Ireland Men’s Hockey Concludes 2024 Pro League with Loss to Argentina

Lee Cole scored Ireland’s third goal against Argentina in their final Pro League game. The Ireland men’s team concluded their year with a 4-3 defeat by Argentina in a closely fought contest in Santiago del Estero. Ben Nelson registered his inaugural senior international goal, scoring with a reverse shot that gave Ireland an early advantage as they sought a strong finish to their initial Pro League stage. Nevertheless, Argentina quickly equalized and subsequently took the lead through two penalty corners converted by Tomas Domene. Alistair Empey then scored an equalizer for Ireland, but the home side regained their lead when Domene completed his hat-trick. Lee Cole powerfully flicked the ball into the net from a penalty corner, leveling the score at 3-3, only for Bautista Capurro to secure Argentina’s win by squeezing the ball in at the near post from another penalty corner. Ireland, having accumulated just one point from their four games, had previously experienced a contentious 1-0 defeat against Argentina three days prior, followed by an 8-0 loss to England. Ireland head coach Mark Tumilty commented, “It’s an extremely disappointing result – that is some of the best hockey we have played with the ball since the Antwerp series with Belgium last summer,” adding, “It is disappointing to concede four penalty corner goals again but he’s [Tomas Domene] a world-class drag-flicker. We are in a much better position than we were at the start of the previous Pro League campaign.” Ireland is scheduled to resume international commitments in February, traveling to India to compete against the host nation and Germany in the subsequent phase of the Pro League.