MENS HOCKEY:TIMMY COCKRAM'S golden goal winner against the Czech Republic in the World Cup Qualifier third/fourth play-off yesterday did little to paper over the cracks of a disappointing week in Argentina for Ireland's men.
Cockram struck from a penalty corner switch to eventually break the resistance of towering goalkeeper Filip Neusser and earn a 2-1 win.
David Ames gave Ireland a first-half lead in a physically tough game but, as they had done in Thursday’s 2-2 draw, the Czechs fought back with Stepan Bernatek equalising in the 53rd minute to force extra-time.
Cockram, though, finished off a slick move to complete a first victory in four outings after beginning the tournament in rude health with emphatic results against the USA and Chile.
It means Ireland stayed true to their pre-tournament ranking as third seeds but the manner in which Paul Revington’s side struggled against Belgium and the hosts, Argentina, was distressing.
Realistically, the Irish needed a result in one of those two games to earn a play-off for the ticket to New Delhi in 2010.
But on both occasions they were drastically out-gunned, most chasteningly on Saturday afternoon against Argentina.
A three-goal win would have secure an unlikely final placing but Argentina did not give Ireland a sniff, racing into a 3-0 lead of their own inside 25 minutes.
Pedro Ibarra scored his ninth goal of the tournament in the second half to copper-fasten the win and ruin Graham Shaw’s 150th outing in the green jersey.
During the course of the tournament, the Glenanne midfielder became second on the all-time caps list behind club-mate Stephen Butler.
On the domestic scene, UCD earned back-to-back wins for the first time since returning to Division One three years ago as they followed up last week’s win over Railway Union with a 2-1 victory over Fingal.
Player-coach John McInroy scored yet another innovative short-corner routine before Tom Manning made it 1-1 early in the second half.
However, Timmy Hill popped up with corner rebound to win it with 15 minutes to go.
Corinthian extended their lead at the top of Division One with a five-goal salvo in the second half against bottom side Clontarf. The Bulls were 1-0 up courtesy of Tom Noonan’s sliding effort but Corinthian rallied to take the win, Rowland Rixon-Fuller on target twice.
They will be wary, however, of the return to action of Pembroke and Glenanne with their international contingent in tow.
Meanwhile, Pierre de Voux scored twice from close range to steal a point for Three Rock Rovers as they came from 2-0 down to draw with Monkstown.
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: Results (Quilmes, Argentina): Saturday (Group matches): Ireland 0 Argentina 4 (P Ibarra 2, M Almada, L Cammareri), USA 3 Belgium 3, Czech Republic 2 Chile 1. Sunday (Classification matches): 3rd/4th playoff Ireland 2 (D Ames, T Cockram) Czech Republic; 5th/6th playoff: USA 2 Chile 1.
