Ireland eventually hit Russia for six

Ireland’s bid to qualify for the Olympics is off to the start they wanted, after the hosts survived an edgy first half to finish 6-1 winners over Russia at the FIH Road to London at a packed UCD this afternoon. Paul Revington’s charges, who are seeded third of the six sides competing for the sole Olympic qualification berth on offer, needed both three points and a boost to their goal difference after seeing second seeds Malaysia rout Chile 5-1. An indifferent start saw Ireland given a warning shot when John Jermyn’s pass was intercepted in midfield. The visitors had a two-on-one with David Harte but the netminder delayed Nikolay Komarov for long enough and John Jackson got back to clear off the line brilliantly.

Jermyn, recently returned from a four-month absence with a fractured foot, dragged home Ireland’s first penalty corner on 14 minutes to put the hosts in front. That was his 72nd international goal, leaving him just six shy of Stephen Butler’s all-time record, and he nearly ate further into the deficit but had a second drag-flick chalked off for an infringement minutes later. By then, the Cork Church of Ireland man had already turned provider for Ireland’s second, ghosting to the endline with the Russian defence expecting a penalty corner whistle to square for Timmy Cockram to slam into an empty net. Despite that advantage, the hosts were turning over too much possession and Russia made them pay when Ravshanzhon Zakirov rebounded well for 2-1 after David Harte repelled Aleksander Plantonov’s upright reverse. It stayed that way until the break but Ireland upped the ante in the second half, with captain Ronan Gormley giving a man of the match performance as their sharpness and patience started to pay dividends. Mitch Darling – Ireland’s stand-out forward – bundled home after a goalmouth scramble off Paul Gleghorne’s cross before Peter Caruth swept in after Eugene Magee’s trickery had created space in the circle. A short corner switch allowed Conor Harte to roof a 55th-minute drag-flick for 5-1 before Mikey Watt completed the rout when his tame reverse was was helped to the backboard  by Russian netminder Roman Rogov. Despite the comprehensive result, Paul Revington said afterwards there was plenty of work to be done after praising Russia for their performance. “The key work that needs to be done is from a mental point of view,” he told The Hook. “I’m not going to say there is a whole lot from a structural side. For the first game in a tournament like this as a home nation generally tests everyone and we are pleased with the fact we scored six goals.” Mitch Darling added, meanwhile, that the side were pleased with an improved second half showing: “As Revs said, the Russians played at a good intensity. They were well structured and tough to break down but we stuck to the task, showed good persistence to get the six goals.” IRELAND: David Harte (GK); Ronan Gormley (capt), Conor Harte, John Jackson, Paul Gleghorne; Geoff McCabe, Andy McConnell, David Ames; Eugene Magee, Mikey Watt, Mitch Darling. Rolling subs: John Jermyn, Chris Cargo, Peter Caruth, Timmy Cockram, Stuart Loughrey. FIH Road to London 2012, Day 1 Malaysia 5 (Razie 2, Amin, Hafifi, Faizal) Chile 1 (J Richter) Ireland 6 (Jermyn, Cockram, Darling, Caruth, C Harte, Watt) Russia 1 (Zakirov) Korea L Ukraine L (4-1 h/t)