

Harte and McCabe are among a number of players in the squad who will be playing their fifth or sixth match in four days, having featured in regular Ulster and Leinster league action on Saturday before joining up with their respective colleges at the intervarsities in Kilkenny.

Argentina’s squad for the games is, predictably, entirely comprised of European-based players, though it remains to be seen how big a part Matias Cammareri plays, given he is in EHL action with Rotterdam this weekend.

By contrast, Ireland’s Three Rock Rovers contingent have been excused from international duty this week, to allow unbroken preparation for the club’s EHL campaign.

IRELAND (Squad v Argentina, Tonight, UCD, 7.30pm): D Harte (GK, Pembroke Wanderers), K Black (Cookstown), K Burns (Cork C of I), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), R Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers, capt), J Jackson (Loughborough), M Black (Cork Harlequins), G Shaw (Glenanne), S Butler (Glenanne), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), E Magee (Banbridge), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), M Watt (Grange HC), A Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers), J Lynch (Lisnagarvey).  Reserves: I Walker (GK, YMCA), D Ames (Cookstown).

(Squad v Argentina, Tomorrow, Pembroke Wanderers, 12.0pm): D Harte (GK, Pembroke Wanderers), I Walker (GK, YMCA), J Brennan  (Glenanne), K Black (Cookstown), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), R Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers, capt), C Harte (Pembroke Wanderers), J Jackson (Loughborough), M Black (Cork Harlequins), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), G McCabe (Banbridge), D Ames (Cookstown), E Magee (Banbridge), P Caruth (Annadale), M Watt (Grange HC), A Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers). Reserve: J Lynch (Lisnagarvey).

Mitch Darling, Peter Blakeney and Phelie Maguire have been excused from the two-day camp, to take place on October 25 and 26, to allow them to have uninterrupted perparation for their club’s EuroHockey League (EHL) campaign.

As a result, four players – Annadale’s Peter Caruth, Simon Todd of Mossley, Cookstown’s Colin Donaldson and Monkstown shot-stopper David Fitzgerald have been promoted from the Ireland A squad.

Passmore, who is in charge of the team on an interim basis while the Irish Hockey Association (IHA) deliberate on who his successor will be, said the camp was intended to bring the squad up to speed ahead of the clashes with Argentina in Dublin on October 29 and 30. The squads for the games will be announced on October 28.

“This will be a high-intensity camp to ensure we can get the team up to the physical and mental speed of matches in the short time we have before the Argentina games,” he said. “Players should be keen to impress, with the new coaching announcement imminent.”

Ireland men’s super camp squad: D Harte (GK, Pembroke Wanderers), D Fitzgerald (GK, Monkstown) I Walker (GK, YMCA); K Black (Cookstown), K Burns (Cork C of I), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), R Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers), J Jackson (Loughborough Students), M Black (Cork Harlequins), G Shaw (Glenanne), S Butler (Glenanne), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), E Magee (Banbridge), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), M Watt (Grange), A Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers), J Lynch (Lisnagarvey), J Brennan (Glenanne), C Harte (Pembroke Wanderers), G McCabe (Banbridge), D Ames (Cookstown), J Quigley (Annadale), P Caruth (Annadale), C Donaldson (Cookstown), S Todd (Mossley).

Injured: M Gleghorne (Instonians), M Ruddle (GK, Cork C of I), A McConnell (Three Rock Rovers)

Rested: P Maguire, P Blakeney, M Darling (all Three Rock)

Unavailable: G Lennox (GK, Banbridge)

The Irish Hockey Association (IHA) yesterday confirmed the South American side will play two games in Dublin on October 29 and 30, ending speculation that has been circulating since last week.

Ronan Gormley: Allegedly spat at by an Argentinean player the last time the sides met. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Argentina will be looking to avenge a shock defeat in New Zealand last February during Ireland’s a failed Olympic qualification campaign, which ended in controversy amid accusations that an Argentinean player had spat in Ronan Gormley’s face.

The claims were subsequently dismissed by the tournament officials, but there are sure to be plenty of needle in the grudge encounters.

Meanwhile, the search for a new Irish senior men’s coach is set to intensify this week, with four overseas candidates reportedly due to be interviewed on Thursday, alongside two Irish-based coaches.

The IHA’s high performance director Dave Passmore, who recently stepped down from the coaching hotseat, will take charge of the Argentina matches alongside his South African assistant Craig Fulton, who is many people’s favourite for the job.

Speaking about the Argentina clashes, Passmore said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to play a top ranked team who finished third in the Champions Trophy in July.

“Having beaten them earlier this year, they will be keen to avenge this result and the matches can be expected to be competitive, exciting games. It will provide an opportunity for some of the younger players who impressed over the summer to perform against higher ranked teams.”

Meanwhile, the IHA yesterday launched the Irish Hockey League at Pembroke Wanderers, with attendees receiving information from top umpire Ray O’Connor on the new EHL-style rules which will be in place when the competition kicks off on October 18.

The new website for the league also went live at the weekend, with the IHA promising the match report from each of the 60 games will be on the site within 45 minutes of each game finishing. Setanta Sports are set to screen the finals weekend, to take place next May.