Irish hockey was yesterday celebrating one of the most famous results in its recent history, after the senior men’s side routed world number six Korea 5-1 at the INSEP Five Nations in Paris yesterday.
Paul Revington’s charges have had a tremendous summer thus far, claiming both the Champions Challenge II and Celtic Cup trophies with relatively inexperienced panels, as well as reaching the final of the UCD Four Nations.
But they climbed greater heights yesterday by stunning an in-form Korea side, who recently saw off top opposition in England and New Zealand at the London Cup and are ranked 12 places higher than the Irish.
Geoff McCabe waited over 80-odd appearances to nab his first international goal earlier this month, but now the Banbridge-born midfielder can’t stop hitting the net. He netted twice from play in the opening six minutes, before his Santander club-mate Mikey Watt roofed an open side shot for three and Andy McConnell broke into the circle and shot in off the far upright.
Ireland left the field to a standing ovation at half-time and had another goal disallowed early in the second-half, before Korea hit back with a strike of their own having earlier forced David Harte to save a shot onto the crossbar. However, Ireland kept it together at the back to stave off any fears of a comeback, before Mitch Darling set up Watt to put the result beyond doubt and notch a first win against Korea since 1997.
While coach Revington will know one swallow doesn’t make a summer, the victory gives Ireland great confidence ahead of today’s assignment against world number one side Australia (3pm Irish time).