Ireland felt vexed by some late video referral decisions as a a 4-4 World League semi-final draw with India in Rotterdam yesterday was seen as an opportunity lost.
The green machine were the more creative force in the first half, Kyle Good going closest in an impressive early phase when he reached a crash ball at full stretch only to divert it to the side netting.
Ireland fell behind when India took a quick free down the right and found Akashdeep Singh in the circle; first excellent first touch allowed him to complete smart finish on the turn, nutmegging David Harte.
The Irish keeper was nonetheless in imperious form with his usual quotient of top-drawer saves, while at the other end Ireland hit a purple patch in the second quarter.
Alan Sothern equalised in stunning fashion, leaving two defenders for dead with some close-range skills after picking up Jonny Bruton’s pass before lobbing Sreejesh in the Indian goal from a tight angle.
Paul Gleghorne’s scrappy effort had Ireland — ranked four places below India in 15th — ahead at the break, the big defender bundling in with a one-handed reverse from close range, but a poor defensive showing early in the second half gave Rupinder Pal Singh the chance to equalise with a drag-flick.
Shivendra Singh then touched in VR Raghunath’s searching long ball for 3-2 but Ireland came storming back, Conor Harte equalising with a drag-flick after India had been reduced to three defenders for breaking the line.
Ireland then notched a spectacular team goal to surge ahead 4-3; Andy McConnell won a turnover in his own half and fed Alan Sothern, who calmly found Timmy Cockram on the left. His pinpoint pushed cross was diverted home by a diving McConnell, who had sprinted 60 metres to get a superb diving touch, pictured above.
But India came back to win another short corner which Rupinder dispatched high to the net; Ireland argued it went dangerous but the video umpire reckoned “no decision could be made”, the same call he made minutes later when Peter Caruth was sent tumbling in the circle, denying Ireland a last-gasp shot at victory.
Andrew Meredith’s side play new Zealand — minus talismanic forward Simon Child — next up on Saturday morning (8.30am Irish time). Their 3-3 draw with the Netherlands was a minor surprise but it could have been far worse for the hosts, who came back from 3-1 down with Jeroen Hertzberger inspiring that comeback.
** Pictures courtesy Frank Uijlenbroek and Grant Treeby via The Hook
IRELAND: D Harte, J Jackson, R Gormley, C Cargo, A Sothern, P Caruth, A McConnell, T Cockram, P Maguire, P Gleghorne, C Harte
Subs: J Bell, D Fitzgerald, K Good, J Bruton, S O’Donoghue, M Watt, S Loughrey
World League Round Three, Rotterdam: Ireland 4 (A Sothern, P Gleghorne, C Harte, A McConnell) India 4 (RP Singh 2, A Singh, S Singh); Netherlands 3 New Zealand 3.
Saturday: Ireland vs New Zealand, 8.30am (Irish time)
Ireland fell behind when India took a quick free down the right and found Akashdeep Singh in the circle; first excellent first touch allowed him to complete smart finish on the turn, nutmegging David Harte.
The Irish keeper was nonetheless in imperious form with his usual quotient of top-drawer saves, while at the other end Ireland hit a purple patch in the second quarter.
Alan Sothern equalised in stunning fashion, leaving two defenders for dead with some close-range skills after picking up Jonny Bruton’s pass before lobbing Sreejesh in the Indian goal from a tight angle.
Paul Gleghorne’s scrappy effort had Ireland — ranked four places below India in 15th — ahead at the break, the big defender bundling in with a one-handed reverse from close range, but a poor defensive showing early in the second half gave Rupinder Pal Singh the chance to equalise with a drag-flick.
Shivendra Singh then touched in VR Raghunath’s searching long ball for 3-2 but Ireland came storming back, Conor Harte equalising with a drag-flick after India had been reduced to three defenders for breaking the line.
Ireland then notched a spectacular team goal to surge ahead 4-3; Andy McConnell won a turnover in his own half and fed Alan Sothern, who calmly found Timmy Cockram on the left. His pinpoint pushed cross was diverted home by a diving McConnell, who had sprinted 60 metres to get a superb diving touch, pictured above.
But India came back to win another short corner which Rupinder dispatched high to the net; Ireland argued it went dangerous but the video umpire reckoned “no decision could be made”, the same call he made minutes later when Peter Caruth was sent tumbling in the circle, denying Ireland a last-gasp shot at victory.
Andrew Meredith’s side play new Zealand — minus talismanic forward Simon Child — next up on Saturday morning (8.30am Irish time). Their 3-3 draw with the Netherlands was a minor surprise but it could have been far worse for the hosts, who came back from 3-1 down with Jeroen Hertzberger inspiring that comeback.
** Pictures courtesy Frank Uijlenbroek and Grant Treeby via The Hook
IRELAND: D Harte, J Jackson, R Gormley, C Cargo, A Sothern, P Caruth, A McConnell, T Cockram, P Maguire, P Gleghorne, C Harte
Subs: J Bell, D Fitzgerald, K Good, J Bruton, S O’Donoghue, M Watt, S Loughrey
World League Round Three, Rotterdam: Ireland 4 (A Sothern, P Gleghorne, C Harte, A McConnell) India 4 (RP Singh 2, A Singh, S Singh); Netherlands 3 New Zealand 3.
Saturday: Ireland vs New Zealand, 8.30am (Irish time)