MEN'S HOCKEY: Ireland claim 4-2 win over Canada in Cape Town

Ireland earned a 4-2 win over Canada as the sides met for the third time in six days on Wednesday evening in Cape Town.

The Green Machine stepped up another level as their warm weather tour continued.

Both teams – growing ever more familiar with each other – were kept quiet by the opposition defence in the opening quarter.

The only chance fell to Cockram thanks to clever link-up play with Kyle Good.

Cockram had another chance with a penalty corner in the second quarter but the Canadian defence was quick out of the traps to prevent any danger.

The Green Machine were pushing for a goal and Bruton’s final touch skimmed just wide, but it was the Canadians who broke the deadlock first when Johnson’s powerful drag flick gave his team the lead shortly before half-time.

The lead didn’t last longer than the opening moments of the second half as Watt levelled the match from a tap-in at the post.

Mitch Darling started the move with a pinpoint pass to Kyle Good who picked out Watt at the back post.

As the final quarter approached Johnson was on hand to drag-flick Canada into the lead once more.

The final quarter got under way at a blistering pace and Bruton scored a superb reactionary goal after the initial penalty corner shot pinged off the cross bar.

Minutes later Cockram got his deserved goal as he received a reverse pass from Jackson and slammed the ball homeward from the top of the circle.

The goals didn’t stop there and another penalty corner for Ireland resulted in Shimmins making it 4-2 as he was first on the scene to reach to the rebound from O’Donoghue’s initial drag.

Squad: Fitzgerald (GK), Harte, Gleghorne, Gormley, Jackson, Shimmins, S Cole, O’Donoghue, Good, Darling, Cockram, Carr (GK), J Bell, M Bell, Cargo, Magee, Watt, Bruton.