Ireland frustrate India with 4-4 draw in HWL opener

Ireland have a reputation for giving fancied sides a run for their money. Recently, they pipped Olympic champions Germany 3-2 in a Test match.

The Greenshirts had also given India a scare in the Hockey World League Round 2 event when India scraped through 3-2, but not before surviving many anxious moments.

On Thursday, Ireland replicated the same, frustrating the Indians holding them to a 4-4 draw in their opening tie of the HWL semifinals.

The tenacity of the Andrew Meredith’s men can be gauged by the fact that they came from behind twice to level things.

The proceedings began with both teams playing back and forth before India had their first shy at the Irish goalmouth when SV Sunil drilled in a fierce cross, which was well stopped by Irish goalkeeper David Harte.

Ireland soon hit their straps and Kyle Good nearly score the opening goal with a diving effort.

Good was again in the thick of action again a few minutes later when his rasping reverse hit was blocked by Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.

India looked promising in the 16th minute when Nitin Thimmiah’s powerful reverse hit was well saved by the Irish goalkeeper after he was nicely set up by Chinglensana Singh.

The Blueshirts soon took the lead in the 21st minute when Akashdeep Singh banged home a Nitin Thimmiah pass from the right flank.

Ireland restored parity four minutes later when their prolific striker Alan Southern dodged past two Indian defenders before beating Sreejesh all ends up.

India forced their first penalty corner in the 29th minute but Sandeep Singh could not capitalize on it.

Ireland made India pay for that miss as Peter Caruth deflected home to help his side take a 2-1 lead at half-time.

India summoned desperate measures in the second half and levelled things in the 40th minute when Rupinder Pal Singh converted a short corner essaying a low flick to the left of David Harte.

Comeback striker Shivendra Singh put India ahead in the 47th minute when he tapped home a precise down-the-middle slap pass from vice-captain Vokkaliga Raghunath.

Ireland made it 3-3 in the 57th minute when Conor Harte converted the first of their four penalty corners for the day.

The Green Machine triggered jubilation among their supporters when Andrew Mcconnell made the scoreline 4-3 with seven minutes remaining on the clock even as he was involved in a nasty collision with Sreejesh, following which the Indian shot stopper was stretchered off.

Rupinder Pal Singh scored his second goal – converting a short corner in the 66th minute to save India’s blushes at Rotterdam.

The Indian think-tank have plenty to ponder before they take on tough sides – Netherlands and New Zealand in their next two games.