India hockey team's hope to qualify for the final is over. India went down 2-3 to Ireland in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament on Friday. Having grabbed the lead on two occasions (1-0 in the 10th minute and 2-1 in the 26th minute), the Indian men's team fumbled in the end in their last round-robin match.

Ramandeep Singh (10') and Amit Rohidas (26') scored for India while Shane O'Donoghue (24'), Sean Murray (36') and Lee Cole (42') struck for Ireland. After rekindling their hopes of making the final with a convincing 5-1 win against Malaysia in their previous match, India looked for another win on the trot and got off to a start that reflected their intent.

Playing structured and disciplined hockey, India won a penalty corner in the 10th minute. Varun Kumar was at the first battery but it was Ramandeep who came up with a great finish to direct the flick into the net with a tap after he had injected the ball perfectly for the drag flicker.

Soon after India won another PC when Sumit Kumar found an Irish defender's foot while forcing an assist from the baseline. But this time Varun Kumar's flick was far wide. With a 1-0 lead, India had to contain Ireland and ensure they stayed ahead. India denied Ireland their first PC of the match with a decision for video referral that was ruled in India's favour. But they conceded an equaliser soon after through Shane O'Donoghue. With England thrashing Malaysia 7-2 in the final group match, India would not have finished in the top two - but a win against Ireland would have at least kept them in medal contention.