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by Bruce Hamilton
Ireland stamped its mark on the men’s Olympic qualifying tournament in the first match of the tournament at North Shore City in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, taking a convincing 4-0 win over France.
France’s 16th place world ranking had no effect on 19th ranked Ireland.
Ireland dominated the midfield in the early stanza and made right and left side incursions into France’s defensive zone.
Ireland’s aggression was rewarded with a penalty corner in the 6th minute and converted low into the left of goal by Mark Gleghorne.
Ireland’s pressure fell away with the interchange after 12 minutes. With Stephen Butler, Eugene Magee and Phelie Maguire off the pitch, coach David Passmore found France able to pressure Ireland along France’s right side and gain possession inside Ireland’s defensive zone.
Ireland’s right side attack was indecisive at the 20 minute mark and when the attack moved to the left, France was exposed by Ireland’s speed into its attacking zone.
Ireland should have received a fillip at the 28th minute when France’s Martin Genestet was suspended for an agricultural tackle. France stepped up the tempo and denied Ireland the advantage.
Ireland’s captain Patrick Brown was suspended at the 32nd minute for impeding attacker Antoine Gouedard Comte of France and both teams played for 5 minutes with 10 players.
France started the second half in Ireland’s defensive zone and drew its first penalty corner 4 minutes after the resumption. Frederic Soyez failed to get a shot on goal.
Ireland counterattacked through Phelie Maguire along the left and he drew Martin Zylbermann, France’s goalkeeper, to the edge of the circle. Maguire’s pass to the right to John Jermyn gave him a free shot at the open goal to have Ireland ahead 2-0 after 40 minutes.
France attacked again and drew its second penalty corner and again Frederic Soyez failed to get a shot on goal as Ireland’s defence read the pass to the right from the battery.
Michael Watt took the match out of France’s reach with a deflection goal past Martin Zylbermann 15 minutes from time.
Ireland converted its third penalty corner when John Jermyn’s flick deflected off the right post onto Michael Watt’s stick for An easy put in to the right pocket of goal from 2 metres in front of the post.
Jerome Tran Van, France’s coach, was disappointed with the result. “The players were absent today,” Tran Van said.
We prepared mentally and physically for this match but we did not prepare enough,” Tran Van said.
David Passmore, Ireland’s coach, was pleased with the win but rrealises there is still work to be done.
“The scoreline is fantastic,” Passmore said, “but there were a couple of ropy periods in the match, such as after the first goal.”
“Traditionally we have struggled against France in tournaments and if we had beaten Frtance in the pool match at the Manchester European tournament last year we would have played in the semi final there. It probably took the result in Manchester to get the result here today,” Passmore said.
Passmore is optimistic about Ireland’s chances against Argentina next Saturday. “They will look at this result against France and they will fear us,” Passmore said.
Passmore has concerns about Ireland’s deep defence against New Zealand in the next match on Sunday. “We need to be better in defence especially with Hayden Shaw firing in penalty corner conversions the way he does,” Passmore said.
The statistics of the match suggest a closer contest than the scoreline provides.
France had 17 circle penetrations to Irelands 13. Both had three penalty corners. Ireland had five shots saved by France and Ireland saved 2 shots of France.
New Zealand takes on 24th ranked Trinidad and Tobago later today.
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