Hockey: The Irish Men's hockey team suffered an agonising 3-2 defeat at the hands of Egypt in the BDO World Cup Qualifier in Changzhou, China this morning.
Ireland's goals came from John Jermyn and Karl Burns but the result means their final pool match on Wednesday morning (5am Irish time) against Pakistan is a must win game if they are to retain fourth position to reach the play-offs for the final qualifying spot.
The Pakistan game will be a mammoth task considering they just won silver at the Commonwealth Games, and are seventeen places higher than Ireland in the world rankings.
"This is a tough blow", said Irish coach Dave Passmore after the game. "We are fast learning the success between success and failure at this tournament. However our destiny is still in our own hands and we are confident we can do our best to beat Pakistan on Wednesday, but to do that we have to pick ourselves up and be very positive", he continued.
Both teams started today's game at a very fast pace and the action switched from end to end in the opening ten minutes. Ireland's first penalty corner on fifteen minutes was charged down and Stephen Butler dragged Ireland's second penalty corner wide a minute later.
Irish Substitute Dave Hobbs' first touch of the game on twenty one minutes was an inspired one as he beat two players before passing to John Jermyn who continued into circle crashing the ball into the net to take the lead for Ireland. In the last minute of the half however Egypt equalised from a penalty corner.
Ireland started the second half positively and regained the lead with a goal from Karl Burns two minutes in. Ireland led until just seven minutes from time when Egypt pressurised Ireland and broke down Irish left allowing a reverse stick shot easily into the net for the equaliser.
There was worse on the horizon for Ireland as the Egyptians won a corner from an Irish tackle. Irish keeper Charlie Henderson saves first shot but the breaking ball fell to Mohammed Sameer who powers it into the Irish net to give Egypt the lead 3-2 with only three minutes left on the clock.
Ireland surged forward in those remaining minutes winning a penalty corner on the hooter, but unfortunately the drag flick was charged down and deflected over the bar to leave Egypt winners.
Meanwhile Pakistan scored a superb 3-2 win over England, and Belgium beat Canada 1-0. Belgium top the pool on ten points with Pakistan in second and England in third with the final round of pool matches still to play on Wednesday.