IRELAND SCORCH INTO LAST EIGHT!
IRELAND became the first team to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over India at London’s Lee Valley Hockey Centre yesterday.
Anna O’Flanagan’s 13th-minute penalty corner put Pool B’s lowest-ranked side into the last eight after a second successive win, meaning two of the world’s top 10 sides will miss out after Sunday’s final group games. The result puts the pressure on England, who need to beat Ireland at the weekend to guarantee their passage to the quarters.
‘What a group of players, I thought they were absolutely fantastic from start to finish,’ said head coach Graham Shaw.
‘Credit to the players and the work they put in, they’re a special group and they deserve this. It’s my privilege and honour to be part of this group.’
India had got off to a fast start and threatened with a penalty corner four minutes, but Ireland were able to soak up the pressure. When Katie Mullan and Anna O’Flanagan linked up in the circle to win a penalty corner, Shirley McCay stepped up for one of her powerful sweeps from the top of the circle and O’Flanagan deflected it into the net for the lead.
India had three more penalty corners before half-time, but the Irish defence held firm.
The experience of Nicci Daly came to the fore along with the unstoppable McCay as Ireland wound the clock down and recorded a famous victory, securing their place in the World Cup quarter final. Ireland: N Evans, K Mullan (c), S McCay, G Pinder, R Upton, A McFerran, C Watkins, L Colvin, H Matthews, A O’Flanagan, Z Wilson. Subs: G O’Flanagan, Y O’Byrne, M Frazer, E Tice, N Daly, D Duke, A Meeke.