Wednesday, March 4 – Santiago, Chile: The Ireland Men’s Hockey Team grabbed a third win from three games against Poland to complete their FIH World Cup Qualifiers Pool Stage with a perfect record. Louise Rowe opened the scoring for Ireland before Lee Cole doubled the lead before half-time, getting his fifth of the tournament. Ben Walker got a much-deserved goal in quarter three before Matthew Nelson put the cherry on top with a fourth, cancelling out a Poland goal from a penalty corner.
From the start, Ireland offered an immediate attacking threat, Jeremy Duncan forcing Mateusz Popiolkowski into an early save. Duncan had a second effort two minutes later after controlling an aerial from Monkstown teammate Lee Cole and again testing Popiolkowski.
Poland, though, had a bite about them in attack as Michal Lange forced Jaime Carr into a save halfway through the opening period, which Carr stopped with relative ease.
Ireland eventually did get their goal, Louis Rowe firing powerfully into the roof of the net to register his third.
A penalty corner immediately after the restart gave Ireland an opportunity to double their lead, but Louis Rowe’s delivery to Sean Murray just evaded him and the ball went wide. A second penalty corner was rifled off the post and into the net from Lee Cole to double Ireland’s advantage.
Ireland’s offensive efforts continued to pay dividends, with Louis Rowe picking and rolling well on the edge of the circle and finding some space to strike. His effort was saved, but at the expense of a penalty corner. Greg Williams was the preferred option, but Popiolkowski got a stick to deflect his effort over the bar. Ireland settled for a two-goal lead at the break.
The penalty corners kept coming for Ireland in the second half as Sean Murray found a Polish foot in the circle. Another variation saw Johnny McKee try and deflect into the net, but his effort went over. Jeremy Duncan was the next to win a penalty corner after having to wear a heavy collision from a Polish defender, but again Poland escaped unscathed after Greg Williams’ effort was saved.
Ireland weathered a short period of Polish pressure before putting the game beyond reach with a third, Ben Walker getting a much-deserved goal as he volleyed into the net following some excellent build up play from Mark McNellis and Louis Rowe.
Happy to conserve their energy for their crucial semi-final to come on Friday, Ireland slowed down the pace of the game. Sitting deeper in their press and holding possession when the situation allowed it. Poland won two penalty corners in quick succession with ten minutes remaining, Luke Roleston saving the first, but Poland found the top corner from the second, forcing Ireland to up their energy levels for the time that remained.
Ireland did get their fourth as Jonny Lynch drove along the baseline and pulled the ball back for Matthew Nelson to bundle in.
The win sees Ireland end their Pool B campaign at the top of the table. The IRL Men will play their Semi-Final match on Friday, March 06 at 22:30 Irish Time with their opposition yet to be confirmed. A win in that tie would secure qualification for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.
Up next though is the IRL Women who face Canada in their final Pool B outing, looking to also top their pool with three wins. They will play tomorrow, March 5 at 18:00 Irish Time.