Thursday, June 11 – Cape Town, South Africa: The Ireland Men’s Hockey team made a strong start to their 2026 FIH Hockey Nations Cup campaign in Cape Town, South Africa as they recorded a 3-0 win over the USA. After a scoreless opening quarter, Ben Johnson marked his 50th senior appearance with a goal, before Greg Williams continued his fine goal scoring form from penalty corners to double Ireland’s lead. Fergus Gibson got Ireland’s third and final goal after some excellent build up play from Alistair Empey.
USA got the game underway in wet conditions in Hartleyvale Stadium, but Ireland quickly set the standard with patient passages in possession and high pressing when the USA turned the ball over. Ireland didn’t have to wait long for their first circle penetration, Lee Cole finding Ben Johnson with a pinpoint accurate aerial, but USA scrambled well to clear.
Matthew Nelson was the next player from Ireland to test the USA backline, playing an inviting pass across the face of goal halfway through the opening quarter but nobody could provide the touch required to redirect the ball goalward.
Ireland upped the ante early in quarter 2, making good use of the little space available to them down the right flank. A long ball from Greg Williams found Daragh Walsh who showed his quality to deflect the ball towards Ben Johnson in the USA circle. Johnson, on his 50th senior appearance, evaded his opposite player and struck first time to lift the ball into the roof of the net.
Ireland almost had their second minutes later when Lee Cole and Jeremy Duncan connected to break into the circle where Matthew Nelson saw his first time effort go just wide of the post. Nelson had a second go at goal soon after, but his reverse stick strike went just over the bar.
With three minutes remaining in the first half, Ireland gained the first penalty corner of the tie. Greg Williams picked up from where he left off at Santiago’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier, firing into the back of the net to add Ireland’s second.
Ireland almost closed out the quarter with a third goal after Peter Brown found Banbridge teammate Fergus Gibson free in the circle. Gibson’s pullback came to Jeremy Duncan, but his effort was superbly saved by Emil Collins. Ireland went into the half-time break two goals to the good.
Ireland remained largely in control throughout the third quarter, seeing the majority of the ball but happy to continue their patience in possession. They were rewarded with a number of circle entries, but no clearcut chances at goal. The USA, however, produced a rare chance as Sekayi Charasika did well to squeeze into the Irish circle and fire at goal. Luke Roleston was on hand to parry the ball over the net.
Two great chances eventually did come Ireland’s way, Lee Cole forcing a save from Collins from a penalty corner before Ben Walker almost found Matthew Nelson on the back post in the dying seconds in Q3.
Unsatisfied with their two-goal lead, Ireland kept the intensity up in the final quarter. Alistair Empey did well to control a cross-field aerial from Greg Williams. Empey made his way onto the USA baseline and pulled the ball back to Fergus Gibson to slap into an open net, opening his senior international account.
The chances continued to come for Ireland, Matthew Nelson once again making space for himself in the circle but being denied by the glove of Collins.
USA closed out the tie with their only penalty corner of the match, but Luke Roleston did well to get a foot to their effort to maintain his clean sheet.
Ireland will face France in their second of three FIH Hockey Nations Cup pool stage matches on Saturday at 13:45 Irish Time. Before that, the Ireland Women’s Hockey team will begin their penultimate FIH Hockey Pro League stage in Rotterdam with an encounter with World #1 the Netherlands on Saturday at 12:30 Irish Time.
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