WOQ: Kiwis' victory is such a relief for Ireland
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| Irish Hockey |
March 22, 2004
Belfast Telegraph, UK
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IRELAND'S hopes of keeping their Olympic qualifying dream alive were hanging by a thread this morning at around 5am as Ukraine surged into a 2-0 interval lead against New Zealand in Auckland.
But players and management alike heaved a sigh of relief as the Kiwis eventually finished 3-2 winners leaving their opponents still without a point in Pool A.
Tomorrow after Ireland play Germany, Ukraine could still prove to be the fly in the ointment if they were to beat Great Britain and Riet Kuper's side were to lose the earlier game.
Presently Ukraine have the better goal difference and if the above scenario were to transpire then Ireland would have to take something from their final Pool game with GB to stay in the frame.
But it's all hypothetical, fortunately, at this stage after the host team's comeback this morning.
One couldn't help feeling sympathy for the Ukrainians, who will probably go down as the unluckiest team in the tournament.
Not that Ireland will be complaining as their opening 1-0 victory over the former Russians will probably keep their qualifying hopes alive until the weekend cross-over matches as they bid for that crucial fifth place finish.
The Irish players were oblivious to the nerve-jangling events at the Lloyd Elsmore Stadium as they were resting in their hotel rooms during the match.
It's just as well as their blood pressure levels might have risen considerably as Ukraine showed some brilliant touches throughout the course of the game.
Assistant coach Sally Bell did watch the match, initially out of mere interest, but that soon turned to a degree of trepidation in the circumstances.
"We are certainly glad we played them first as they always improve as tournaments progress," she said.
"Their number eight (Tetyana Kobzenko) was allowed too much freedom in the first half and Ukraine proved just how good a team they are.
"If they had won personally I don't think it would have made a huge difference to us as you really have to be in control of your own destiny in tournament hockey."
Tomorrow Ireland will be hoping to break with tradition and pick up something in the way of points from their game with Germany.
The two teams know each other intimately having played against each other on a regular basis for more than a decade.
"We watched them beat Great Britain 2-1 yesterday and it was a game which could have gone either way," Sally added.
"We have also seen them in other matches on video but we are really very familiar with them."
Ireland lost 3-0 to the Germans in the teams' last meeting at the European Nations Cup tournament in September so will be looking to improve upon that result.
On Saturday Ireland went down 5-1 to New Zealand, the consolation goal coming from Belfast Harlequins player Jenny McDonough.
Today: Pool A: New Zealand 3 Ukraine 2.
Pool B: Korea 3 Russia 0.
Saturday: Pool A: Ukraine 1 Germany 2, Ireland 1 (J McDonough) New Zealand 5.
Pool B: USA 1 Japan 3, Russia 0 Spain 3.
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