Field Hockey EHC 2011 - Ireland reaches fifth place

28. Augst, GANT EHC, in Moenchengladbach: Spain - Ireland 2:3 (1:1)

28.08.2011 - On the last day of GANT EuroHockey Championships in Mönchengladbach, the Irish team sprang an upset. The team from Ireland defeated against the Olympic vice-champion Spain 2:3 (1:1) and celebrated the best ever result of an Irish team in European championships. Timothy Cockram scored two goals and became the man of the match.

In the first half, both teams played on the same level. It became an open game. During the first 30 minutes Spain started to control the match, and the Olympic vice-champion from Beijing scored the lead in the 24th minute (1:0). Pau Quemada converted a short corner with a strong hit in the left corner of the goal. In spite of this, the Irish team did not give up. The equalizer was scored by Eugene Magee. He converted a short corner in the 33rd minute (1:1).

After the break, the favorites from Spain started to control the match. Daniel Martin‘s team played well and had a lot of opportunities to score a goal, but they did not use these consequently. In the 42nd minute, Spanish captain Santi Freixa again converted a short corner and put Spain into the lead for the second time (2:1). Afterwards, Spain tried to maintain the lead, the Irish team tried to equalize.

In the 64th minute, Timothy Cockram converted another short corner with a strong unstoppable hit in the left corner and scored (2:2). Following this, the Spanish team began to run out of steam. One green card and one yellow card weakened the team from the iberian peninsula in the 67th minute. Ireland tried everything to benefit from these penalties. In the last minute of the game, Cockram was successful. He converted a short corner and scored his second goal in six minutes.

Ireland celebrates its best result in European championships. The Spanish team must try to forget this tournament and look forward to qualifying for the Olympics.

Goals:

1:0 Pau Quemada (PC, 25.)

1:1 Eugene Magee (PC, 32.)

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2:1 Santi Freixa (PC, 42.)

2:2 Timothy Cockram (PC, 64.)

2:3 Timothy Cockram (PC, 70.)

Penalty Corners:

ESP 5 (2 Tore) / IRL 6 (3)

Green Cards:

ESP David Algere (58.) / Miquel Delas (67.)

IRL Joseph Brennan (16.) / David Ames (22.) / Christopher Cargo (70.)

Yellow Cards:

ESP Eduard Tubau (67.)

Umpires:

Knülle / Van Eert

Original Article: http://www.hockey.de/VVI-web/default.asp?lokal=DHB&innen=/VVI-web/EM/2011/Ergebnisdienst.asp&auswahl=1&spiel=18&version=EN