WOMEN'S HOCKEY OLYMPIC QUALIFIER:IRELAND TOOK an early lead against favourites Korea at the Olympic hockey qualifier in Vancouver last night but could not hold their impressive opponents and went down 5-1 in the end.
The Irish must pick themselves up after the battering received and attempt to defeat Italy tomorrow if they are to contest Sunday's final, when Korea will provide the daunting opposition.
Gene Muller sprang a couple of surprises with his selection for the match, opting to slot Louisa Healy between the posts ahead of the more experienced Mary Goode.
The coach also threw Cliodhna Sargent in at full back, with Bridget McKeever omitted altogether, and the young Cork Harlequin acquitted herself very well.
As it turned out, the defence marshalled by Ciara O'Brien was not immediately over-worked and Irish had the temerity to take the lead in the first quarter.
Korea's conceded their first score of the tournament at the third of three penalty corners conceded in quick succession.
The first and second were blocked but then Nikki Symmons found a gap with a low drag flick that beamed in on the back board for a deserved lead on eleven minutes.
The world's sixth ranked side responded with a run of three goals in fifteen minutes, as Kim Mi Seon showed how to squeeze a reverse stick shot with accuracy; Seo Hi Jin dived in bravely at Healy's pads and then Kim Jung Hee played copycat on Symmons.
In among all the back pedalling, Healy pulled off a couple of fine saves, notably with a big gauntlet on a Kim Jong Eun drag flick.
Healy made way for Goode after the break and the Pembroke Wanderers goalkeeper went airborne in spectacular style to keep out a couple of drag flicks, saves that really were out of the top drawer.
However, she could not keep 35 minutes of a clean sheet, as Seo Hye Jin foraged at a corner to sneak home the Koreans' fourth and then Eon Mi Young finished off a trademark quick break for the winners.
At least Ireland went one better than the Italians who also conceded five to the same opposition earlier in the tournament.
They might have made it two but for the vigilance of Lim Ju Young in denying Julia Halloran mid way through the second half and in the aftermath of the shot, Emma Clarke picked up a head injury off the goalkeeper's stick and played no further part in the game.
If Ireland live up to their ranking, and squeeze past Italy, then they will have more of the same against one of the world's best sides in prospect on Sunday.
Olympic Qualifier, Vancouver: Day Three Ireland 1 (N Symmons), Korea 5 (Kim MS, Seo HJ, Kim JH, Seo HJ, Eon MJ).
IRELAND:L Healy, C Sargent, E Cregan, E Clarke, S McCay, J McDonagh, C McKean, C O'Brien, L Moore, N Symmmons, C Parkhill. Subs: E Stewart, J O'Halloran, H Moffett, L Jacob, M Goode.
KOREA:Lim JY, Cho HS, Lee SO, Kim JH, Park MH, Kim JK, Kim MS, Gim SH, Park, Js, Kim ES, Cheon SK. Subs: Kim JE, Eom MY, Lim SM, Seo HJ, Kim DR.
Umpires:W Stewart (Canada), S Bartelma (Netherlands).
