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Pakistan and Ireland squared off in the final of the UCD 4-Nations hockey tournament, having met just 24 hours earlier in the pool stages of the event. It was Pakistan that triumphed 2-1, a similar score line to that of Friday, but not before being put under sustained pressure by minnows Ireland.
Pakistan dominated the early stages of the game putting the Irish defense to test but failed to score due to some great work by David Harte in goal.
Ireland went under even more pressure in the 13th minute when Stuart Loughrey was forced to serve ten minutes for a diving tackle but sustained well before mounting their counter attacks. The 16th and 21st minutes saw the hosts come close to opening the account but they were met with a solid hand in Salman Akbar. The sides went into halftime 0-0.
However, Pakistan did not hang around in the second half and score just five minutes later through a classic Sohail Abbas drag flick. Ireland had periods of rhythm but found it difficult to get clear chances away in the scoring zones and were lucky not to slip behind even further when Muhammad Waqas intercepted an Irish pass. The counter eventually lead to nothing.
Ireland secured a penalty corner in the 54th and John Jermyn made it count to level the sides at 1-1.
Another penalty corner goal by Abbas in the 57th minutes saw Pakistan seal the match and the UCD 4-Nations event.
The title win, however, was hardly convincing as the ‘greenshirts’ lost to France and were put to the test by Ireland twice. It drives home the point that fitness and finishing will be key if Pakistan are to have any realistic chances in the Champions Trophy and the London Olympics.
