Hockey World Cup Qualifying Tournament/ Ireland 2 Canada 1: Attempts to have the stadium PA broadcast U2 may have failed but the Irish team went a long way to restoring Pride yesterday when they came out on top in their battle with Canada in their World Cup qualifier in China.
In the wake of Wednesday's grim 5-1 reverse against England coach Dave Passmore gave goalkeeper Mark Ruddle a rest and called in Charlie Henderson for the match between two sides looking for their first points of the tournament at Changzhou.
Happily, the Pembroke Wanderers man was never subjected to the short-corner battering Ruddle had endured. Instead, the Irish conceded just one set-piece, were never headed and fully deserved their win against a team that conceded just once in their match with highly rated Pakistan a day earlier.
Ireland, eager in the tackle and always seeking to put the ball into the danger area, played most of the first half on opposition astroturf. They might have gone ahead as early as the first minute when Phelie Maguire surged through on legendary goalkeeper Mike Mahood - a member of the World team selected eight years ago.
Unfortunately, the ball came off Mark Irwin's foot rather than his stick, but the Instonians striker did rather better on 34 minutes when Maguire was once more the provider.
This time, he found a Canadian foot and Stephen Butler sent his flick effort from the penalty corner low past Mahood's left boot a few seconds before the half-time hooter.
The lead lasted just four minutes after the resumption, as Mike Lee flung himself to reach a Peter Short cross and nicked the ball past Henderson.
Ireland did not dwell on the equaliser but responded with a second goal of their own, this laid on by Stephen Butler for Mark Gleghorne, who let loose with the reverse stick.
It proved enough to win, though the Irish had to defend in depth, restricting Canada to a wide and a fresh air from Lee in the closing stages.
They might have added to their own tally as Canada withdrew Mahood and put another attacker on the pitch to give themselves 11 outfield players for the concluding three minutes.
Ireland would have cashed in on this piece of pantomime had Irwin accepted the open goal presented to him by Andy Barbour.
"It was a physical game but we were prepared for that and I actually thought we dealt with the match very well," said Butler. "It probably wasn't reflected in the scoreline but we felt fairly comfortable on the pitch. It was a professional performance."
Belgium - who drew 2-2 with Pakistan yesterday - provide the opposition for Ireland tomorrow. Egypt, who lost 6-1 to England, are next up on Monday.
IRELAND: C Henderson, P Brown, J Black, K Burns, S Butler, M Gleghorne, M Irwin, J Jermyn, M Black, P Maguire, I Lewers. Subs: R Gormley, J Sherriff, G Shaw, A Barbour.
CANADA: M Mahood, R D¡ Abreo, M Schole, M Lee, K Pereira, W Fernandes, P Short, R Short, S Sandison, C Grimes, P Wettlaufer. Subs: A Wright, P Wright, D Jameson, R Agnihotri, M Pearson.
Umpires: Da Silva (Portugal), G Murray (Australia).
