There was much jubilation in South Africa after both the
Irish Men’s hockey tram sealed their place at the World Cup in Bhubaneswar in
India.
The Green Machine overcame a stubborn New Zealand side by a goal to nil to seal their place in the finals.
World Goalkeeper of the year David Harte had to make a number of double saves to deny the Black Ferns an equaliser.
In the end Alan Sothern’s solitary goal was enough to seal Ireland’s place in the finals next November.
It was very much a tournament to remember for Glenanne’s Shane o’ Donoghue.
The Tallaght man found the net in the opening match against the hosts South Africa in a 2-0 win.
He then scored the equalising goal in the 1-1 draw with France, and then scored in the penalty
shootout which Ireland won 4-3, and took them into the showdown against New Zealand.
Meanwhile the Irish Women’s hockey team, coached by Firhouse man Graham Shaw, are still very much in contention to claim a spot in the Women’s World Cup in London.
Ireland had to beat India in their 7/8th play-off match to still have any hope of progressing to the finals in the British Capital.
It was India who first found the net after 15 minutes of play, but the Irish women dug in deep, and their hard work eventually paid off in the second half.
The first goal came on 47 minutes, with national team captain Katie Mullan finding the back of the net.
The equalising score seemed to have stunned the opposition, as two minutes later Ireland took the lead, when from another penalty corner Loreto’s Lizzie Colvin drilled the ball past Indian goalkeeper Deep Grace Ekka, to make it 2-1, which secured a vital victory for the Green Machine.
The Green Machine overcame a stubborn New Zealand side by a goal to nil to seal their place in the finals.
World Goalkeeper of the year David Harte had to make a number of double saves to deny the Black Ferns an equaliser.
In the end Alan Sothern’s solitary goal was enough to seal Ireland’s place in the finals next November.
It was very much a tournament to remember for Glenanne’s Shane o’ Donoghue.
The Tallaght man found the net in the opening match against the hosts South Africa in a 2-0 win.
He then scored the equalising goal in the 1-1 draw with France, and then scored in the penalty
shootout which Ireland won 4-3, and took them into the showdown against New Zealand.
Meanwhile the Irish Women’s hockey team, coached by Firhouse man Graham Shaw, are still very much in contention to claim a spot in the Women’s World Cup in London.
Ireland had to beat India in their 7/8th play-off match to still have any hope of progressing to the finals in the British Capital.
It was India who first found the net after 15 minutes of play, but the Irish women dug in deep, and their hard work eventually paid off in the second half.
The first goal came on 47 minutes, with national team captain Katie Mullan finding the back of the net.
The equalising score seemed to have stunned the opposition, as two minutes later Ireland took the lead, when from another penalty corner Loreto’s Lizzie Colvin drilled the ball past Indian goalkeeper Deep Grace Ekka, to make it 2-1, which secured a vital victory for the Green Machine.
Speaking after the match Ireland Head Coach Graham Shaw said
“I thought the performance was superb.
We just didn’t get results out of the dominance we had in the first half.
We’re over the moon to get two great goals.
This team deserve it, they work very hard and deserve everything they get”
Whilst qualification for the World Cup is not yet 100% confirmed, the feeling is that barring a major shock in the other World League sections, the Ireland ladies are well on course to sealing their place in London. (399 words)
We just didn’t get results out of the dominance we had in the first half.
We’re over the moon to get two great goals.
This team deserve it, they work very hard and deserve everything they get”
Whilst qualification for the World Cup is not yet 100% confirmed, the feeling is that barring a major shock in the other World League sections, the Ireland ladies are well on course to sealing their place in London. (399 words)
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