INCREDIBLE! GLENEALY’S LENA IN HOCKEY WORLD CUP FINAL
BEFORE the World Cup, Lena Tice said that Ireland wanted to ‘take every game one at a time”. Instead, they took the tournament by storm.
Had it not been for the sensational Netherlands side, the Glenealy girl might have returned to Ireland as a world champion. But she returns as a heroine who played her part in the Irish hockey team’s wonderful adventure which captured the hearts and minds of the nation.
Ireland entered the competition with only one nation (Italy) ranked lower than them but they out-punched USA and India in the group stage to secure top spot in their pool before succumbing to England.
It then took the Green Army to a quarter-final clash with India from which they prevailed courtesy of a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.
Spain awaited them in Saturday’s semi-final showdown and after a 1-1 draw, Ireland - and goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran - once again shone to unite the nation and propel hockey to a national sport overnight.
On Sunday, despite having nearly five million new supporters, Ireland could not pull off another outstanding victory as the Netherlands showed why they are the best nation in the world by bullying their way to a 6-0 success despite some defensive heroics from Tice and co.
Ireland trailed 4-0 at the interval and despite stemming the tide in quarters three and four, they had no answer for their opponents’ class.
It is remarkable that they returned home to Dublin on Monday disappointed to have silver medals in their pockets considering they were not even fancied to get out of the group stage initially.
Speaking in the aftermath of the final, team coach Graham Shaw sang the praises of his team in light of their wonderful achievement.
“I’m very proud, though ob- viously a little disappointed, but I don’t want to take away from what these girls have achieved,” he said.
“It’s remarkable, truly astonishing.
“To come in here ranked where they are and to get to a final of a World Cup...to have a silver medal around my neck is what dreams are made of.”
Shaw knew his side faced an almost impossible task against the Netherlands but his side have now seen the benchmark and the next step on their journey is to try and reach that same level.
“They are an outstanding side. They have three World Players of the Year in their side, a few Olympic gold and silver medallists and European golds.
‘They are an outstanding, fully professional side.
“They deserved their win. They are miles ahead of everybody in the world right now.
“That’s the level we need to aim for. We have to try and get to that level.”