Ireland men's hockey side miss out on quarter-final spot after defeat to Argentina

The Green Machine will have to pick themselves up for their final game against New Zealand on Friday.

Ireland’s Timothy Cross and Lee Cole dejected after the game. File pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Another spirited, increasingly uplifting 60 minutes from Ireland ended with a fourth successive defeat and the Green Machine’s dream of an Olympic quarter-final berth on Thursday.

Ireland lost 2-1 to Argentina, who were indebted to their goalkeeper Santiago Tomas, whose padded, gloved and stick-saved his side towards the knock-out stages. At the other end, it took two penalty corner goals to thwart an otherwise effective defensive performance from Ireland.