Ireland wins FIH Champions Challenge II hockey tournament defeating France by 4-2
Ireland defeated France by 4-2 in the final of the FIH Champions Challenge II which is being played in Lille, France and emerged as the new champions.
The match, being the final of the event, was packed with a lot of entertainment as both finalists played really good hockey throughout the match, where the Irish led the first half by two goals to one and in the second half the two teams also made the similar
strikes as in the first half.
The Irish team manager looked very happy over his team’s performance in the event.
"We were pleased with our performances this week and it sets our stall for further momentum as we prepare for the upcoming Europeans." Peter Jackson, the manager of the Irish men’s national hockey squad, shared his views after the match.
“This was a well deserved win and we are back in Champions Challenge I where our team of this calibre rightfully belongs.” Herbie Sharman, the president of the Irish Hockey Association (IHA), who also looked very delighted with the result of the tournament,
stated his views over the victory of the Irish men in the event.
In the first fifteen minutes of the first half both the teams looked pretty aggressive and tried to find an early lead, but it was Ireland that first opened their account in the 17th minute, when Ronan Gormley scored the first goal on a penalty-stroke.
Just six minutes before the interval, Ireland doubled their lead when Eugene Magee scored the second in the 29th minute. However, France managed to reduce the Irish lead a minute before the interval, thanks to Catonnet. The first half ended with
Ireland leading by 2-1.
The Irish men took almost half of the time into the second half to further increase their lead, but this time Andy McConnell did the job for Ireland in the 49th minute. Just two minutes after, France again reduced the Irish lead in the 51st minute,
when Genestet scored the goal. The Irish men did not stop their dominant play and continuously kept their pressure on the hosts. The strategy worked for Ireland and they scored their fourth and the final goal of the match in the 55th minute, when
Gareth Watkins gave a diving final touch to a pass from Caruth. The score lasted until the end.
Moreover, Ireland was also awarded with the Fair Play Award, while David Harte, the Irish goal-keeper, was adjudged as the best goal-keeper of the tournament.
Tags: