ROAD TO THE FINAL

UNITED STATES 1 IRELAND 3 July 21, Pool B

GRAHAM SHAW’S team began in style going two goals up through Deirdre Duke and Shirley McCay before the States got one back at the end of a breathless first quarter.

Duke scored again in the second half and a draw between England and India put Ireland top of the group.

INDIA 0 IRELAND 1 July 26, Pool B

ONCE again Ireland got their work done in the opening quarter as a Anna O’Flanagan’s goal (above) from a penalty corner gave them an early lead. India battled to get back into it and had several chances but Ireland’s defence held firm as they guaranteed top spot and a quarter-final place with a game to spare.

ENGLAND 1 IRELAND 0 July 29, Pool B

IN front of 10,000 fans at Lee Valley, Ireland put in another defensive performance but were eventually undone by a late goal. However, Ireland knew that their important tests were to come, while England were breathing a sigh of relief as their home World Cup campaign continued.

IRELAND 0 INDIA 0 (Ireland win shoot-out 3-1) August 2, Quarter-final

WITH India in defensive mood and a semi-final place at stake, the game was not a thriller but Shaw did not care. Some excellent performances in the shoot-out, from keeper Ayeisha McFerran and scorers Roisin Upton, Ali Meeke and Chloe Watkins saw Ireland through.

IRELAND 1 SPAIN 1 (Ireland win shoot-out 3-2) Yesterday, Semi-final

ANOTHER first-quarter goal came from Anna O’Flanagan but Spain dominated the middle of the game and deservedly equalised through Alicia Magaz. Ayeisha McFerran was brilliant again in the shoot-out with Gillian Pender and Chloe Watkins scoring to take it to sudden death, before Pender was the hero with another success.