Ireland got off to a positive start this weekend in their opening matches of the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London in UCD.
The home side finally opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a John Jermyn drag flick.
Ireland doubled their lead less than a minute later when Timmy Cockram picked up the opportunity to nick the ball over the line after some good work by John Jermyn.
Russia’s Zakirov pounced on the rebound to make it 2-1 before half time.
Nine minutes into the second half Ireland increased their lead when Mitch Darling got on the end of Chris Cargo’s initial reverse stick after a few Irish attempts to put it away.
Caruth made it 4-1 just four minutes later.
Conor Harte made it 5-1 when he dragged home and Michael Watt copper fastened an Irish victory with a classy reverse stick to make it 6-1.
In the opening game Malaysia beat Chile 5-1, while Korea beat Ukraine 8-2.
Ireland Starting XI: David Harte GK; John Jackson; Geoff McCabe; Ronan Gormley (Capt); Michael Watt; Eugene Magee; Andrew McConnell; Michael Darling; David Ames; Paul Gleghorne; Conor Harte
Reserves: Chris Cargo; John Jermyn; Peter Caruth; Timmy Cockram; Stuart Loughrey.
Man of the Match: Ronan Gormley
On Sunday afternoon Ireland continued on their Road To London campaign with a 12-0 win over Ukraine.
Ireland opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Paul Gleghorne drilled in a great ball and Timmy Cockram put in a classy deflection, securing his first of three.
Six minutes later Eugene Magee displayed his quick reactions when Conor Harte’s initial drag was saved, and Magee pounced on the rebound, volleying it home at pace for 2-0.
Six minutes later Magee was on hand to convert an excellent set-piece, a switched drag flick to make it 3-0.
Before half-time Timmy Cockram got the fourth with another rebound opportunity and Mitch Darling scored with an open-play goal.
Ireland scored another seven goals in the second half. Darling was the first scorer of the second half in the 43rd minute, before Peter Caruth got his name on the scoresheet in the 49th minute.
The final five goals all came from open play.
Man-of-the-match was Ireland’s hat-trick goalscorer Timmy Cockram.
Ireland starting XI: David Harte (GK); John Jackson; Ronan Gormley; Michael Watt; Eugene Magee; Andrew McConnell; Ian Sloan; Michael Darling; David Ames; Paul Gleghorne; Conor Harte.
Reserves: Chris Cargo; John Jermyn; Peter Caruth; Timmy Cockram; Stuart Loughrey.
Ireland goalscorers: Timmy Cockram 15; 29m; 63m; Eugene Magee 21m; 27m; Mitch Darling 35m; 43m; Peter Caruth 49m; Michael Watt 54m; 59m; Chris Cargo 69m; John Jermyn 70m.
