Canada Defeats Ireland by 2-1 in the third match of UK Tour
The men’s senior Canadian team opened its first of the three matches against Ireland in the United Kingdom (UK) tour on April 17, in Scotland.
In their first encounter with the Irish hockey men, the Canadian team ended up with a victory with 2-1 score lead over Ireland.
Since the opening minute of the match, Canada was found with the ball possession in the field and managed a 4th minute penalty-corner award during the first half.
The penalty-corner was tested by a trio of Mark Pearson, Scott Tupper and Hudson Stewart, delivering the shot at the lower part of the post. However, a good save was made by the Irish goal-keeper, denying Canada to score a goal.
Soon after, both the teams played head-to-head with frequent score attempts made in both the team’s respective circles.
In the 15th minute, the Irish men were given their first penalty-corner of the game. The well-attempted drag-flick from the Irish side got beaten when the sprinter Mark Pearson made it to the ball for a successful deflection, keeping the scores
at 0-0.
The game went on with both the teams trying to open up a score. However, Canada received the golden chance when Ian Smythe received a pass on the top of the Irish defence circle. Smythe dribbled into the circle and struck a shot that went past the goal-keeper
into the goal, opening scores at 1-0 in the 21stminute of the match.
Irish soon stepped up to avenge and in the 33rd minute they earned a penalty-corner. The Irish striker made a quick hit, but was excellently saved by Toni Kindler’s leg pads. The first half concluded with a one-score lead for Canada at 1-0.
The second half started off with Ireland in an aggressive state of attacks. Resultantly, they received a penalty-corner in the opening third minute of the second half.
A similar flick was attempted by the Irish that again got deflected by the Canadian goal-keeper, Kindler, off the field.
Ireland remained determined and firm in order to attain the equaliser and won a short-corner in 51st minute. The drag flick shot hit the arm of Canada’s Jesse Watson, where the umpire called for a penalty-stroke award.
The Irish captain, John Jermyn, came to do the honours and successfully stroked a goal, levelling the scores at 1-1.
Canada was found in the Irish circle with a short-corner in the 67th minute, but failed to turn it into a score when Matt Guest missed a pass from Scott Tupper, giving the ball possession to Ireland.
With 9 seconds left on the clock, Canada received a 5 metre line hit. Tupper released a scoop after five seconds that failed to be judged by any of the Irish defenders. By the time, Guest found the ball with him right in front of the goal where he struck
a shot in no time, past the goal-keeper into the goal-post and the final whistle was blown. The match ended up in a victory for Canada by 2-1 over Ireland.
The next match of the three games will be held at the Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association Complex in Belfast.
The next matches scheduled to be played by Canada during the UK tour are as follows:
April 19 Canada vs Ireland
April 20 Canada vs Ireland
April 22 Canada vs Scotland
April 24 Canada vs Scotland
April 25 Canada vs Scotland
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