WITH Ireland's 16 man hockey squad now reduced to 11 fit players, much will power and stamina will be required if victory is to be achieved over Poland today to earn third place in the World Cup preliminary tournament in Cagliari.
Following the injuries sustained by Chris Jackson, Alan Dowd, David McAnulty, and Ivan Bateman, there was a further setback yesterday when the tournament director Heinz Woltje of Germany announced that Galahad Goulet had been suspended for an alleged misdemeanour in Thursday's semi final against New Zealand.
In a statement, Woltje said: "In the second half he (Goulet) committed a deliberate foul off the ball, hitting the New Zealand player No 2 with his stick."
Such an offence is totally out of character for the young Avoca player who last night lightheartedly shrugged off the charge, saying he might have reacted instinctively to a tackle by Dion Gosling but certainly he did not intend any malice. Indeed, his sense of humour and that of his team mates would accept the headline in, say, The Sun newspaper: "Gosling gets up Goulet's gander."
The Irish management, having watched a video of the incident, appealed in vain against the decision. Woltje was the only person who spotted the alleged foul. No action had been taken by the umpires.
Now, after the disappointment of losing to New Zealand (3-1) and lining out this afternoon with depleted resources, the odds seem to be against Ireland as they once again face the Poles, their most familiar opponents in recent times. True, the Irish side emerged with an exhilarating 5-2 win in the Pool match last Monday to ensure qualification for Kuala Lumpur but judging by the total attacking play exhibited by Poland in their 6-5 defeat by Canada, in the other tournament semi final. Ireland may find themselves with too much defending to do.
Yet, if the Poles over commit themselves, there may well be opportunities for Ireland to strike back. Robbie Ryan will probably play at right midfield, with Lee Tumilty on the left wing and in an open game, Daniel Clarke - who hit a hat trick on Monday - and Julian Stevenson should thrive.
It would be a bonus indeed if Ireland were to remain top scorers in the competition. To date they have registered 25 goals to Poland's 20. Canada have hit the target 23 times but their scoring rate is unlikely to be high in the final against New Zealand, whose stoic defenders have conceded only six goals in seven matches.
Yesterday was confined to playoff matches for inconsequential placings apart from the final game in which Switzerland gained the remaining ticket to Kuala Lumpar by beating Italy 4-2.
The Italians raised emotive home town hopes by leading 2-1 after 15 minutes. But the Swiss side which inflicted a sobering defeat on Ireland in the European championship in Dublin last year confirmed their growing stature in the game in running out comfortable winners, to take 5th place. Rene Schmidli struck three of the goals, to emulate Clarke's collection for Ireland against Poland.
