Paris 2024 Olympics: Watch GB Women beat Ireland to qualify
Both the British men and women achieved victory, qualifying them for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
GB Women defeated Ireland 2-1 in the FIH qualifying bronze medal match in Valencia, with both teams needing a win to qualify for the tournament.
Work from Sarah Jones and Katie Robertson gave GB a 2-0 lead, with Hannah McLoughlin scoring a late equalizer for Ireland.
In Oman, GB’s men’s team defeated New Zealand 3-1 in the preliminary semi-finals to qualify for Paris.
Phil Roper picked up a lofted ball and fired home to put Great Britain ahead against the Kiwis.
Sam Ward hit two shots from a penalty corner and Kane Russell scored from a penalty corner for New Zealand.
Great Britain were down one player in the final quarter after receiving a yellow card and were forced to react for five minutes, but they maintained a two-goal lead and won the game, setting up for Sunday’s final against Germany. .
“This is a great day for GB Hockey. The girls who won earlier were great and we’re doing it now,” Ward said.
“It’s great that we don’t have to play the 3rd/4th playoffs.”
New Zealand will play Pakistan on Sunday with the winner qualifying for the Olympics.
Emotional is the right word – Jones
Great Britain and Ireland are aiming to qualify for the Paris Games along with Belgium and Spain, with 2016 Olympic gold medalists Great Britain getting off to a strong start in Spain.
Elena Rayer had her shot saved, but Robertson’s subsequent shot was cleared on the line by Ireland’s Charlotte Beggs.
Jones then curled in Hamilton’s angled shot to score the goal following the first penalty corner of the game.
Robertson’s goal came off a pass from Hannah French early in the fourth quarter.
Ireland, who changed their keeper and outfield players with about six minutes remaining, took a number of penalty corners in the closing stages, with McLoughlin scoring, but her goal brought the final whistle and GB celebrated their victory.
Jones, who helped GB win a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, said: “Emotional is definitely the right word. I’m really excited to have qualified for the Olympics.”
“I think it was a great tournament. Today probably wasn’t the best hockey we’ve played, but I think we played great hockey throughout this tournament. That’s what we’re going to build off of.” I know that.”
“Ireland are a great opponent and there is a lot of sympathy for them.”