A FIRST result to make Ireland fractionally nervous materialised in the world Hockey Cup preliminary tournament in Cagliari yesterday when Italy swept into, a 3-0 lead over the United States and held on to win 3-2.
The Italians, having steadily recovered from their opening defeat by Bangladesh, could still deny the Irish a top two place in Pool B (and direct qualification for the second phase of the competition in Kuala Lumpur). But Ireland will be expected to overpower Kenya today to retain their 100 per cent record. Then, even if Italy overcome Scotland tomorrow, the Irish side would require - at the most only two points (out of a possible six) from their final two matches against Poland on Monday and Italy on Tuesday to stay clear.
The three-in-a-row sequence achieved so far is the best ever recorded by an Irish team at the start of a tournament. Coach Cees Koppelaar felt last night that if the side continued to play even 70 or 80 per cent as well as they had been performing, there was no danger of failing to qualify.
Assistant coach John Clarke, too, remained upbeat. He expressed his confidence in the capabilities of the team; that they could hit even more rampant form than they produced for periods against Bangladesh and the US and that they might well emulate the 1977 squad, which reached the final of the Intercontinental Cup in Rome before losing to Poland.
Clarke, incidentally, was a member of that illustrious party of 19 years ago, when he came home with a broken collarbone. He again had his arm in a sling - this time as a result of an accident on the domestic scene involving horse - when the team arrived Cagliari last week.
Clarke has now fully recovered but there are two slight injuries in, the Irish camp. David McAnulty's ankle is still sore and the youngest member of the squad, 18-year-old Chris Jackson, has a thigh strain. However, both strikers are likely to take some part in this afternoon's game, against the Kenyans, who have not the same attacking resources as Ireland.
In today's other match in Pool, B involving Poland and Bangladesh, the Poles sadly will be without their captains and sweeper, the 135 times capped Slawomir Lukaszewski, who has flown home for the funeral of his father - but will be back for Monday's meeting with Ireland.
Meanwhile Scotland and Bangladesh, like the US, must resign themselves to minor placings after playing an extravagant 4-4 draw yesterday. The Scots were 4-1 down at an early stage of the second half but they fought back for Chris Anderson to strike a 69th minute equaliser. Elsewhere, New Zealand and Canada gained significant 1-0 and 4-1 wins over Egypt and China, respectively, to share top place in Pool A.
