Ireland’s men’s and women’s hockey teams got off to a strong start to the Olympic qualifying tournament in Valencia over the weekend.
The men opened their pool games with a 5-1 win over Ukraine, while the women showed impressive defense against top-seeded Belgium, resulting in a scoreless draw.
Both teams needed to finish in the top three in the eight-team tournament to qualify for Paris this summer, with the original goal being to secure the top two spots in their pool to advance to the semi-finals. .
Belgium, currently in fourth place in the world rankings, 10 places ahead of Ireland, are the top-ranked team in the women’s tournament and have shown their pedigree by piling up the pressure in Saturday’s opening game, winning nine penalty corners in the first quarter. showed that. alone.
However, Aisha McFerran, who was named player of the match, proved to be unstoppable, with the Irish goalkeeper denying Belgium time and time again with a series of saves. Her defenders showed no small amount of determination, especially Lena Neal (ex-Tice), who cleared an off-the-line shot in the final quarter to keep the game scoreless.
Ireland themselves showed little threat but will be expected to do so on Monday morning (11am Irish time) when they take on Ukraine, who are bottom of the competition.
If they can pick up three points from this match, it is likely that Tuesday’s match against South Korea (5.15) (they beat Ukraine 3-0 on Saturday) will decide who will advance to the semifinals.
They face very similar challenges in a group that also includes world No. 2 Belgium and outsider Ukraine. And it will also be completed by an Asian team, in this case Japan, who, if seeded, will be Ireland’s main rival for the top two spots in the pool.
Two goals from Ben Johnson and Lee Cole in four minutes of the second quarter put Ireland on course for victory against Ukraine on Sunday night, but Paziuk Viacheslav’s immediate response made for a tense game. There was a risk that it would become. But Ireland’s heavy scoring in the final quarter made it a comfortable enough game, with Cole doubling his tally and Jeremy Duncan making his 100th cap with a goal before Darragh Walsh made it 5-1.
Ireland men next play Belgium (Monday, 7.15pm) before facing Japan on Wednesday (7.15pm).
Ireland (Women): A. McFerran, S. Hawkshaw, K. Mullan, H. McLoughlin, E. Neill, N. Carroll, E. Curran, C. Beggs, K. McKee, D. Duke, B. Harper. Subs: S. McCauley, M. Carey, R. Upton, N. Carey, S. Torrance, C. Watkins.
Ireland (boys): D. Hart, L. Madeley, T. Cross, J. McKee, N. Matthew, S. O’Donoghue, S. Murray, P. McKibben, J. Duncan, M. Robson, N. Page. Subs: B. Johnson, D. Walsh, K. Marshall, J. Lynch, L. Cole, S. Hyland.