WOMEN'S HOCKEY: The roof of the tournament village sprung a leak in rain-drenched Rome last night but the heroic Irish defence remained watertight in keeping the much-vaunted Korean attack scoreless in their second World Cup qualifying game.
It was a magnificent Irish display and, true to their word, the players learned from the mistakes they had made in their opening 1-1 draw with the United States. The last 10 minutes were nerve-jangling for the Irish fans but the players kept their composure, denying their opponents time on the ball and retaining possession skilfully.
Goalkeeper Angela Platt was superb throughout as she made several terrific stops as the Koreans surged forward in the second half after being restricted to only a couple of penalty corner chances in the opening 35 minutes.
"Magnificent, absolutely brilliant. If only we'd beaten the Americans but we're still in there," said national coach Riet Kuper's assistant Graeme Francey, receiving handshakes and pats on the back seconds after the final hooter.
The result keeps Ireland in the hunt for the required top five finish going into their three remaining pool games against New Zealand, Italy and Azerbaijan, starting with the encounter with the Kiwis tomorrow, who slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat against the United States.
The stakes will be high for both sides tomorrow when Ireland will be attempting to do considerably better than the 5-1 defeat they suffered in their last meeting with the "Black Sticks" in Auckland two years ago.
The unseasonally homely Rome weather was probably a blessing in disguise for Ireland, who missed two good chances early on when Nikki Symmons and Eimear Cregan shot narrowly wide of the far past.
Platt then denied Soon Young Park with a world class stop as the Koreans forced the first penalty corner of the match midway through the half. The Ballymoney player did it again from the same player from another set-piece, saving at the base of the post shortly afterwards.
The Koreans missed a penalty stroke in the 42nd minute after Jill Orbinson had stopped a goalbound penalty corner from entering the net but Hee Jung Kim flicked the ball wide of the target.
Korea won a succession of penalty corners in the final quarter but Platt was in terrific form as were her fellow defenders. Towards the end Ireland ran down the clock magnificently before milking the applause from their adoring fans as the final hooter sounded. High fives and hugs became the order of the evening.
IRELAND: A Platt; C Parkhill, C O'Brien, J Orbinson, F Connery; C Carey, L Caulfield (capt), N Symmons; J McDonough, E Cregan, C McKean. Subs: S Beaney, B McKeever, K Elkin.
Yesterday's results: Pool B: USA 1, New Zealand 0; Ireland 0 Korea 0; Italy 1 Azerbaijan 0. Today's programme: Pool A: Scotland v Japan (2.30pm Irish time), England v France (5pm), Ukraine v China (7.30pm).
