IRELAND 4 – 2 SOUTH AFRICA
Saturday, December 6 – India: Having lost in their FIH Junior World Cup Pool Stage meeting with South Africa, the Ireland U21 Men got their vengeance recording a 4-2 win in their penultimate outing in India. A Greg Williams hattrick, a goal from Noa Mulvey and a defensive masterclass from the side including two goal-line saves from Ben Walker sees Ireland progress to the 9/10 Place Play-Off match against England on Tuesday, December 9.
South Africa began aggressively, throwing an aerial ball into the circle where they were awarded a penalty corner, but Ireland used their referral well and the call was overturned.
Ireland continued to need to be alert as South Africa launched more attacks, but Louis Rowe and Ben Walker were on hand to make crucial tackles. Ireland found a foothold and had their attacking opportunities later in the quarter, the best of which coming from a crash ball from Jake Futon which just evaded the Irish forward line.
An ideal start to quarter 2 saw Ireland attack down the right. Milo Thompson’s ball across the circle deflected up dangerously off a South Africa stick resulting in a penalty corner. Greg Williams’ power effort on goal found the back of the net to break the deadlock.
South Africa were awarded another penalty corner for a foot on James Clark with seven minutes remaining in the first half, but Ireland opted to refer again, and the penalty corner was overturned. South Africa created their most notable chance of the half in the closing half, working the ball to the baseline and pulling a dangerous ball back towards the penalty spot, James Coffey was on hand though to get a stick to the ball and deflect it clear. Ireland went into the half-time break a goal up.
Ireland were tested early on, with South Africa winning a penalty corner two-minutes into the second half. Ben Walker was on hand on the Irish goal-line to deflect South Africa’s effort clear.
Ireland, however, fought back. Matthew McKee fought exceptionally well down the South African baseline to keep hold of the ball and find a South African foot to win a Penalty Corner. Greg Williams was the option once again, and just like he did against Switzerland, he doubled Ireland’s lead.
South Africa won a penalty corner of their own two minutes later, but Ireland charged down the effort well to keep South Africa scoreless.
Ireland extended their lead with another attack down the right side. John Cunningham played a well weighted pass into space which Jake Fulton nudged on to a free Noah Mulvey to fire into the net and add Ireland’s third in the latter stages of quarter 3.
Ireland were reduced to ten-men and South Africa capitalised, Reuben Sendzel pulling a goal back with his strike on the turn.
After some early South Africa pressure, Ireland got a golden opportunity to cancel out the South Africa goal from a penalty corner, but substitute goalkeeper Johannes Schoeman made a smart save from Louis Rowe’s effort. Ireland won a second penalty corner, this time through Jake Fulton, which Greg Williams duly dispatched to secure his hattrick.
South Africa threw everything they could at Ireland, winning two penalty corners that James Coffey and Rex Dunlop defended.
Another South African penalty corner with five minutes remaining saw them awarded a penalty stroke, with the umpire adjudging that the ball hit Ben Walker on the goal line, but Ireland once again used their referral well and the call was overturned.
In the dying minutes South Africa latched onto a loose ball and getting an opening in the circle to pull a goal back and see the scoring end at 4-2 in Ireland’s favour.
Ireland’s win guarantees them a top ten finish in the FIH Junior World Cup, and sets up a final tie with England with an opportunity to secure ninth. The sides will meet on Tuesday, December 9 at 14:30 Irish Time.