Ireland will come back stronger, vows Jackson
And even after one of the most heartbreaking moments of his sporting career, Jackson fought back the tears to offer a rousing rallying cry to team-mates and supporters.
The Belgium-based Belfast man had just seen his Olympic dream ended in cruel fashion on Sunday, as Ireland went down 3-2 to a Korean goal seconds from the final hooter in the final of the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London qualifier at Belfield.
“We’re devastated because we’ve got so much belief in what we’re trying to do, and where we’re going,” he told RTÉ Radio 1.
“If it’s not this week, and this Olympics, it’s going to be the next one. This team has taken a big step this week, and it’s never going to take a step backwards again. Our team are the strongest bunch, we’ll take it on the chin but we’re not going down.”
Nam Yong Lee got the deftest of touches to a crashed free-in with just nine seconds on the clock to allow world number six Korea, who had twice rallied after go-ahead goals from Ireland’s Peter Caruth and Timmy Cockram, take their place at London 2012.
Ireland are ranked 10 places below them in 16th but have repeatedly shown over the past 18 months that they can mix it with the world’s best, with Jackson adamant his side could have claimed extra-time glory on Sunday. “Definitely. We were so much stronger than them. Yes, they’re a good hockey side but we had dug deep,” he said. “I don’t know what happened at the end. We’ll obviously go back and do our analysis. We won’t let it happen again.”
Jackson played superbly at right-back for Ireland, claimed a couple of man-of-the-match awards in this campaign and was some pundits’ nominee for player of the tournament, but the Mossley man preferred to focus on the collective.
“I couldn’t give a monkeys about myself — I think this team has covered itself in glory,” he insisted. “We’ve performed, we’ve thrilled, we’ve dug deep like any Irish team is expected to do. There are accolades for me, but it’s the team that deserves all the accolades. They’re such a strong group.”
This is a young Ireland side with just three players the wrong side of 27. They’ll be hurting today after the weekend horrors how but Jackson added that better things lie ahead for them.
“We’re staying together. Individuals might have different circumstances (regarding possible international retirements) but there’s a belief in this squad, not just in the 18 at this tournament, but the 40-man panel, that we’re going places.”
As well as Ireland’s exploits on the pitch, much has been made in hockey circles of how the nine-day tournament at UCD captured the public’s imagination. Belfield rocked to the beat of a sold-out crowd on four of the six match days amid unprecedented media attention, albeit without the desired outcome of an Olympic spot. And Jackson was keen to praise the Irish support. “I must pay credit to the crowd. As much as hopefully we entertained them, they pushed us on and on, and it wouldn’t have been half the tournament if it wasn’t for them.”
Irish hockey’s focus now turns to the women’s team, whose Olympic qualification campaign is just warming up. They comfortably saw off France and Russia in their first two games of the Athlon FIH Road to London at Beerschot in Belgium over the weekend. Minnows Mexico are up next today (noon, Irish time) but Gene Muller’s side have tougher tests awaiting them as they begin a mini-league with favourites Spain and Belgium on Thursday.
