Ireland 2
India 3
Updated 8.45pm
–With reporting from Sinéad O’Carroll in Rio de Janeiro
IRELAND CAME UP agonisingly short of opening their Olympic hockey campaign with a point on Saturday afternoon as they were made to pay the penalty by a clinical Indian side.
Craig Fulton’s side conjured a brave performance in sweltering conditions in Rio but their spirited comeback wasn’t enough as they suffered a narrow defeat in their Group B opener.
A disappointed side coming off the pitch at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Deodoro, the players stuck to their oft-repeated mantra of ‘No Excuses’ when discussing the game.
Despite temperatures soaring into the 30s (and a concession from Conor Harte that, ‘It is hot out there. I can assure you that’), they refused to use the momentous setting or unusual heat as contributors to the defeat.
“We didn’t perform to where we know we can,” Harte told TheJournal.ie.
We said before the game, we wanted to play the game and not the occasion . At times, we let the occasion get to us. Ultimately, losing. We were here for a result and we didn’t come away with anything so it’s very disappointing.
On the blistering conditions — the temperatures jumped at least seven degrees Celsius today compared to the past six days in the city — the 28-year-old sweeper said:
“I’m sure [the heat] did [impact us] but it plays a part for both teams. It’s whoever deals with it the best comes out on top.
You saw us at the end there, we were giving it everything until the final whistle. So I don’t think we let that affect us, maybe the first few, trying to acclimatise. There is no excuse.
First half
On a momentous day for Irish hockey, it did take the Green Machine time to settle and they found themselves two behind by half-time.
After finding themselves on the back foot for much of the opening quarter, Ireland’s resistance was eventually broken by VR Raghunath’s 15th minute penalty corner.
And with less than three minutes left in the second quarter, David Harte was left helpless again as Rupinder Singh fired Indian into a commanding two-goal lead at the Deodoro Olympic Park.
At 1-0, John Jermyn had seen his goal, from a penalty corner, chalked off for obstruction in the build-up and it proved crucial as Ireland were made to pay for their indiscipline.
Fulton rallied his troops at the interval and they came out of their shells thereafter, often demonstrating the tenacity which saw them make history by qualifying for the Games.
Jermyn gave the noisy band of Irish supporters something to shout about in the 45th minute with a strong finish, low to the goalkeeper’s right, from another well-worked PC routine.
But the celebrations were short-lived.
Pal scored his second of the game as India, the most successful country in men’s Olympic hockey with eight gold medals, cruised towards victory — but there was a grandstand finish to come.
With five minutes remaining, Ireland rallied and somehow mustered the resolve to push the world number five side all the way.
From another set-piece, Conor Harte persevered and eventually stabbed it home to give the Boys in Green hope of pulling off a stunning comeback.
With India rattled, Ireland pushed during the last four minutes and in an attempt to find an equaliser, scarified goalkeeper Harte for another outfield player.
But time was against them and India held firm to earn the points and leave Ireland with plenty to think about ahead of their next game, against Netherlands, tomorrow night at 10.30pm Irish time.
The short turnaround time means anything to be taken from the game has to be learned quickly.
Using his decade of experience on the international and professional stages, Conor Harte, just minutes after the final whistle, was talking about coming together again, ensuring strong body language and changing the mindset.
“Learn from this. Learn from what we need to improve. Less penalty corners against us and be more clinical in their circle,” the Racing Club de Bruxelles said.
“It’s that simple.”
A strong short corner defence is something the team prides itself on, Harte explained, noting the disappointment that it wasn’t there for them today.
Coach Fulton echoed his sentiments on ‘it coming down to set pieces’ and having to be more clinical when chances come.
“It ebbed and flowed for three quarters and we finished strong in the last quarter after John Jermyn’s goal. We were playing well and had a good few chances but were just not accurate enough.
“As a team, we normally pride ourselves on that accuracy and today it didn’t fire for us. All of our flickers are good and you can see that the shots were on, we just missed the target.”
Taking a lead from his players, the South African former player and two-time Olympian and wasn’t going to use nerves or the occasion as excuses.
However, he added: “You have got to be a realist – it’s not like you are playing in a club match. There’s a lot at stake. But we’ll be back. Looking behind the result, I see some really good things but it came down to set pieces.
“I don’t know if it was the toughest game we have ever played but it was tough. India are ranked fifth for a reason with strong corners, strong set-pieces and strong forwards. But we have that as well and having said all that, we got more corners than them and more chances so it is up to us.
