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www.hookhockey.comTHE curse of the 3-2, last minute concession affected Ireland yet again as the Irish senior men were undone by Hanfi Hafifihafiz’ late corner deflection to take the spoils at Belfield in the third of four internationals at Belfield this week.
Such a scoreline twice undid the Ireland U-17 girls and this one was similarly frustrating as the boys in green bounced back from a 2-0 deficit only to give up a late corner.
Paul Revington made wholescale changes with John Jackson, Eugene Magee, Mitch Darling, Timmy Cockram and Conor Harte making their first appearances since the summer break with Andy McConnell, David Ames and Ronan Gormley coming back into the side.
And the coach admitted afterwards the changes led to a rusty performance, taking over 45 minutes to truly click into gear.
Speaking after the game, Revington said: “We are disappointed to lose in the final minute having worked hard to get back into the game. Also we are disappointed that two of the goals came from one v one situations that we lost and that needs to be rectified.
“I thought this group took 35 minutes to get back into international standard of the game tempo and showed in the second half that they equally matched the pace and tempo of Malaysians. Tomorrow we want to play at a high level and tempo for the duration of the game.”
Malaysia bossed the first period and took just four minutes to get on top. Ahmad Tajudin – a thorn in both prior matches – glided down the right touchline before Hanfi Hafifihafiz’ deflection from close range looped goalward and Baljit Singh made sure with a high tap in at the back post.
Cockram fizzed a reverse moments later which the returning Jamluddin Roslan getting a toe ahead to the ball, inches before the sliding Magee. But it was as good as Ireland created before the interval as they relied on three superb Joe Brennan interventions to break up attacks while Ronan Gormley cleared Tajudin’s slipped cross from the goalmouth.
Gleghorne blocked down two corner strikes in quick succession while Iain Walker continued his decent form between the posts.
Ireland played a deeper formation, perhaps attempting to deny the space afforded to Malaysia on Thursday night. The Asian side, as a result, held plenty of possession and stole in on a number of sketchy mistakes.
It became 2-0 in the 40th minute in stunning style – a steal on their own 25 metre line precipitated a five-second transfer with Saari Faizal using a semi-upright reverse to clip in off the inside of the post with only two passes needed to forge the opportunity.
Ireland’s attacks to this point were frustrated on the fringes of the circle, numerous crash balls blocked out by the first defender.
But they got a lifeline 18 minutes from time with a brilliant created move – Jason Lynch’s right-wing hit redirected into Timmy Cockram’s path by Andy McConnell.
It came up slightly awkwardly up from a defender’s stick but he kept his eye on the ball to volley on his reverse from about the flick spot past a scrambling Roslan. Walker denied a Faizal one-on-one chance and dived to tip Muhamad Amin’s drag-flick around the post.
And when Alan Sothern dragged home Ireland’s second corner with seven minutes to go to tie the game up, Ireland were on the verge of an unlikely result.
But Malaysia nicked a late corner and Amin’s drag to the right post neatly located the sliding Hafifihafiz for the winner. They play their fourth fixture of the week tomorrow at Belfield at 7pm.
Elsewhere, the men’s Irish Masters enjoyed an impressive opening day to their Home Nations Plus tournament in Hillsborough. The men’s over 50s drew 4-4 with Scotland before beating Wales 5-0 while the over 40s beat Wales 1-0.
Ireland: Iain Walker, Ronan Gormley (capt), John Jackson, Chris Cargo, Eugene Magee, Andy McConnell, Mitch Darling, Timmy Cockram, David Ames, Paul Gleghorne, Conor Harte
Subs: Alan Sothern, Joe Brennan, Phelie Maguire, Bruce McCandless, Jason Lynch
Malaysia: Jamluddin Roslan, Muhamad Amin, Muhammad Marhan, Madzli Ikmar, Saari Faizal, Mohamad Sukri, Misron Azlan, Muhammad Razie, Hanfi Hafifihafiz, Baljit Singh, Ahmad Tajudin
Subs: Tajol Rosli, Izwan Firdaus, Muhamad Azammi, Azreen Rizal
Umpires: Dan Clarke, Robert Johnston
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PIC: Kelvinder (right).WHILE the national hockey team is in Europe for friendlies and a Five-Nation, one of Malaysia’s best is training at home and fighting against time to recover from a knee operation.
Kelvinder Singh, voted as the best player in the 2005 Junior World Cup even though Malaysia finished 10th, suffered a knee injury after the Azlan Shah Cup in May and just returned to training two weeks ago.
He missed the China, Australia and now Europe Tours, and might even miss the Commonwealth Games boat, placing his selection for the Asian Games in doubt.
“Kelvinder went for an operation and recently returned to training and that is why we did not want to rush and field him for the Europe Tour.
“We know his capabilities, and when the team returns from Europe at the end of the month, there is still another month to decide on his selection into the Commonwealth Games squad,” said team manager George Koshy.
And even is he does not go to Delhi: “He has always been an asset to Malaysia, and even if his injury does not fully recover for the Commonwealth Games, we will still consider him for the Asian Games,” said George.
Kelvinder has always been among the fittest in the national side, and hits the 14 mark when tests are conducted.
“We have to select players who are fully fit for both the Games because only 16 are allowed to be registered, of which two spots are taken up by goalkeepers.
“That is why we don’t want to rush Kelvinder, and only field him when we are sure that his movements are back to normal.”
Malaysia played two matches against Ireland and drew the first 3-3, and won the second 4-2.
After playing two more matches against the Irish, the team will head for France to play a Five-Nation against the hosts, Poland, Ireland and Scotland in preparation for the Com monwealth Games in New Delhi from Oct 3-14.
MALAYSIA beat an undercooked Ireland 4-2 in their second ‘un-friendly’ in Belfield last night.
