Tuesday, June 16 – Cape Town, South Africa: The Ireland Men’s Hockey Team missed out on a place in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup Semi-Final by the finest of margins as they drew with South Africa in their last Pool B match. Ireland went a goal up early on through Daragh Walsh, but South Africa turned the game back in their favour with goals either side of half-time. Ben Nelson drew Ireland back level early in the final quarter, but South Africa once again went back ahead thanks to a penalty corner. Nelson gave Ireland a late lifeline with 90 seconds remaining, but South Africa held out to secure the draw they need to take second spot in Pool B.
The atmosphere inside Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium was at a fever pitch as Ireland got the tie underway, eager to silence the home crowd early. A sublime interchange between Matthew Nelson and Daragh Walsh did just that, as Walsh drew a foul inside the circle to win a penalty corner. Greg Williams saw his effort on goal saved by goalkeeper Cullin De Jager.
Ireland won possession high up the pitch soon after, allowing Daragh Walsh to sprint into the circle and strike at goal, breaking the deadlock and giving Ireland a crucial early lead. Ben Nelson came within millimeters of adding a second for Ireland as he latched onto a loose ball inside the circle and struck across goal, but the slightest of touches from goalkeeper Callum De Jager deflected his effort wide.
Ireland had to weather a brief attacking storm, a task they performed perfectly before regaining control and threatening again, Ben Johnson almost getting on the edge of a crash ball from Greg Williams, followed by an effort on goal from Evan Jennings which was saved. South Africa, though, remained lively, breaking quickly late on and firing at goal through Dayaan Cassiem, but his effort went wide of the post.
South Africa began the second quarter brightly, winning their first penalty corner of the match. The initial effort resulted in a re-award, Luke Roleston’s save hitting an Irish body on the way out. From the follow-up, South Africa went with a variation, their deflection calling Lee Cole into action on the Irish goal line to make the save.
A frantic, end-to-end period followed, as both South Africa and Ireland produced rapid breaks. An eventual penalty corner provided South Africa another chance to draw level, but Roleston was once again alive to make a smart double-save and clear. South Africa eventually got their equaliser, a bobbling ball across goal causing problems for the Irish defence and eventually reaching Clinton Melville whose effort on his reverse stick popped fortuitously over Roleston.
Ireland almost restored their lead in the final minute of the first half when Ben Johnson got on the end of a Kyle Marshall crash ball into the circle, but De Jager once again denied Ireland. Roleston was required to keep his side level in the last ten seconds, saving from close range before doing enough to put off Tevin Kok who could get a touch on the follow up delivery across goal.
A near perfect start to the second half for Ireland as them break incisively down the right side to allow Matthew Nelson to slap across goal for Jeremy Duncan to deflect, but De Jager was on hand to deny him. Duncan disposed his opposite number a minute later and drove into the South Africa circle flicking just wide of the right post.
South Africa eventually got back up to speed, working the ball into the Irish circle and winning a penalty corner. This time, South Africa opted to flick at goal through Carlon Mentoor who found the bottom corner to give South Africa the lead.
Ireland almost had their equaliser late in the third quarter after Daragh Walsh fed Greg Williams who wove his way into the circle and managed to squeeze the ball across goal from a tight angle, but Ireland couldn’t apply the touch required to divert the ball goalward.
Trailing by a goal and needing a win to progress, Ireland had to throw everything they had at South Africa in the final quarter. Ireland’s press once again proved effective as they won the ball high up the pitch and found Ben Nelson in the circle who found an inch of space and fired into the back of the net.
South Africa went up the other end from the restart, with Carlo Mentoor getting on the end of another bobbling delivery, but this time Ireland scrambled well to block his effort. A penalty corner a few minutes later for South Africa provided them a chance to regain their lead, but Roleston produced another excellent save to palm the ball clear.
Callum De Jager continued to be a thorn in Ireland’s side as he denied Ben Walker from close range with five minutes remaining. South Africa went up to other end, winning a penalty corner with three minutes to play, an opportunity the hosts took through Calvin Davis.
Ireland though gave themselves a lifeline with 90 seconds remaining, Ben Nelson getting his second from the game to draw level after both Greg Williams and Lee Cole were denied from a penalty corner.
But it wasn’t to be, as South Africa saw out the remaining minutes to secure a 3-3 draw, a result that sees them take second in Pool B and a place in Friday’s Semi-Final.
Ireland will move forward into the 5/8 Place Play-Offs on Friday and Saturday where they will look to finish their campaign in South Africa on positive notes. They will face the 4th place side in Pool A at 14:30 on Friday, June 19 in their penultimate match.
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