Bronze cheer for Ireland

IRELAND earned the bronze medal and some consolation for their failure to qualify for the Beijing Olympics with a 2-1 win over Canada at the University of Victoria yesterday.

Jenny McDonough put the Irish in front after just six minutes, deflecting Ciara O’Brien’s penalty corner strike to the net to silence a vociferous home crowd looking to see their team end their campaign on a winning note.

Julia O’Halloran, Alex Speers and Lisa Jacob were all unfortunate not to extend Ireland’s lead, but Mary Goode had to be alert at the other end to thwart two Canadian attacks.

The introduction of UCC’s Hollie Moffett injected some pace into the Irish attack and they went two up when Cathy McKean finished off O’Brien’s cross in the 25th minute.

Canada grabbed a lifeline just before the half-time hooter when Stephanie Jameson rifled home from a penalty corner but Ireland could even afford a second-half penalty stroke miss from Nikki Symmons as they closed the game out.

“I was so proud of the players for they way they played after the disappointment of not qualifying,” said Ireland coach Gene Muller. “We played our best hockey of the Tournament to overcome Canada and thoroughly deserved our victory.”

Favourites Korea sealed their passage to Beijing with a facile 5-0 final win over Italy, while Malaysia overcame Uruguay on penalty strokes after a 2-2 draw to claim fifth place.

Meanwhile, it was a bad final day for Munster’s representatives in the Club Championships and All-Ireland League (AIL) wildcard playoffs at Hillsborough yesterday.

Cork Harlequins erased a two-goal deficit but could only manage a 3-3 draw with Glenanne that wasn’t enough to see them progress, and the game ended on a sour note when Paul Lombard saw his yellow card turned into a red for verbal abuse.

In Pool A, Mark Daniel fired an equaliser with just 50 seconds left on the clock to give Lisnagarvey a 2-2 draw with Pembroke Wanderers that guaranteed both sides a place in the last four.

The result meant Cork Church of Ireland’s clash with Cookstown was a dead rubber, and the demoralised Garryduff side subsequently crashed to a 4-1 defeat.

Mitch Darling’s double helped Leinster champions Three Rock Rovers to a 2-2 draw with Banbridge that ensured their progression, though the Ulster side made a mess of a last-gasp penalty corner when a goal would have sent them through.

Having missed a glorious chance to win a place in the inaugural AIL with a heartbreaking defeat to Fingal on Sunday, Bandon needed a miracle against Ulster powerhouses Instonians, and it proved beyond them as they were hammered 6-0, with Irish international Mark Gleghorne grabbing four.

Lisnagarvey will hold the torch for Ulster in the semi-finals at UCD on May 25 against Leinster’s top three of Pembroke, Glenanne and Three Rock Rovers. Glens’ Stephen Butler was named Player of the Tournament, while Banbridge stopper Gareth Lennox took the Goalkeeper of the Tournament gong.