Ireland began their 2026 FIH Hockey Nations Cup campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 win over the United States in Cape Town.
Ben Johnson, Greg Williams and Fergus Gibson got the goals in wet weather at the Hartleyvale Stadium to give the Green Machine the ideal start in their bid to return to the FIH Pro League.
They'll play France in their next game on Saturday (1.45pm IST) after their 4-2 victory over South Africa.
Ireland got at the US early with a high press putting the Wolves under pressure, a theme of the first quarter.
But it would take until early in the second quarter before they would take the lead which their play deserved. Darragh Walsh put the ball into Johnson path and, on his 50th cap, he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
The second arrived just before half time from a penalty corner. Williams fired home to continue his fine form which saw him hit three goals at the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Santiago in March.
The third goal arrived late on as Gibson opened his international scoring account after good play by Alistair Empey in the build up, as he brought the ball to the end line before pulling it back for the Banbridge club man.