Heartbreaker for brave Irish

Ireland’s Olympic dream was snatched from them in the cruellest fashion yesterday, as the tale of the tape gave Korea a contentious winner with just nine seconds to go to stun a packed Belfield into silence yesterday.

Paul Revington’s hosts had twice seen a lead pegged back by the tournament favourites, and had one last bit of defending to do before extra-time loomed as Seung Il Lee lined up a free hit just outside the Irish 23-metre line.

His crash ball hit the backboard and Korea celebrated wildly but umpire Murray Grime gave a long corner, suggesting there’d been an Irish touch rather than a goalscoring Korean one.