MEN'S HOCKEY: Ireland 6, USA 2:IRELAND'S MEN showed the USA a clean pair of heels in Lille yesterday to set up a FIH Champions Challenge semi-final date with Russia tomorrow.
Conor Harte whipped home a fourth-minute drag flick to give Ireland the perfect start. Will Holt of the USA did have an effort taken off the line by John Jackson but Gareth Watkins’ sharp effort just before the half-time hooter, owing a huge amount to Joe Brennan’s quick-thinking, was a crucial blow.
Brennan netted his first international goal early in the second half before Peter Caruth and Chris Cargo built the lead to 5-0.
Tyler Sundeen and Patrick Harris pulled back two corner goals in quick succession around the 55 minute mark but Caruth, the player of the match, nabbed his second .
IRELAND: D Harte, J Jackson, R Gormley, M Watt, E Magee, P Caruth, A McConnell, G Watkins, D Ames, P Gleghorne, C Harte Subs: G McCabe, C Cargo, A Giles, J Brennan, P Blakeney.
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