IRELAND 0 – 4 INDIA
FIH Pro League
Bhubaneswar, February 22: The wait for a win in this season’s FIH Pro League goes on after India’s 4-0 win over Ireland at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. India took the lead through Nilam Sanjeep Xess’ 14th minute field goal for 1-0. Mandeep Singh added a second for India in the 24th minute from a penalty corner variation to double the lead. Abhishek added a third just before half-time to give India a commanding lead going into the break, before Shamsher Singh put the beyond reach with a fourth goal early in the third quarter.
Ireland began the game with the same determination and energy as their encounter yesterday, looking to attack with every ball possession. Jonny Lynch had the first chance of the game in the 5th minute but was denied by goalkeeper Pathak. Not long after Ireland had the first penalty corner of the game, opting to go direct through Adam Walker but Manpreet charged down the effort.
India however broke the deadlock after 14 minutes, again showing their clinicality when Nilam Sanjeep Xess beat two players on the baseline, hit the post and recovered the loose ball to fire past Ireland keeper Jaime Carr.
India added a second halfway through the second quarter, this time from a penalty corner, as Mandeep Singh deflected into the net. India grabbed a third to take command of the game before half-time. An early strike hit Adam Walker on the foot, with India recovering the ball and working their player advantage in the circle to give Abishek the space to score.
India put the game beyond Ireland’s reach not long after the break, Mandeep Singh adding an assist to his tally with a dangerous ball into the circle with was deflected in by Dilpreet Singh.
Despite the deficit, Ireland continued to try and unpick with Indian defence. The visitors enjoy more possession and control in the final creating a couple of scoring chance including a penalty corner that was excellently won by Louis Rowe, but the goal wasn’t to come, and India ended the game with a 4-0 win.
Speaking after the game, Head Coach Mark Tumilty said:
“I thought we made a lot of individual errors that cost us. Our basics were technically a bit off today. But our second half was positive. In the last quarter the guys stood up man to man and there were positives.
With teams playing deep zone in international hockey nowadays, it’s difficult to break teams down. When you play against teams who mark space, it can be easier to get into their 23-metre line, but then there are difficulties finding spaces to attack them. There are fewer gaps and that’s where individual skills are the key to getting the circle entries.
Discussing two of Ireland’s young players, Tumilty said:
“Overall, I thought Ben Pasley was exceptional in the second half. For a guy of 20 years of age, up against some of the best midfielders in world hockey I thought he was excellent.
Ben Ryder on his first game for Ireland was very good as well.”
Looking ahead to Ireland’s next opponent, Germany, Tumilty said:
“Germany were the one team that caused us the most difficulties in last season’s final block of the Pro League in London. We look forward to the challenge of having to play both the Olympic silver and bronze medallists in this block of matches. The extra heat of daytime matches may be a factor as well that will need to be prepared for. It will be a different challenge to what India offered.
Both teams play zonal, and now we have a bit of experience playing against that type of defence. We need to make sure that we don’t give up any chances or make individual errors.”
Ireland Men will play Germany on Monday at 09:30 Irish Time, with the Ireland Women playing their first FIH Hockey Nations Cup game tomorrow, February 23, at 20:00 Irish time.
IRELAND: Jamie Carr (GK); Luke Witherow; Matthew Nelson; Daragh Walsh; Kevin O’Dea; Kyle Marshall (C); Peter McKibbin; Jeremy Duncan; Jonathan Lynch; Conor Empey; Ben Ryder.
SUBS USED: Ben Johnson; [4 mins]; Ben Walker; [4 mins]; Ben Pasley [4 mins]; Louis Rowe [4 mins]; Nick Page [4 mins]; Adam Walker [8 mins]; Luke Roleston [31 mins] (GK)
INDIA: Krishan Bahadur Pathak (GK); Dilpreet Singh; Jarmanpreet Singh; Manpreet Singh; Hardik Singh (C); Mandeep Singh; Shamsher Singh; Amit Rohidas; Yashdeep Siwach; Sanjay; Angad Bir Singh.
SUBS USED: Vivk Sagar Prasad [3 mins]; Namil Sanjeet Xess [4 mins]; Nilakanta Sharma [4 mins]; Jugraj Singh [4 mins]; Suraj Karkera (GK) [16 mins]; Abhishek [6 mins]; Araijeet Singh Hundal [4 mins].