OLYMPIC GAMES HOCKEY/ POOL B: IRELAND 2 NEW ZEALAND 1
FRIDAY AUGUST 2, PARIS: Despite the fate of both sides already sealed going into today’s final Pool B clash, it was still a match that meant an awful lot to both teams. With neither side yet to secure a win in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games pride was on the line, as well as a possible step up in the World Rankings at stake for Ireland.
New Zealand took the lead in the 5th minute through Joe Morrison who deflected a cross by Isaac Houlbrooke past David Harte from open play. Ireland equalised with their first field goal of the tournament when Ben Walker shot past Dominic Dixon having intercepted a pass in the semi-circle to make it 1-1 in the 12th minute. There was no scoring in the second quarter, and it was still 1-1 at half time. Jeremy Duncan put Ireland 2-1 ahead from open play in the 31st minute. And they held on to secure their first win of Pool B. This win not only securing 5th place in the pool but a place in the top 10 world rankings.
Ireland began brightly in the opening minute, but the Black Sticks came into the game fairly quickly. Joe Morrison opened the scoring for New Zealand from open play. He deflected a pass from Isaac Houlbrooke past David Harte, following some good approach play. Ireland were back on level terms in the 12th minute thanks to a wonderful piece of opportunism by Ben Walker. He intercepted a pass out of the back and rifled a shot past Dominic Dixon to make it 1-1. The Black Sticks were awarded a penalty corner in the final minute. Sam Lane’s drag flick was saved by David Harte and Ireland launched a counter-attack straight away which amounted to not a lot. New Zealand counter attacked themselves but ran out of time as the hooter sounded for the end of the first quarter with the score 1-1.
At the beginning of quarter 2, Peter Brown found Matthew Nelson in the New Zealand semi-circle after a beautifully worked piece of play. Nelson’s shot was heading in under the crossbar when Dominic Dixon’s pad deflected the ball out to safety in the 18th minute. New Zealand were awarded a penalty corner in the 20th minute, Sam Lane’s drag flick was blocked by Harte and Shane O’Donoghue scrambled the ball to safety. New Zealand were awarded another penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Sam Lane’s drag flick hit a foot and another PC was awarded to them. Lane’s drag flick on this occasion went wide.
New Zealand got another penalty corner in the 24th minute. Lane’s drag flick was blocked at the expense of a long corner. Joe Morrison’s shot was deemed too high and free hit out to Ireland was awarded.
Ireland were reduced to 10 players temporarily when Sean Murray was green carded on 27 minutes. A minute later following some good approach work, Michael Robson had a shot from open play which Dominic Dixon saved. A minute later New Zealand were awarded another penalty corner and Scott Boyde’s shot was blocked and another penalty corner was awarded their 7th of the game. Nic Woods’ drag flick was saved by David Harte and it remained 1-1 at half-time.
Ireland began the third quarter in the best possible manner. Following some great approach play, a Daragh Walsh pass found Jeremy Duncan inside the semi-circle. Unmarked, he rifled a shot past Dominic Dixon in the 31st minute to give Ireland a 2-1 lead.
Brad Read for New Zealand was green carded in the 37th minute temporarily reducing the Black Sticks to 10 players. New Zealand were awarded a penalty corner in the 39th minute and a second one was awarded straightaway, Nic Woods’ drag flick was blocked by Jeremy Duncan. The New Zealand team referred it to the video umpire to see if another penalty corner should have been awarded and their appeal was upheld. The penalty corner by New Zealand was blocked by Duncan but it hit is upper body at the expense of yet another penalty corner. The subsequent penalty corner saw Nic Woods’ drag flick saved at the expense of a long corner.
Ireland went on the attack soon afterwards, Ben Walker got on the end of a Matthew Nelson aerial and when Dixon saved Walker’s effort the rebound fell to Nelson who shot wide with the goal gaping in front of him. It was still 2-1 to the Irish at the end of the third quarter.
