MEN'S HOCKEY: John Clarke, coach of the first Irish men's hockey team to beat England since 1949 (3-1 in Manchester last Sunday), reacted modestly to congratulations.
It was put to him this week that the achievement was of course eclipsed by the soccer team's marvellous performance in the World Cup. "I wish we (hockey) were even more eclipsed," was his immediate reply, reflecting his squad's huge despair at the outcome of the penalty shoot-out in Suwon.
On the hockey front, "Yes, we're coming along nicely," said Clarke, after a powerful second-half display yielded the defeat of England, making it five wins in six internationals in the past month.
The breaking of the 53-year jinx in more than 40 meetings with England has been greeted with acclaim by the hockey fraternity. Since Stan de Lacy's side won 3-2 at Londonbridge Road in 1949, the only consolation until last weekend was the statistic of 13 draws. Among the most notable of these arguably were 1-1 in Nottingham in 1964 (when Derek Hennessy was in his prime), 4-4 in London in 1980 (when Frankie McGladdery revelled on the Crystal Palace astroturf) and 1-1 in the European Championship at Belfield in 1995.
"Dash and unorthodox methods" were mentioned as the ingredients of the 1949 victory. The same elements resurfaced to a degree last Sunday. "It's as good a side as we've had for a long time," said the 124-times capped former stalwart David Judge, full back in a 0-0 draw on his debut in 1957 and now an assistant coach.
IRELAND (3-2 v England, Dublin, 1949) - E O'Connor (Catholic Institute); F R McNulty (Pembroke Wanderers), W Matheson (Spencer); T R Lonergan (Railway Union), G W O'Hara (Southgate), D Minihan (British Army); S de Lacy (Limerick PYMA), R Walker (Dublin YMCA), D Goggin (South Essex), W S Green (RAF), J Bowden (Lisnagarvey).
IRELAND (3-1 v England, Manchester, 2002) - N Henderson (Pembroke Wanderers) capt; E Lutton (Lisnagarvey); K Burns (Cork C of I), P Brown (Instonians), J Black (Cork Harlequins); M Raphael (Lisnagarvey), S Butler (Glenanne), M Black (Cork C of I); M Irwin (Instonians), G Elliott (Pembroke Wanderers), J Sherriff (Pembroke Wanderers). Subs: C Jackson (Annadale), G Shaw (Glenanne), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), J Stevenson (Lisnagarvey). Other squad members: D Smyth (Annadale) injured (v Scotland), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), W Bateman (Cork Harlequins). Coach: J Clarke; manager: S Hiles.
