Cape Town, December 19: Ireland Women’s and Men’s Indoor Teams travelled to Cape Town, South Africa to take part in the Nkosi Cup, an annual indoor hockey tournament arranged by the South African Hockey Association and Pro Series Indoor (PSI). Held in the Wynberg Military Base, Cape Town and running from December 13 – 17, the competition saw Ireland face some of the best Indoor sides in the southern hemisphere, including South Africa and Namibia in both competitions, and New Zealand in the Men’s.
Both competitions consisted of two phases, a round robin phase and a finals phase. With four teams in the men’s competition each side played each other once, and all four sides progressed to the semi-finals with opposition being determined based on pool standings. Winners of each semi-final progressed to the final, while the losers competed in the bronze medal match. The women’s competition consisted of three teams, with each side playing each other twice in the pool stages. The top two side in the pool progressed straight to the finals to determine the overall winner.
Men’s Nkosi Cup
Ireland began their tournament with a matchup against World #14 Namibia in the Wynberg Military base. Namibia showed their quality building a 4-0 lead by the start of the fourth quarter. Ireland built into the game, finding rhythm and eventually pulling two goals back through Ross Canning and James Walker. Namibia eventually pulled away in the final quarter, a quick trio of goals securing a then a 7-3 win.
In their second pool game Ireland faced New Zealand. The Black Sticks opened the scoring, but Ireland responded just before the end of Q1, Ross Canning grabbing his second of the tournament. New Zealand pulled ahead on two more occasions in Q2, but both times Ireland had an answer, Craig Mackay drawing Ireland level in the 14th and 20th minute to see the sides go into the break on level terms. New Zealand asserted themselves on the game in the second half, gradually building a lead in Q3 and Q4 which saw them secure the points with a 7 – 3 win.
The hosts, South Africa were Ireland’s final pool stage opponent. The current pool leaders were made to work for their win, having to come from behind when Craig Mackay grabbed the opening goal of the game after three minutes. South Africa found their feet scoring four unanswered goals before Ross Canning netted a penalty corner just before half-time to make it clear that Ireland would not back down.
South Africa started the second half strong, scoring twice to reaffirm their lead. Oliver Kidd, however, reduced the deficit with his late goal taking the scoring to 6-3. A final South Africa goal from Mustaphaa Cassiem eventually cancelled it out to continue South Africa’s unbeaten run and see them top the group stage.
The final pool standings meant Ireland and South Africa faced off yet again in the Semi-Finals. Again, a determined performance from Ireland made the hosts work to build their lead, visible by their celebrations after each goal. The home side built up a two-goal early lead, before extending that lead to four going into the final minutes. A goal from Ireland’s Craig Mackay briefly reduced the deficit, but South Africa’s late fifth cancelled it out and saw the progress to the finals against Namibia which they eventually one.
A rematch against New Zealand in the Bronze Medal match gave Ireland an opportunity to end their Nkosi Cup journey on a high note. Ireland made no mistakes in the early phases, with Ross Canning breaking the deadlock after just 3 minutes. Greg Williams and Ross Canning grabbed Ireland’s second and third goal in the second quarter before New Zealand reduced the deficit to two with a goal just before half-time.
Oliver Kidd gave Ireland the perfect start to the second half, restoring the three-goal cushion in the 21st minute. Again, the Black Sticks pulled a goal back, but just 4 minutes later Ross Canning completed his hattrick and again gave Ireland a three-goal lead.
A late surge from New Zealand saw them produce a comeback, with Benedict Van Woerkom scoring three goals in just over ten minutes to draw them level and force the shoot-out.
Ross Canning and Greg Williams were the attacking heroes in the shoot-out, scoring both of their efforts to give Ireland a commanding lead. Captain and Goalkeeper Stephen O’Keefe produced the decisive moment, saving New Zealand’s second effort to secure the bronze medal for Ireland.
IRELAND SQUAD: Jakim Berndsen [GK]; Stephen O’Keeffe [C][GK]; Ryan Williams; Harry McMahon; Jack Haycock; Craig Mackay; Ben O’Grady; Oliver Kidd; Scott McCabe; Ross Canning; Greg Williams; James Walker.
Women’s Nkosi Cup
Ireland faced the hosts in their first game in Cape Town, with South Africa currently sitting #7 in the World, the second-highest ranked team from the southern hemisphere. Soth Africa opened the scoring after just one minute, but a quick response from Ireland’s Caroline Spence drew the teams level. South Africa dialled up the intensity, taking the lead and then extending it 4-1 by the end of the third quarter. Two more goals from South Africa in Q4 took the game to 6-1, but a late consolation goal from Ireland’s Chloe Brown lifted Ireland’s spirits ahead of another challenge the following day.
#10 Namibia were next on the schedule for Ireland, on their second day in Cape Town. An incredible eleven goal thriller ensued, with Ireland narrowly coming out the wrong side of it.
Sarah Patton gave Ireland the lead early on, but Namibia responded with three quick goals to take control of the game, giving them a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. A goal one minute into Q3 extended Namibia’s lead to three, but Ireland’s Caroline Spence reduced the deficit to two going into half-time. Orla Fox’s calmly converted penalty stroke brought Ireland within a goal of Namibia halfway through Q3, just before Namibia made it 5-3 to regain their two-goal cushion.
A tense final quarter saw Ireland come within one goal of Namibia again, when Sarah Patton grabbed her second. Again, Namibia countered to make it 6-4. Caroline Spence scored in the dying embers of the game to make it 6-5, but ultimately Ireland walked away without the points in a game they largely dominated.
Day three saw Ireland face South Africa again in a much-improved performance from the opening day. The two sides were locked at 1-1, with Ireland’s Orla Fox grabbing the opening goal of the game after 11 minutes, before South Africa equalised five minutes late. Ireland continued to dominate the game, controlling it for the first half. A missed stroke and a quarter 3 goal for the hosts gave them the fire they needed. South Africa pushed on, scoring two late goals to eventually run out as 4-1 winners.
In their final game of the Nkosi Cup, Ireland displayed their ability to go toe-to-toe with top indoor nations, taking their learnings from the previous three games and implementing them excellently in their last outing.
Namibia took the lead in the opening quarter, but Caroline Spence grabbed her fourth of the tournament to draw Ireland level. Chloe Brown scored just one minute later, to give Ireland the lead at the end of Q1.
A perfect start to Q2 saw Ireland’s Ellen Robinson slot home to extend Ireland’s lead to two goals, a lead they maintained going into the final quarter. Namibia reduced the deficit to a single goal with seven minutes remaining. Having defended their lead superbly, a penalty corner was given against Ireland with just over a minute on the clock, a contentious decision which gave Namibia an opportunity to draw level, which they seized. The game finished 3-3, Ireland deserving much more than a draw fro their final game.
IRELAND SQUAD: Emma Maloney [GK]; Caoimhe Seymor [GK]; Sarah Patton; Laura Graham; Erin Robinson; Chloe Brown; Christine Seggie; Orla Fox; Orla Patton [C]; Milla Fulton; Jenna McCarlie; Caroline Spence.
