IRELAND went close to matching a classy English side who, however, regained the home countries Under-18 hockey title with a winning goal eight minutes from the end of a game of contrasting styles at the impressive, new H A Stadium at Milton Keynes yesterday.
England played an intricate, incisive brand of hockey from the start; but the Irish defence was always resolute. Goalkeeper Charlie Henderson, particularly, foiled the home attackers, and with Andrew Chambers lifting the siege, Ireland took the lead a minute before half-time. Gary Ringwood sparked off a sequence of three short corners, from the third of which Gary McKee swept the side into the lead.
Overall England went on to force 11 corners to five in reply, and, from set pieces in the second half, John Bleby twice found the target. But the inspirational McKee made it 2-2 with 12 minutes to go.
At that stage, Ireland were driving at the English cover with some verve and strength. But a swift break by Peter Wiles provided a clear opening for Paul Wicken to put away the winner, although Ringwood went close to levelling matters in a closing offensive.
A draw, however, would not have sufficed to retain the championship, which had been won so handsomely last season. Surprisingly on Saturday, Ireland could beat Wales by no more than 3-2 (after England had notched 11 goals against the Welsh on Friday).
The Irish Under-16s, though trouncing Wales 8-1, once more also finished runners-up to England, who won the final game 6-3.
Ireland equalled the home side in the opening stages and, with two well-taken goals by Brian McMahon, it was 2-2 after 13 minutes. But an admirable reverse stick shot by Nick Duncombe gave England a 3-2 lead at the interval.
Although Mark Ruddle distinguished himself in the Irish goal, England could not be contained in the second half as Simon Lanyon completed a hat-trick. Alan Giles reduced the margin, putting the finishing touch to a short corner switch involving the industrious Ian Hutchinson.
While Irish youth was on display at Milton Keynes, the national senior squad flew home from Kuala Lumpur yesterday with the dejection of their world cup failure wearing off to a degree as they felt fresh breezes for the first time in three weeks. There will be renewed incentives in the FIH's new international series.
Established number two goalkeeper Nigel Henderson (whose younger brother Charlie was playing splendidly for the under-18s) put the collapse in Malaysia down not so much to the heat and humidity, but to Ireland's lack of luck at the start of the competition.
"If we could have got a result in the first two matches against Belgium and South Korea, when the lads played so well, it would have been a totally different tournament," he said.
