Ireland won 2 out 3 matches played against Pakistan at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club, Comber Road, Hillsborough, Co Down. This game was in marked contrast to the defence dominated battle on Thursday night that ended in a draw.
Ireland began the scoring with an opener midway through the first quarter through a Sean Murray stunner with a first time strike as the ball came across the top of the circle passing through the Pakistan keeper into the roof of the net. Pakistan got their equaliser from the penalty spot after a goal bound shot caught a defenders body on route to goal. A confident shot by Muhammad Umar Bhutta level 1-1 at half time.
The third quarter saw Peter Caruth off-load to Shane O’Donoghue at the top of the circle. O’Donoghue then stepped inside and flashed the ball across goal on his reverse where Alan Sothern got in front of his man to deflect into the roof of the net to score a classic striker’s goal. From that point on, Pakistan dominated possession in the quarter but Ireland’s defence held firm. 2-1 Ireland at the end of the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Pakistan conjured up an equaliser from a bit of slick passing around the Ireland defence. Ali Shan found himself unmarked at the far post for the simplest of tap-ins to a ball driven hard across the Irish circle. All to play for with 8 minutes left.
Ireland won a final short corner and although set-piece did not go quite to plan some great improvisation from O’Donoghue saw him score the winner after dancing around a couple of Pakistan defenders for a late 3-2 lead.
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