New Zealand attacked from the very start of the final quarter. Hugo Inglis of New Zealand had a shot saved by David Harte in the 46th minute. Tim Cross blocked the follow-up effort at the expense of a penalty corner. The penalty corner, their 12th of the match, was blocked by Harte. They were awarded another penalty corner in the 49th minute Sam Lane’s drag flick was brilliantly saved, again by David Harte.
New Zealand were continuing to attack, David Harte made another save and Jake Smith appealed to the video umpire who said he’d been hit in the head by the rebound of Harte’s save. The video umpire upheld their appeal and yet another penalty corner was awarded. Their 14th penalty corner was as unproductive as the previous 13 and Sam Lane’s drag flick was blocked by Lee Cole. Shane O’Donoghue launched a counter-attack putting Daragh Walsh through down the left wing he cut inside the New Zealand semi-circle but was penalised for shielding the ball.
In the 56th minute New Zealand withdrew goalkeeper Dominic Dixon in favour of an extra attacker.
New Zealand were awarded another penalty corner in the 57th minute. Sam Lane’s drag flick was blocked by one of his own players running in to try and score a goal and a free hit out to Ireland was the outcome.
In the 58th minute Ireland were awarded a free hit on the edge of the New Zealand circle. The Black Sticks launched a counter-attack, Sam Lane getting through on goal but David Harte saved, diverting the ball away from another New Zealand player diving in at the far post.
The final hooter finally sounded, to the relief and elation Ireland Team and fans. The side had secured their first win of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and likely 10th spot in the Men’s Outdoor World Rankings.
Speaking after the game Ireland head coach Mark Tumilty said:
“It was nice to get a result. We’ve been close all week and probably frustrated yesterday. But we asked the lads to show a bit of character today and I know we didn’t start the game very well but I thought after that we definitely did lots of good things. The last quarter, New Zealand definitely pushed us hard on our Penalty Corner Defence set up. But our PCD is world class, and we have a World class goalkeeper as well.
The guys spend a fair bit of time just making sure we understand just what the opposition offer from penalty corners and New Zealand offered plenty of variations today. David Harte offers that extra bit of safety there and I thought he was excellent today. He has been superb throughout the tournament.”
Reflecting on Ireland’s year, Tumilty said:
“It’s been an extremely positive year from the outset. From qualifying for Paris at Valencia at the outset of the year to participating in the FIH Pro League. It’s something as a federation I think we need to strive to be playing at on a regular basis with both the men’s and women’s programs. We need to ask ourselves can we kick on from here? Don’t rest on our laurels.
We should be in the top 10 World Rankings after today’s result and pending the France v South Africa result today we might just sneak into 9th place in those rankings. The next challenge is later this month to get back into the A Division of the European Championships, it’s 2019 since we were last there. It’s somewhere we need to be, and then after that we want to qualify for the next World Cup. We couldn’t have had better preparation for that tournament. Being in the A Division of the European Championship will make the qualification process for the next World Cup a lot more straight forward and that’s vital.
We have to be at the World Cup in 2026”
The Ireland Men’s Team will return home in the coming days to begin preparation for EuroHockey Championship Qualifier B, which is set to be hosted in the Sport Ireland Campus, Dublin from August 22nd to 25th. Ireland must win that tournament to secure their spot in the 2025 EuroHockey Championships in Monchengladbach, a tournament that our IRL Women have already secured qualification for.
IRELAND: David Harte (GK); John Mc Kee; Matthew Nelson; Daragh Walsh; Kyle Marshall; Shane O’Donoghue; Sean Murray (C); Peter McKibbin; Michael Robson; Ben Walker; Lee Cole
SUBS USED: Tim Cross; Jeremy Duncan; Peter Brown; Ben Johnson; Nic Page
NEW ZEALAND: Dominic Dixon (GK); Scott Boyde; Dane Lett; Jake Smith; Charlie Morrison; Nic Woods (C); Brad Read; Blair Tarrant; Sean Findlay; Hugo Inglis; Hayden Phillips
SUBS USED: Sam Lane; Joseph Morrison; Leon Hayward; Malachi Buschl ;Isaac Houlbrooke