The first match ended 3-3, while in the second, Malaysia saw one red card and a yellow which diluted their strength.
Ireland coach Paul Revington fielded an inexperienced side for both the matches, with one Irish website commenting the first friendly as: “..an Ireland side made up of mainly possible rather than probable major tournament players.”
And the website described the second friendly as: “Malaysia withstood 37 minutes of suspensions to roast an undercooked Ireland.”
Nabil Fiqi was red carded in the 42nd minute for an off the ball incident, while Baljit Singh was flashed the green and then yellow to add unnecessary pressure in the friendly.
The Malaysian goals were scored by Faizal Saari, Izwan Firdaus, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Azlan Misron.
“We started off well when Faizal scored off a penalty corner attempt, but then let in the equaliser. However, a brilliant run from Faizal, who beat three defender, saw the ball reaching Izwan who tapped in the lead and we went on to score two more goals,” said Malaysian coach Stephen van Huizen.
Ireland kept their cool but Malaysia almost blew their top because: “The match was a good lesson for our players to learn to play with two home umpires, with different in terpretations, and a lot of 50-50 balls going against them,” said van Huizen.
Malaysia will play two more friendlies against the Irish before heading to France to play a Five-Nation involving the hosts, Ireland, Scotland and Poland on Aug 24-29.
Men’s Senior international: Ireland 2 (Alan Giles, Alan Sothern ps) Malaysia 4 (Saari Faizal, Izwan Firdaus, Ahmad Tajudin, Misron Azlan) by www.hookhockey.comMALAYSIA withstood 37 minutes of suspensions to roast an undercooked Ireland at Belfield tonight in the second of four challenge matches, scoring twice after Nabil Figri was red carded in the 42nd minute.
He was given his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident, taking a cut at Gareth Watkins in the circle as the crowd’s attention was more keenly focussed on a long corner.
It was one of numerous talking points of a feisty affair which the visitors were delighted to take the win having visibly shown frustration with what they felt were home-town umpiring decisions.
But they played the endgame well, using the incredible speed of Hanfi Hafifihafiz, Misron Azlan and Ahmad Tajudin to devastating effect.
Paul Revington kept a reasonably inexperienced side with Ronan Gormley stepping out of defence with Paul Gleghorne moving in while Chris Cargo and Geoff McCabe in for Andy McConnell and David Ames.
And the hosts had their first shot in anger on just 24 seconds when Brian Doherty’s long overhead found Alan Giles in the circle to whistle a volley over the bar.
Baljit Singh picked up the first suspension of the night in the eighth minute – the first of four cards his side would see to Ireland’s none – but his side took the lead in the 19th minute after an exchange of corners yielded no joy.
It was earned from a typically fast left-wing run. The corner, itself, did not go quite to plan. Muhammad Razie’s spin did not lay the ball up for the intended drag-flicker but he kept possession to tee up Saari Faizal’s precision flick to the top corner.
With the lead, Malaysia reverted to a half-court press and it almost paid dividends when they picked off a loose Irish pass – following a minute of possession with little penetration – but Hafifihafiz scuffed his finish with the goal beckoning.
Ireland were back on terms from their second corner in the 26th minute, Alan Giles sharply controlling Brian Doherty’s corner rebound and batting in a volley.
But parity lasted just a couple of minutes as an Irish mistrap in the attacking 25 saw Faizal pick the ball up show a breathtaking clean pair of heals to burn off three chasers and Izwan Firdaus swept home a simple finish; 2-1 at half-time.
Their evening, though, looked to have turned sour when Nabil Figri was shown the straight red soon after the break. Joe Brennan thought he had levelled from a corner rebound but his effort was disallowed, deemed over shoulder height, after initially being awarded.
The resulting retaken corner was comfortably tipped around the post by the impressive Kalruilnizam. He saved twice more amid a goalmouth melee when Malaysia were down to nine men – Singh taking his second card of the evening.
Peter Caruth’s punch shot bounced Chris Cargo’s way and his swipe was brilliantly blocked back into play but an infringement was called en route and a penalty stroke ensued.
Alan Sothern netted to the left but was ordered to retake, this time switching to his right and garnering the same effect for 2-2 with 17 minutes to go.
The momentum looked likely to all be one way but Malaysia had a breath-taking sucker-punch in store.
Muhammad Razie’s perfectly weighted, 70-metre overhead, was retrieved by Hafifihafiz in the left corner. He picked out Misron Azlan on the circle’s edge who was joined on the flick spot by Ahmad Tajudin and they worked the overload simply for the go-ahead goal.
And they sealed the win in the 59th minute, again from play, when Azlan battered home from the top of the circle.
Ireland created a bit more bedlam in front of Kalruilnizam’s goal, let a fifth corner slip out of their hands while Malaysia endured another yellow card for dissent in the closing stages to end out a lively night in suitable chaotic fashion.
Ireland: Iain Walker, Paul Gleghorne, Brian Doherty, Michael Maguire, Adam Pritchard, Phelie Maguire, Alan Giles, Bruce McCandless, Alan Sothern, Chris Cargo
Subs: Gareth Watkins, Peter Caruth, Peter Blakeney, Jason Lynch, Joe Brennan
Malaysia: Ibrahim Kairuilnizam, Rahim Muhamad Amin, Muhammad Marhan, Madzli Ikmar, Mohamed Sukri, Misron Azlan, Muhamad Razie, Hanfi Hafifihafiz, Baljit Singh, Ahmad Tajudin, Nabil Figri
Subs: Ahmad Kazamirul, Izwan Firdaus, Saari Faizal, Mohan Jivan, Azreen Rizal
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Kieran Bolger
Saturday, 7pm: Ireland vs Malaysia, Belfield
Sunday, 7pm: Ireland vs Malaysia, Belfield
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