Pool A: Ireland 1 (Eugene Magee) Russia 2 (Nikolay Yankun, Alexander Korolev)
Ireland hit the self-destruct button to gift Russia top spot in Pool A and leave themselves at the mercy of a potentially tougher assignment in Thursday's semi-finals.
There were plenty of milestones acheived in what was Ireland's 700th international fixture - the first also taking place in North Wales in nearby Rhyl back in January 1895.
John Jermyn earned his 100th cap while Geoff McCabe reached his half-century to add to Tim Lewis' 50 and Stephen Butler's record-breaking cap against Italy.
But they will have little to look back on this one with any major fondness as they lost their discipline against a dogged Russia side who top Pool A with a 100pc record.
The Irish go through to the semi-finals with them by virtue of their wins over Belarus and Italy last weekend but will need to up their game significantly.
After a turgid first half, Eugene Magee gave Ireland the lead midway through the second period, squeezing the ball home after Stephen Butler found Mitch Darling in space from a quick self-pass.
But the Russians were level within three minutes as the defence imploded. An innocuous free was conceded by David Hobbs but Conor Harte’s protestations compounded the issue as umpire Hindle upgraded to a penalty corner.
Nikolay Yankun accepted the gift to emphatically fire into the roof of the net.
There were plenty of milestones acheived in what was Ireland's 700th international fixture - the first also taking place in North Wales in nearby Rhyl back in January 1895.
John Jermyn earned his 100th cap while Geoff McCabe reached his half-century to add to Tim Lewis' 50 and Stephen Butler's record-breaking cap against Italy.
But they will have little to look back on this one with any major fondness as they lost their discipline against a dogged Russia side who top Pool A with a 100pc record.
The Irish go through to the semi-finals with them by virtue of their wins over Belarus and Italy last weekend but will need to up their game significantly.
After a turgid first half, Eugene Magee gave Ireland the lead midway through the second period, squeezing the ball home after Stephen Butler found Mitch Darling in space from a quick self-pass.
But the Russians were level within three minutes as the defence imploded. An innocuous free was conceded by David Hobbs but Conor Harte’s protestations compounded the issue as umpire Hindle upgraded to a penalty corner.
Nikolay Yankun accepted the gift to emphatically fire into the roof of the net.
Snap shots from McCabe and Magee were dealt with ease by Roman Rogov before Ireland’s second major moment of indiscipline saw Peter Caruth yellow-carded for scything down Alexander Korolev’s fast break.
With Ireland down to ten men, Russia picked off two more penalty corners, bringing their total to eight for the day, and Korolev did the damage, albeit with a bobbling shot David Harte should have down much better with.
Nonetheless, Ireland still progress to the last four stage of the competition on Thursday afternoon.
8 comments:
disappointing
not the end of the world though,still strongly fancy the lads to do the business
This is a tournament not a once off fixture and these games can go either way----but no return from 5 short corners is poor.
The only results that matter now will be on Thursday ( World Cup qualifiers )and then on Sat( promotion back to Div 1 )
Squad has the talent to do it definitely --best wishes
Just to confirm, Ireland have acheived a World Cup Qualifying place as they have guaranteed a top five place.
Promotion to the A division will be acheived should they win their semi-final.
typical to go and lose a match that ireland should win in a big tournament.there needs to be a complete overhaul by revington in the squad. out with the older players (players who've consistently underperformed in big tournament matches) and in with new younger players (likes of ames,black,lyons,watkins)
Re 12.37, who is Lyons ? Former u16.u18,u21 international ? Leinster interpro player?, Please give us a break.
The game against Russia will ultimately mean nothing if the boys can win against Wales tomorrow and hopefully in the final!
Learn the lessons (discipline) and move on...
It's all still to play for!
Out with silly indiscipline!!! Hope its not too costly
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