Canada overcomes Ireland in the first of three-match series: Hockey News
After losing and drawing a game in the hands of Great Britain, the men’s hockey team of Canada notched a victory over Ireland in the first test of the three-match series held in Edinburgh, Scotland. They started the game quite professionally and edged past
the Irish squad by a single score.
With four minutes into the match, the Canadian players earned their first short-corner of the game. Scott Tupper, Mark Pearson and Hudson Stewart were tested in the chance, but it was deflected by the stick of the Irish custodian.
A hard fight started in the later time where both teams put their efforts to enter the 25-yard line of either side. The Irish squad secured their first penalty-corner in the 15th minute of the game. However, they failed to convert it into a goal.
The pace of the game continued and both sides were storming attacks each other. Ian Smythe, the Canadian hockey player, managed to take the ball inside the D-line and pushed it into the Irish goal. The hit moved exactly into the Irish posts and the team
registered the first goal of the day.
Despite conceding a goal, the Irish players were not feeling any pressure and playing the game calmly. With two minutes left in the first half, Ireland earned another penalty-corner, but again it was deflected in the hands of Toni Kindler. Both teams moved
into the second half of play with Canada holding a single point lead, 1-0.
In the second half of play, the players of the Irish team started a more aggressive game to make the level the scores. Ireland obtained another penalty-corner in the 38th minute of the game, but to no avail. Another flicking hit was deflected
by the stick of Kindler.
The Irish team was awarded another penalty-corner in the 51st minute of the game and this time they tested Jesse Watson. He could not score a goal, but earned a penalty-stroke. John Jermyn, the skipper of the Irish team played the hit and successfully
levelled the scores at 1-1.
The Canadian side earned another penalty-corner in the 67th minute of the game, but failed to capitalise it. Matt Guest and Scott Tupper were unable to pick up the ball for successful scoring.
An end-to-end play was observed until the last minute of the game. With 15 seconds left on the clock, Scott Upper hit a ball from 15 metre own line into the Irish D line. Matt Guest while taking the long scooping pass touched the ball and sent it into the
goal-post. As soon as the ball reached the net, the final horn sounded and Canada won the game by a single score of 2-1
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