IRELAND 5 – 2 SWITZERLAND
Thursday, December 4 – India: The Ireland U21 Men recorded a confident win over Switzerland in their first of three Classification matches at the FIH Junior World Cup in India. Sam Dale opened the scoring in the second quarter before Switzerland equalised before half-time. A dominant third quarter saw Greg Williams grab a brace before James Clark added Ireland’s fourth, all from penalty corners. Switzerland pulled one back from the spot with ten minutes remaining, but Louis Rowe was on hand to put the icing on the cake for Ireland on the final whistle from a stroke to give Ireland a 5-2 win.
Ireland put Switzerland under pressure from the off as they looked to impose themselves on the game. An early effort from Ireland hit the inside of the post and skipped back across the face of goal but fell short of crossing the line and Switzerland escaped unscathed. In the final minute, Switzerland won a penalty corner with a rare attacking opportunity which called goalkeeper James Coffey into action to keep the sides level at the end of the first quarter.
The start of quarter 2 saw the Swiss drive into the Irish defensive third off the restart, but James Clark was on hand to snuff out any danger. Ireland regained controlled and pinned Switzerland back but struggled to find the openings they needed to test the Swiss keeper. An opportunity eventually fell as Ireland volleyed a deflected ball back across goal where Sam Dale was waiting to control and fire into the net to break the deadlock. Switzerland came within inches of drawing level, with a strike from Leonard Kraxner flashing past the back post moments later.
Ireland responded working the ball down the right flank to Ben Walker who drew a heavy tackle in the circle to win a penalty corner, but Switzerland survived. But it was the Swiss who produced the final moment of the half, forcing a double save from James Coffey, latching onto the loose ball and winning the goalmouth battle to equalise just before half-time.
Ireland carried their pressure into the second half. A quick attacking move gave Matthew McKee an opportunity to test his opposite number drawing the foul and winning a penalty corner. From the effort Greg Williams dragged powerfully into the bottom right corner to restore Ireland’s lead.
Milo Thompson won Ireland another penalty corner soon after, finding a Swiss foot in the circle after some strong attacking running. Greg Williams stepped up once again, finding the bottom left corner this time to make it 3-1.
A third penalty corner almost immediately from the restart, won yet again by Matthew McKee, kept Ireland’s momentum going, but Greg Williams was denied from the first effort resulting in a re-award. A miss-trap from the resulting penalty corner forced Rex Dunlop to drive into space. He did well to slap across goal where James Clark was waiting to deflect in at the back post.
The penalty corners kept coming as Matthew McKee continued to cause the Swiss problems. Switzerland escaped without conceding this time thanks to a smart save from Timo Graf.
Ireland looked to put Switzerland to the sword in the final quarter, maintaining their pressure and attacking threat. However, Switzerland, won a penalty stroke for hitting a body on the Irish line from a penalty corner effort. Swiss captain Jens Fluck stepped up and found the net to reduce the deficit.
Ireland, happy to defend their lead, took the pace out of the game, denying Switzerland easy attacking opportunities as they ran down the clock. Having withdrew their goalkeeper, Switzerland conceded a penalty corner. Ireland went for a variation, moving the ball left and flicking at goal, finding a Swiss body in the goalmouth, resulting in a penalty stroke. Captain Louis Rowe stepped up to convert the stroke, providing the final moment in Ireland’s 5-3 win.
Ireland will play South Africa in their second of three Classification matches on Saturday, December 6 at 14:30 Irish Time.