India’s hopes of a podium finish were dashed as it squandered the lead twice and lost 3-2 to Ireland in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament here on Friday.
Having grabbed the lead in the 10th minute and in the 26th, India fumbled in the end in its last round-robin match.
Ramandeep Singh (10th) and Amit Rohidas (26th) scored for India, while Shane O’Donoghue (24th), Sean Murray (36th) and Lee Cole (42nd) struck for Ireland.
India won a penalty corner in the 10th minute. Ramandeep came up with a great finish to direct Varun Kumar’s flick into the net.
India won another penalty corner when Sumit Kumar found an Irish defender’s foot. But this time Varun Kumar’s flick was wide.
With a 1-0 lead, India had to contain Ireland and ensure it stayed ahead. India denied Ireland its first penalty corner with a video referral that was ruled in India’s favour.
But India conceded the equaliser soon after through Shane O’Donoghue. The 24th-minute field goal was a result of good team work involving Kirk Shimmins, Sean Murray and O’Donoghue.
In the 26th minute though, Amit Rohidas helped India reclaim the lead with a splendid penalty corner conversion, finding the top of the net with a fiercely-struck dragflick.
A foot foul by Dipsan Tirkey saw India concede a penalty corner only 15 seconds prior to half-time, but custodian Suraj Karkera was on top of his job.
India seemed to drop its game slightly in the third quarter with Ireland scoring in the 36th and 42nd minutes through Sean Murray and Lee Cole.
The Irish dominated possession while goalkeeper Jamie Carr came up with some brilliant saves to keep India under pressure.
India will play the fifth/sixth place match on Saturday.
The results: Ireland 3 (O’Donoghue 24, Murray 36, Cole 42) bt India 2 (Ramandeep 10, Amit Rohidas 26).
Australia 3 bt Argentina 1.
England 7 bt Malaysia 2.