Ireland deflated as Japan end World Cup dream

Ireland 1 Japan 2

Although they play Belgium today to decide their final finishing place, a battle for seventh or eighth place was not what the Irish wanted, and though it may count for vital world ranking points, it is not what they came for - a fact reflected by the emotion among players, management and supporters.

A goal down with five minutes to go, Ireland still created three clear-cut chances in the last five minutes with every prospect of golden goal extra time to follow, but it just didn’t happen for them and as the rain fell, the thunder rolled and lightning flashed, Irish lights dimmed and were finally extinguished.

The European A Championships in Manchester next year and the qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics are now in focus for the Irish and the top line tournament experience they’ve gained here will stand to them in both those challenges.

Losing yesterday will be chief among those experiences and while coach Dave Passmore and his side were “bitterly disappointed”, they always realised this was going to be a terribly tight game.

Playing a similar tactical game to that which proved so successful against Pakistan in their final Pool game - lying deep, but with the capacity for rapid counter-attacks - Ireland allowed Japan plenty of scope early on and then nearly scored on the break after just five minutes when Mark Irwin’s cross nearly found the in-rushing Mark Gleghorne.

Stephen Butler went close with a short corner after ten minutes, but Japan were 1-0 up two minutes later when goal machine Takahiko Yamabori showed the Irish how to finish a penalty corner with a shot high into the net.

Ireland replied with a short corner of their own with two minutes of the half left, John Jermyn firing home, but the Irish went in at the break knowing they had to deprive the Japanese of possession in the second half.

In the end it was another disputed goal which decided it and it came in 59th minute, when Akira Ito found himself alone in the Irish circle with time to shoot and score. The Irish maintained Jason Black was obstructed in the attack and demanded a free out but umpire Murray Grime was having none of it.

Despite a late Irish bombardment in which Mark Gleghorne had two chances and Ronan Gormley shot wide, Ireland could not claw it back and there was to be no extra time and no consolation.

“We were disappointed with their second goal,” Passmore related afterwards, “as there was an obvious obstruction on Jason. I’ve seen it on the video and it was a definite foul. We don’t like criticising umpires - and Murray Grime is one of the best - but he missed it.”

Captain Paddy Brown concurred: “It is a very contentious point, but to our mind it was a clear-cut decision. Sure we had enough chances to win the game, but things like that don’t help.”

Passmore is hopeful that several senior members of his side will commit for the challenges ahead, but there is bound to be a period of reflection for all involved before key decisions are made.

Paddy Brown summed it up when he said that expectations at home might have thought fifth place here and qualification for that World Cup were unreasonable, but he thought the team had silenced a few people.

“We have a core of young guys who came here and proved their worth. We learned a lot here - particularly about the fine line between winning and losing, but we’ll be better for this experience,” he said.

IRELAND: C. Henderson, P. Brown (Capt.), J. Black, I. Lewers, K. Burns, S. Butler, G. Shaw, M. Black, A. Barbour, M. Irwin, M. Gleghorne.

Rolling Subs: J. Jermyn, J. Sherriff, R. Gormley, P. Maguire, M. Ruddle.

JAPAN: H. Miyoshi, K. Yoshida, M. Ito, Y. Bito, K. Katayama, K. Ozawa (Capt.), K. Tsubouchi, T. Yamabori, A. Ito, Y. Chaki, N. Tobita.

Rolling subs: S. Nagoka, K. Kawakami, K. Maeda, Y. Anai, H. Sakamoto.