A crisp first-half performance by Ireland yielded a 20 interval lead against Japan in yesterday's hockey international at Belfield but the visitors zipped into a full press in the closing stages to earn a 2-2 draw.
They were also worthy of a division of the spoils on Saturday, yet the home side resisted tenaciously to win 1-0. Irish coach John Clarke felt it was a useful weekend against "good quality" opposition but his developing squad needed further exposure before the European Championship in September. This may be limited to a 10-day trip to France and Belgium in August.
As to who will be injury-free, that will remain one of Clarke's problems. Galahad Goulet was the latest figure to cry off on Friday, with Stephen Butler of Glenanne coming onto the bench and winning his first cap in yesterday's game.
After stout defence by Alan Dowd and his cohorts was required initially to foil the Japanese, Ireland made two quick breaks to score in the 20th and 30th minutes. First a foul on Francis de Rosa yielded a corner from which Errol Lutton drilled the ball home and the lead was increased when a free from the assertive Paddy Brown at the back found David McAnulty in open space with Julian Stevenson up in support to notch his second goal of the weekend.
The initiative was gradually surrendered in the second half as the Japanese swarmed goalwards and, though foiled twice by Ivan Bateman, two short-corner switches enabled Kotara Iwayama and Daisuke Hokaze to find the target in the 51st and 63rd minutes.
They had also finished threateningly on Saturday, but Nigel Henderson brought off one particularly fine save to preserve the lead obtained when Robbie Taylor (still able to galvanise midfield) sent David Smyth through on the overlap for Stevenson to tuck away the only goal early in the second period.
There is an outside chance of there being a place for Ireland in the Olympic qualifier in Osaka next February, notably if Holland were to add the European title to their laurels.
Ireland: Saturday - N Henderson; D Smyth, E Lutton, A Dowd (capt), P Brown; J Black, R Taylor, N Buttimer; D Hanna, D McAnulty, J Stevenson. Subs: M Irwin, I Steen. Sunday - I Bateman; Smyth, Lutton, Dowd, Brown; Black, F de Rosa, Buttimer; Hanna, McAnulty, Stevenson. Subs: S Butler, Irwin, Taylor.
