It wasn’t pretty but a case of job done for Ireland’s men as they shrugged off Poland 4-2 to keep their TriFinance EuroHockey Nations Championships semi-final qualification hopes alive in Boom, Belgium today.
Conor Harte’s early drag-flick was cancelled out when a goalkeeping mistake by his brother David allowed a tame Adam Chwalisz effort creep past him.
Ireland were sprightly enough considering the huge effort expended in the heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Dutch on Sunday, with Ronan Gormley and Chris Cargo both hitting the woodwork either side of a tidy reverse-stick finish from Shane O’Donoghue.
Both sides had a slew of short corners in an error-strewn encounter and Eugene Magee tucked away one before Mikey Watt made it safe. Chwalisz nabbed a consolation with 30 seconds to go.
Andrew Meredith’s men meet England tomorrow (10.30am) with the winners getting a semi-final berth – that’s the same permutation for the Irish women as they take on Belgium tonight (5pm).
Lisa Jacob’s stunning breakaway goal proved vital as Ireland’s women edged out Belarus 3-2 to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Darren Smith’s side led twice through Alex Speers, the first a superb first-time snapshot after Anna O’Flanagan had committed the Belarus goalkeeper, the second a reactive stab after O’Flanagan had rolled the ball onto the post.
In between, Volha Shyntar’s instinctive batted finished to the top corner had levelled it, but Jacob’s goal sealed it, expertly rounding the keeper after being picked out by Nicci Daly’s pinpoint 50-yard pass.
Belarus did make life interesting with another goal in the dying minutes from Nastassia Syrayezhka but Ireland held on.
Saturday had proved to be a mostly defensive exercise against the world champion Netherlands, Ireland going down 6-0 largely due to a glut of goals in the final 10 minutes.
On Sunday, Holland’s ‘Mr Backhand’ lived up to his name to break Irish hearts as the world number three side snatched a late 2-1 win.
Having seen Shane O’Donoghue’s drag-flick cancelled out by a similar effort from Mink van der Weerden, Ireland were on the verge of a shock result against a Dutch side who have won 46 of their 54 group games at the Euros.
But Robbert Kemperman — whose nickname derives from his fearsome ability to hit hard on his reverse — spun Eugene Magee as Ireland tired and arrowed a crisp shot to the backboard to snatch victory six minutes from time.
**The Hook is in situ in Belgium and providing some stunningly comprehensive coverage of the Euros. Check out his interview with England coach Bobby Crutchley here.
Both sides had a slew of short corners in an error-strewn encounter and Eugene Magee tucked away one before Mikey Watt made it safe. Chwalisz nabbed a consolation with 30 seconds to go.
Andrew Meredith’s men meet England tomorrow (10.30am) with the winners getting a semi-final berth – that’s the same permutation for the Irish women as they take on Belgium tonight (5pm).
Lisa Jacob’s stunning breakaway goal proved vital as Ireland’s women edged out Belarus 3-2 to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Darren Smith’s side led twice through Alex Speers, the first a superb first-time snapshot after Anna O’Flanagan had committed the Belarus goalkeeper, the second a reactive stab after O’Flanagan had rolled the ball onto the post.
In between, Volha Shyntar’s instinctive batted finished to the top corner had levelled it, but Jacob’s goal sealed it, expertly rounding the keeper after being picked out by Nicci Daly’s pinpoint 50-yard pass.
Belarus did make life interesting with another goal in the dying minutes from Nastassia Syrayezhka but Ireland held on.
Saturday had proved to be a mostly defensive exercise against the world champion Netherlands, Ireland going down 6-0 largely due to a glut of goals in the final 10 minutes.
On Sunday, Holland’s ‘Mr Backhand’ lived up to his name to break Irish hearts as the world number three side snatched a late 2-1 win.
Having seen Shane O’Donoghue’s drag-flick cancelled out by a similar effort from Mink van der Weerden, Ireland were on the verge of a shock result against a Dutch side who have won 46 of their 54 group games at the Euros.
But Robbert Kemperman — whose nickname derives from his fearsome ability to hit hard on his reverse — spun Eugene Magee as Ireland tired and arrowed a crisp shot to the backboard to snatch victory six minutes from time.
**The Hook is in situ in Belgium and providing some stunningly comprehensive coverage of the Euros. Check out his interview with England coach Bobby Crutchley here.