“Tomorrow, [we are] fully focused on the Netherlands and getting a result from that. For now, less is more. I think we are OK.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
So excited for this!
COYBIG
Come on the boy’s x x x We know u can do it x x x
Speaking of, the Defence Forces have a great pic up on Facebook of the other boys in green, about to watch the match with fellow English soldiers in Mali. The game has changed over the last century and so have our countries but moments like this still resonate.
Greay try by Kearney. Go on lads
fishing for green thumbs fergal with comments like that
19-16 to Ireland would be apt :)
Why?
I’m horribly nervous. Just hope we can produce the goods. It would be great to destroy these on their home turf :-)
A one point victory will do me. I think it will be very close.
Not gonna happen. Think Ireland will be horribly exposed today! This English side are on the verge of something very special! I really fear for us today.
Agree.
England are stronger in back row, locks & centre.
Care is a better scrum half than Murray.
Very unpopular opinion but I too agree I feel they’ll total expose O’Driscoll and Ireland will crumble.
From what I have seen in the first 30 odd minutes its only a matter of time before they cross our lines. Saying that we do have some pretty moves from the training ground. A 5 point game at the very most!
We have to get rid of “Ireland’s Call” the lack of passion from our lads compared to the English tells you everything
Should have been a yellow to Farrell.
Some unbelievably stupid play by ireland though. Kearney and Sexton kicking away possession when o the fringes of the english 22. Madness
That wasn’t a yellow card. Looks worse the more you watch it. A penalty and no more.
Rubbish.
Even Jeremy Guscott on the bbc said Farrell was lucky to not get a card.
Lads let’s face it we blew ourselves up to be world beaters when we “nearly ” beat New Zealand and beat a poor enough Wales team even though we easily could have came out winners today maybe we just aren’t as good as we thought we were yet but still great chance to win it out still if we beat France due to score difference
Ireland’s back line were out of ideas today, Sexton and O’Driscoll were poor and, apart from the Kearney try, in the second half we were very static.
To ask people to stand for the national anthems and then play irelands call is a disgrace
What do you suggest ?
Accidentally put me green jocks on inside out today. Leaving them that way now. Don’t want to tempt fate.
You’re worse than me darren
Sexton made another stupid mistake kicking out on the full. You get away with that kind of stuff for Leinster but not at this level in a tight game like that. Thought rob Kearney played well, but the best player on the field by a country mile was mike brown. One of the players of the championship so far.
True but it does help when Sexton kept kicking the ball to Brown
Sexton lost it for us
Ireland’s kicking from opening play was aimless and England’s defence was brilliant. The six nations has been blown wide open.
Disaster, that game was there to be won. Ireland hadn’t the ideas or pace in the backs. Sexton had a poor game. we needed a bowe or a Zebo to offer something different in attack
I presume as this is an away game that we will have to suffer a rendition of Ireland’s Call.
It’s a disgrace that we do not sing our National Anthem against England at Twickenham.
Yet another example of the majority losing out to keep the minority happy.
Anyway do the business Ireland.
Leave it to political pages pal…
words fail me..:(
Ill discuss it with you when you use your real name
This is rugby not soccer.doesnt matter what religion or where you come from.its the all of Ireland rugby team
As we’re an all Ireland team we could theoretically replace it with God Save the Queen if you’d prefer….
Schmidt’s honeymoon period is well and truly over…….not because we lost to a mediocre English team in a mediocre six nations, but because we played with absolutely no plan. Again another irish team scared of the ball and no line breakers in the team….Gilroy and Zebo sitting at home makes even less sense now!
England aren’t mediocre, not brilliant but definitely not mediocre
All rugby in the northern hemisphere is mediocre, only France ( if they get a new coach ) will compete at 2015 and although I thought we weren’t too far behind New Zealand, South Africa and even Australia I’m afraid after that it just proves we are miles behind….as ever world class individuals who can produce one off performances and that’s it.
Disappointed. No plan B. Nobody on bench to change things up.
We lost the battle up front having left ryan and tod at home. Having said that toner and hendo were very good. Poc was poor. But this was always going to be one up front and they dominated us.
Poor tactical kicking throughout.
We were lucky to only be three down at half time. But the better team won.
Still we have a great chance of a championship.
Typical did ye never think of a drop goal boys?
No Rodge. Sexton is brain dead.
Sexton 0. All Blacks 1; England 1
Ffs sexton…
Bring back ROG !!!
True. Sexton is shocking.
Zebo if only!!!!
I’m at a loss….what’s the tactics? kick it to the best counter attacking fullback in Europe??? Give the ball to static forwards around the fringes?? C’mon joe we need a drastic rethink at the break.
