Ireland hold off Canada in seven-goal U21 World Cup hockey opener

Ireland celebrate their opening goal scored by captain Louis Rowe. Image: WorldSPortPics

FIH Junior World Cup: Ireland 4 Canada 3

Ireland held out to fend off a late surge from Canada to record a 4-3 win in their opening tie of the FIH Junior World Cup. A Louis Rowe brace, and goal each for Greg Williams and Milo Thompson, and some heroics in the Irish net from James Coffey saw Ireland secure all three points.

Ireland dominated possession in the opening five minutes, but Canada produced the first notable attacking opportunities of the game, with goalkeeper James Coffey tested from both penalty corners and open play but was alive to all the efforts to keep the teams level.

Ireland began to impose themselves on the game in the closing five minutes of the quarter as they began to find routes into the Canadian circle of the quarter, with Louis Rowe winning a penalty corner which was well saved off the line after Rowe’s dragflick.

Captain Rowe got Ireland off the mark with a piece of individual brilliance as he drove into the circle and fired into the net on his reverse to open the scoring before the end of quarter 1.

Matthew McKee continued the Ireland attacking threat as he drove into the circle and won another penalty corner for Ireland which was saved from John Cunningham.

Ireland carried their momentum into the second quarter, with their press proving very effective and leading to an early penalty corner won by Milo Thompson. Cunningham was again Ireland’s preferred option, but his effort was parried away by Canada’s Stanley Cooke.

Rex Dunlop was next up for Ireland to test Cooke, with his reverse stick effort from a tight angle saved. Dunlop had a second effort soon after with another effort on his reverse that went just over the bar.

Ireland were reduced to ten in the latter stages of the first half, with Greg Williams shown a yellow card. Canada made use of the advantage to gain a footing and win two penalty corners, which Ireland defended well. Canada eventually found their equaliser from open play, squeezing the ball into the bottom corner through Gurnoor Bhullar, to see the sides go into the break on level terms.

Ireland once again started strong, immediately producing attacking opportunities. Jake Fulton found Louis Rowe early on who lifted the ball into the back of the Canadian net to restore Ireland’s lead. Jake Fulton was again lively in attack as he drove in on the baseline and won a penalty corner giving Ireland an opportunity to extend their lead, which Greg Williams took, drag-flicking powerfully into to the top corner.

Milo Thompson was next in line to add his name to the scoresheet, his thunderous strike finding the back board to extend Ireland’s lead to three goals in the third quarter. Another effort fell for Thompson minutes after as Ireland looked to put Canada to the sword, but his effort went just wide.

Ireland looked to defend their lead in the final quarter as Canada threw everything at them. James Coffey was called into action yet again to deny Canada, making a double-save and picking up a knock for his bravery. The penalty corner that resulted from the attacking effort came good for Canada as they pulled a goal back with 12 minutes remaining through Leighton De Souza.

Canada’s De Souza added a second four minutes later from another penalty corner to take the scoring to 4-3 and set up a nervy final period in the match.

Canada’s attacking efforts continued to prove fruitful as they won another penalty corner with four minutes remaining, but De Souza’s effort went wide of the post much to the relief of the Irish defence.

Ireland held firm to record a 4-3 win and secure the points in their opening tie in Pool A. Ireland will face South Arica in their second outing on Saturday at 8am.