Lynch double not enough for Ireland
Cork prodigy Jason Lynch announced his arrival on the international hockey stage earlier today, netting two strikes as an experimental Ireland side went down 3-2 to Wales in Cardiff.
The former Cork Church of Ireland hotshot, who now stars for Ulster giants Lisnagarvey, banged in two quickfire strikes just after the break, but his goals couldn’t stop Wales gaining a modicum of revenge for their 3-1 Celtic Cup defeat in July.
Huw Jones put the home side in front just before half-time with a disputed short corner goal, given only after Welsh appeals to the umpires.
Jason Lynch: Cork-born Lisnagarvey hotshot fired a double in Ireland's 3-2 defeat to Wales. Picture: Adrian Boehm
However, Ireland equalised three minutes after the resumption, when Lynch produced a tidy finish to Mikey Watt and Andy McConnell’s approach work. He added a skilful solo effort just two minutes later to give his side the lead, only for Oliver Cooper’s 49th and 60th minute strikes to seal a Welsh win in an end-to-end encounter.
Ireland manage Peter Jackson nonetheless professed himself happy with the early-season showing from a side containing a number of rookies.
“This was a good peformance by Ireland considering the youthfulness of the squad and the short amount of time they have trained together,” he said.
His thoughts were echoed by women’s senior coach Gene Muller, who saw much to be pleased with despite Guy Garrett’s Ireland A side going down 2-1 to the senior Welsh team.
“We played really well today and created quality chances,” said Muller of a gutsy performance. “I was surprised at some of our play – it was creative and flowing, and if we play like this again tomorrow we will have a chance of a result.”
Carys Hopkins put the Welsh in front after a sustained period of early pressure, finally breaking goalkeeper Vicki Green’s resistance on 20 minutes. Ireland pulled level after the break via Michelle Harvey’s low drag-flick, but Alys Brooks hit a late winner for the Welsh.
Nonetheless, Chloe Watkins and Katherine Elkin, who captained the side, were among a number of players to show up well in their first game against a full international outfit, and they have another chance to press for inclusion in the senior squad when they take on Wales again tomorrow (11am).
Aine Connery scored two goals this morning in the 5-4 victory over Wales. What else does Aine have to do to get back on the Senior Team? Hopefully Muller will take more notice of her after this
Couldn’t agree more Lisa. Aine has hit five in her last five games for Ireland A now, surely he can’t ignore her claims much longer.
Nice to see Harte and Lynch both playing for Ireland at the weekend!!!Wait til we get Harte back to us and rob Lynch too from CI!!!
you’ll be waiting a long time for harte to come back,he should serve your veterans well when he eventually comes back to Cork,a move back to quins would diminish his chances of becoming a top quality player,the munster league is faltering and quins are a team sadly in decline.
How do you know we’ll be waiting a long time? Conor Harte is in his last year of college in Dublin. Yes I would agree the Munster league is poor but so is the Leinster league. There are only three decent teams Rovers,Pem nd Glens. There are many top class hockey players in the Munster league 2 Blacks, D Hobbs, J Jermyn, All these players have played in the Munster league for years and there up there in the top players in Ireland and to say Quins are a team in decline is a huge statement to say as they were unlucky not to have been in cc semis last year and have been a force in Irish hockey for many years
Yes,but they are an ageing team and don’t seem to have the strenght in depth to cover the loss of the older players.I’m not saying that they haven’t been a decent side in previous years but it shows when they come up against sides that play regular hockey on top pitches with younger legs that they struggle to get results when it maters, ie in CC games.Fair enough if Conor is in his last year in college but in my view he’d be mad to head back down to cork,he wouldn’t be anywhere near as good as he is now in my opinion had he not moved to Dublin and trained with pembrok and received the coaching he has.