Irelands National Women March On To Finals While The Men March Onto The Bronze Medal Match In Champions Challenge I

Ireland's Women have knocked South Africa today with a 2-1 win in the Semi Finals to secure a spot in the Champions Challenge I final tomorrow against either Spain or the USA. Ireland's men also in the Semi Finals were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Korea but will now go onto play in the Bronze medal match against hosts Malaysia tomorrow at 12.15pm.

Ireland have made the final of the Champions Challenge I beating South Africa in a fast paced and exciting match 2-1. Ireland will play in the final tomorrow, Sunday 4th may at 5.45pm against either Spain or the USA.

Ireland took a difficult route to the final having to knock out the number one seeds in this tournament (world no 8) Korea in the quarter finals in a tournament that contains four world cup teams.
Ireland went behind in the 8th minute of today's game when Celia Evans capitalised on great work between Taylor and Cox to get an open shot away to make it 1-0 to South Africa.Ireland rallied well Megan Frazer levelling the sides from a cracking penalty corner strike which took a deflection high into the net in the 15th minute. Both teams worked hard in the remaining minutes of the first half but they could not be separated in the first 35 and the sides broke at one a piece.

Ireland started the second half very well enjoying periods of pressure and possession but South Africa were never far away from their own chances testing the Irish defence. Ireland got a deserved lead in the 45th minute when super work by Katie Mullan along the baseline saw her drop the ball back to a waiting Nikki Evans who made no mistake from the close range shot to make it 2-1.

Ireland continued to goal hunt some fantastic team work creating chances, man of the match Shirley McCay showing great form with the long ball and aerial efforts out the back to set up midfield and forwards.
South Africa looked sure to equalise in the 59th minute when Tarryn Bright stepped up to take a stroke but an on form Emma Gray in goals saved well to keep her sides lead intact.

The game finished off in end to end fashion but Ireland protected their 2-1 lead well and closed out with a spot in the final tomorrow at 5.45pm against the winners of Spain v USA.

Commenting after the match Coach Darren Smith was rightly proud of his team's efforts "I thought we did really well, defensively we were pretty sound I thought for patches of the game we played extremely well. Once we went up 2-1 we absorbed a bit of pressure including Emma Gray saving a stroke and the cross bar keeping a South African shot out so a couple of things went in our favour."

Talking about pulling back after going 1-0 down he continued "The team carried on playing, an early goal is never the way you want things to unfold but it was very good we got into the game pulling back with a cracking penalty corner. We started the second half very well and closed the game out. This is a group of young girls that work so hard who want to play good international hockey and to be in the final is fantastic."


Ireland will now play against USA or Spain tomorrow, Sunday 4th May at 17.45

IRELAND TEAM: Emily Beatty (UCD) Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute) Nicci Daly (Holcombe HC / Loreto) Kate Dillon (Railway Union) Nikki Evans (UCD) Megan Frazer - Captain (Holcombe HC / Ballymoney) Emma Gray GK (Hermes) Michelle Harvey (Leuven / Pegasus) Shirley McCay (Old Alex) Ayeisha McFerran GK (Randalstown) Ali Meeke (Loreto) Katie Mullan (UCD) Anna O'Flanagan (UCD) Audrey O'Flynn (Hermes) Gillian Pinder (UCD) Cliodhna Sargent - Vice Captain (Cork Harlequins) Emma Smyth (Railway Union) Chloe Watkins (Club de Campo / UCD)

IRELAND 1 (0) Chris Cargo 63m pc
KOREA 2 (1) Jang Jong Hyun 3m pc; Huyn Sung 53m PC

Ireland's men were in the semi-final of the Champions Challenge against Korea in Malaysia this afternoon where they were defeated by a narrow 2-1 score line. Ireland will have it all to play for again tomorrow taking on hosts Malaysia in the 3rd/4th play-off at 12.15 Irish time.

Ireland trailed early on when Korea converted on the drag flick thanks to Jang Jong Hyun's handiwork in just the 3rd minute. Ireland had a great equalising opportunity in the 15th minute when their initial goal ward bound shot secured them a penalty corner but the strong Korean defence was up to the task.

Ireland's defense were tested at times in the 31st minute keeper David Harte had to work hard to keep another goal out, but the hooter sounded signalling half time Ireland trailing just 1 goal behind.

After the break Korea almost doubled their lead in the 47th minute but great Irish defending plucked the ball off the line to relieve the pressure. Korea took it to 2-0 in the 53rd minute Hyun Sung the converter this time and although Ireland pulled one back thanks to Chris Cargo's efforts in the 63rd minute the clock ticked on and Ireland couldn't pull an equaliser out of the bag in time.

Ireland won't have much recovery time as they will face Malaysia in the 3rd / 4th play-off for the all-important world ranking points.

Ireland will now play against Malaysia tomorrow, Sunday 4th May at 12.15pm Irish Time

IRELAND TEAM: David Harte GK (Kampong) David Fitzgerald GK (Monkstown) John Jackson (Captain) (Reading) Paul Gleghorne (Instonians) Johnny Bell (Lisnagarvey) Richard Shaw (Glenanne) Mathew Bell (Banbridge) Bruce McCandless (Banbridge) Eugene Magee (Banbridge) Drew Carlisle (Banbridge) Michael Robson (Annadale) Peter Brown (UCD) Chris Cargo (Reading) Alan Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers) Steven Dowds (Banbridge) Kirk Shimmins (UCD) Philip Brown (Banbridge) Maurice Elliot (Pembroke Wanderers)