Green machine sign off on 2012 in style

An emotional, draining and topsy-turvy 2012 ended in some style for Ireland as they claimed Champions Challenge I bronze in Quilmes, Argentina yesterday. A year that saw their Olympic dream dashed cruelly in March ended on a high as Peter Caruth’s golden goal reverse secured a 4-3 success over a Malaysia side coached by Paul Revington, who had come so close to leading Ireland to the promised land of London 2012 before departing Dublin in June. Third place in South America represents a stunning achievement for Ireland given this is their first year competing at this level, and the controversy surrounding their participation in the tournament.

The Irish Hockey Association board were yesterday defending themselves at a special general meeting called by 12 clubs in the wake of the board’s decision to withdraw Ireland from the tournament last month. Initially citing the lack of a coach or manager in place, it was subsequently revealed amid public outcry that lack of finance was the primary issue. The team was re-instated after a remarkable fundraising drive yielded €60,000 in four days. On top of that, Ireland had a new coach — Andrew Meredith — in place, and he had just four days with his new charges at a training camp in Holland to prepare for a tournament which billed Ireland as likely relegation candidates. It looked a step too far as the green machine lost to Argentina and Japan in their opening games, before recovering to see off South Africa. The quarter-finals yielded a 4-0 win against Poland and guaranteed they would avoid a relegation battle. But they again ran into an in-form Argentina in the last four on Saturday, going down 2-1 as a late roofed drag-flick from John Jermyn proved to be in vain. The hosts’ subsequent 5-0 mauling of Korea in the final certainly reflects well on Ireland. That left them with a 3rd/4th place playoff laced with emotional baggage against Revington and the Malaysians yesterday, in a thrilling spectacle.

Ireland led twice through Geoff McCabe and Conor Harte but were 3-2 behind when Cork man Harte — on his 100th cap —produced a stunning drag-flick two minutes from time. In searing heat, Ireland had to survive most of a tense, dramatic extra-time period with nine or 10 men as Paul Gleghorne and Eugene Magee spent time in the sin-bin. David Harte made some outstanding saves while Andy McConnell missed an open goal before Caruth pounced to plunder the decisive score.