Ireland 2-2 Great Britain
Ireland began their World League campaign with a 2-2 draw against Great Britain, ranked fifth in the world.
The Green Machine wore black armbands in remembrance of those who passed away in the tragedy at Berkeley. Victim Lorcán Miller of Shankill was an integral part of UCD men’s hockey team.
GB got off to a flying start, with Middleton and Griffiths giving the British a 2-0 lead in the first eight minutes.
But Ireland settled into the game and John Jackson rattled the post on a penalty corner effort; a sign of things to come.
Mitch Darling crossed the ball expertly into a waiting Kyle Good who duly scored to make it 2-1 before half-time. Six minutes into the second half Conor Harte slipped past two defenders and set up a goal mouth scramble which John Jackson took advantage of to score and draw the match level.
Both sides’ goalkeepers, Harte and Pinner, were called into action before the match came to a close.
Great Britain’s Pinner denied Jackson in the final minutes as the ball was deflected onto the post before being cleared. The match finished 2-2.
Speaking after the match coach Craig Fulton said: “Overall we’re happy with the result. We were a bit nervous in the first quarter but settled in the second quarter and got on the scoreboard.
"The second half was pleasing, we created some good phases of play which was more like us. We’re looking forward to the next game against Malaysia.”
Ireland play Malaysia on Thursday 25 June at 1pm.
Starting: D Harte, Jackson, Gormley, Watt, Cargo, Magee, O’Donoghue, Darling, Good, Gleghorne, C Harte.
Bench: Bell, Sothern, Dowds, Caruth, Shimmins, Carlisle, FitzGerald.
