Men’s Five-Nation Tournament, 2nd INSEP Hockey Challenge begins in Paris – Hockey Update
The second edition of the five-nation tournament INSEP Hockey Challenge inaugurated on July 26 in the famous field "Alain Danet"
at the National Sports Institute (INSEP) in Paris, France.
In the opening match that was played between Ireland and Korea, the Irish Men overpowered the Korean team 5-1.
As the match kicked off, the Champions Challenge II victors displayed a dominating play with two opening goals back-to-back in the first six minutes of the game.
Both these goals came from Geoff McCabe of Ireland in the fourth and sixth minute as a result of a field goal.
The pace of the game soon came back to normal where both teams were found equally competitive. However, Korea took up an advantage and attempted an attack at the Irish defensive circle but had to meet an instant counter-attack from the Irish side in the
27th minute when Michael Watt advanced his team’s lead 3-0.
It was not long when Ireland reappeared on the front foot with the ball in possession progressing towards the Korean circle and managed their fourth goal with some brilliant team coordination.
Two minutes to half-time, the fourth score came in when Andy McConnell flicked a shot into the net. He received the ball after a team work between the pair Peter Caruth and Timmy Cockram, who threw a pass at McConnell near the goal-post.
The first half closed with Ireland leading 4-0.
In the second half, the Irishmen came back into form with an opening attack over Korea in the second minute and shot the ball into the goal but it was disallowed by the umpire. In response, Korea answered back with an aggressive hit in the 40th
minute towards the Irish circle but the goal-keeper, Conor Harte made a good save.
No longer than two minutes, Korea reached back into the Irish circle with a 42nd minute penalty corner award where they opened up with their first score at 4-1.
Pressure soaked up in the game, with Korea in full swing to reduce their trail. However, Harte was too good to make another two saves, keeping up their lead 4-1.
Ireland received a penalty corner award in the 55th minute that was attempted by John Jermyn but Korea’s goal-keeper made a save that resulted in a rebound by Watt after receiving a pass from Mitch Darling, advancing the team’s lead 5-1.
Korea came into form and made few successive attacks over Harte that were brilliantly saved by him. With the last minute ticking, the Irish players received a penalty corner but it was a good save until the final call.
The second match of the day will also be held in the same field of INSEP between France and Argentina.
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