Ireland prove they’re worth it

Ireland proved the hockey public’s cash was money well spent as they cruised into the Champions Challenge I semi-finals in Quilmes, Argentina yesterday. Based on world rankings, Ireland would have been expected to be battling to avoid relegation from the eight-team tournament, but instead they are now guaranteed a top four finish after a 4-0 quarter-final demolition of Poland. Argentina or Canada will be their semi-final opponents tomorrow.

It repays the faith of the hundreds of supporters who combined to donated 60,000 in just four days to get the green machine to Argentina, after the cash-strapped Irish Hockey Association board initially withdrew the side from the tournament amid much controversy. Ireland belatedly discovered their scoring touch after a goalless first half, with Michael Watt scoring one and setting up Shane O’Donoghue for another in between two well-worked short corner goals from Conor Harte. Poland even obliged Irish goalkeeper David Harte on his 100th appearance, missing an open goal from a metre out late on to ensure the Cork man celebrated the milestone with a clean sheet. Having began with defeats to Argentina and Japan before seeing off South Africa on Tuesday, things are now coming nicely to the boil in Andrew Meredith’s first tournament in charge. “It is a great result after a frustrating first half, where we failed to convert our dominance,” said Meredith. “It was good to see after a much more clinical performance in the last third that we were able to convert our authority on the scoreboard.” On Tuesday, Ireland had got their campaign back on track with a deserved 3-1 victory over South Africa. Having blown a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 against the hosts before seeing 28 circle entries go unrewarded in a 3-0 defeat to Japan, new Irish coach Meredith badly needed a victory to raise spirits. Andy McConnell profited from Mitch Darling’s good work to scramble home an early opener, but a failure to clear out of defence allowed South Africa’s Miguel de Graca to pounce for a 13th minute equaliser. The stalemate remained until early in the second half when John Jermyn converted a sweet short corner variation, and his fellow Cork man Conor Harte made it safe with a drag-flick nine minutes from time.