Ireland to win 15-12 no try’s in this game got 66/1 €20 on.
No you didn’t !!! That bet isn’t possible and predicting the score in rugby matches should be at least 500/1+
Bet is possible if you want. If you ring up Paddypower for a quote.
Mug Punter
I have every confidence Ireland will win today …. And so do the English
Still Confident !
Bottled it once again.
Give the opposition the ball and they will win..simples
yep its very frustrating to watch can only imagine what the forwards must feel like
England 12 Ireland 29
Absolutely gutted but two wins and we win the championship. Would have taken that at the beginning of the tournament
I seen the English players do their pre-planned short walk through the fans on the BBC, but I don’t think it had the desired effect it seemed pretty sedate to me.
They need something to encourage all those non-English players in their side!
George hook looks like a dodgy 70s cabaret singer…..george hook at the sands
I know wtf. Are there no mirrors in rte.
Wouldn’t like to be Billy Vunipola that looked at sore one.
what happened to him ??
He went over on his ankle and with a 19+ stone frame it really doesn’t help.
If only we had someone now who can make things happen, someone with that bit of a spark, the x-factor. But hey, Joe knows best.
The golden generation has blown it every single time bar one when the chips were on the table. They’re at it again now. Twenty minutes to schite or get off the pot.
How many times was there a boot or a hand on the ground from England and joubert did fk all
I can’t stand losing to England…..
I’m backing England to slay the potato men.
If your with me give me the red thumb :)
Is your name an anagram for your profession?
Ireland to win.
Let’s brake some faces…drunk
Whatever happens from here, surely Schmidt’s honeymoon period is well and truly over.
Sexton’s pointless kicking lost us the game. Anytime we had a good position he tried to chip it over England
Devin Toner’s having a great match so far, sorry I ever doubted him!
Me nerves can’t take it!
This is our year we are good enough
There’re definitely be a few try’s.
Try number 1.
Come on Ireland
Championship is still there to be won, run up a good score against Italy and beat France and it’s basically done. Too much emphasis on grand slams, to finish top of the 6 Nations is an achievement with or without grand slams
The referee gave them everything. A bloody disgrace
Best team won unfortunately
As much I don’t like Joubert thought he was fair enough today
I don’t think he managed the mauls well. Ireland did not engage at the first lineout that england won so it wasn’t a maul. Joubert should have blown for obstruction.
They also came in from the side on numerous occasions without sanction
Yeh I’d agree with that assessment. How it wasn’t offside is beyond me!
Can’t wait to see o’mahony singing the national anthem
You won’t. They don’t do amhrain na fhiann when we’re playing away
You will have to wait till the Italy game for that.
That johnny may is shocking. Why are we targeting him
The pessimist in me is predicting an England win.
Eng by 5 points
The English back row & centres to dominate Ireland in the middle.
looks like you were right. We were very poor in attack
Ireland will win by 3 points
England are using Danny Care to clear out POM before the england pack gets there, that’s clever play.
Ireland by 8
Come on Ireland. Excited now. Let’s have ya triple crown! :-)
The egg chasing bandwagoners will be out in full force today
All Ireland anyone?
Red thumbs please
48% of play in Ireland’s 22 in opening ten minutes that’s not good. However we did well to stop them from scoring early on.
Very disappointing. A tough game as imagined before hand but lazy and devoid of ideas in places. Heaslip shows again that he is our weakest forward. Very lazy today in the end . could be tiredness but he’s a professional player in Twickenham and the games in the balance with 15 to go. Hopefully though we’ll pick ourselves for the next match
YES! YES! YES!!!! FAB SCORE. WELL DONE Rob
#inBODwetrust
Alot of cauliflower ears on display here from England.
It’s been a long two weeks! COME ON IRELAND!
ENGLAND FTW!
In the lead now!
Boom baby!!!!
Time in Toronto is 10:47a m.
What time is kick off?
Starts at 16:00 GMT so that would be 11am in Toronto.
Cmon Ireland
Feeling nervous about this one folks I predicted last week it woukd be 35-5 to Ireland this one predicting 14-19 ireland.
Is it just me or are we far FAR too keen on cross field kicking/kicking through? Seriously, for every instance when these tactics work there’s ten times when they don’t, I think sometimes we’d be far better just keeping the f*cking ball in hand and going through the phases…
Next score wins… :-/
Nail biter, could be 13-0 so 3-0 is not too bad.
I think we are going to own the breakdown the rest is history