Second-half collapse costs rusty Ireland

Ireland’s lack of game-time together in the past four months since the Celtic Cup was all too apparent as they capitulated against world number seven Argentina at Belfield tonight. Tim Cockram had given his side a first-half lead with a stunning reverse, but Ireland created next to nothing thereafter and were made pay for some sloppy individual errors in the second half. Captain Ronan Gormley returned to the line-up despite playing just 15 minutes of hockey this season with Pembroke, while Cork Harlequins’ Mark Black returned after an eight-month rest from the international setup. The pair made a solid enough return, with Black the most accomplished midfielder on show in the early stages of a tight battle. Chances were at a premium in the opening half, but Ireland made their single effort count in spectacular fashion on 23 minutes. Fresh off the bench, Keith Black played in Timmy Cockram, who roofed a reverse from the top of the circle. It proved the only shot of note in the whole half, with only a penalty corner apiece to show in terms of golamouth action. A young Argentina side, packed with European-based players, created little in the opening half, but the South Americans more than made up for it after the break thanks to a litany of defensive errors. The warning signs were there when Rodrigo Saliva missed a simple chance after Karl Burns – a repeat offender when it came to giving up the ball cheaply – was dispossessed. But 11 minutes after the break, Gormley was pick-pocketed by Pedro Ibarra, whose square pass found Lucas Vila for the equaliser. His brother Matias got the second soon after, a sweet half-volley that clipped the inside of David Harte’s post, and Augustin Corradini sealed the win via Burns’ leg to make it 3-1.

Ibarra knocked in a gift-wrapped fourth after Johnny Jackson’s another with seven minutes remaining. Ireland will be looking for a significant improvement in their second clash with the South Americans at Serpentine Avenue today (12pm), though David Passmore’s decision to field a less experienced side may scupper that ambition. Passmore admitted his side had unravelled in the second period: “Having dominated the first half so brightly, it was disappointing not to be ahead by more at half time. In the second half we showed our youth and inexperience as we made too many individual errors that Argentina punished.” IRELAND: D Harte (GK); K Burns, R Gormley (co-capt), M Watt, J Jermyn, E Magee, G Shaw, D Hobbs, T Cockram, J Jackson, T Lewis. Rolling subs: J Lynch, D Ames, K Black, M Black (co-capt). ARGENTINA: J Vivaldi (GK); J Gilardi, M Vila, P Ibarra, L Rey, M Paredes, L Vila, J Lopez, M Cammareri, L Rossi, I Bergner Rolling subs: L Argento, L Cammareri, T Argento, F Callioni, A Corradini, D Tanuscio See more of Deryck Vincent’s pictures from the game here. My thanks also to Stephen Findlater for helping me overcome geographical boundaries once again!