A world of difference

What have 11 Irish women done that 11 Irish men couldn’t? Answer: Got into the quarter-finals of a world cup.

The Ireland women’s hockey team have booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals following a stunning 1-0 victory over India.

Anna O’Flanagan’s goal gave Irish women’s hockey its greatest-ever success, but it was the supreme team effort that made Ireland the first side assured of a quarter-final place.

The achievement of the Irish women’s hockey team is extraordinary on many levels. Hockey — either women’s or men’s — is the Cinderella of Irish team field sport and Hockey Ireland, the governing body, operates on a shoestring budget and only achieved a full sponsorship deal last month.

The Irish squad was also the only international team of non-professionals in their group.

The win was no fluke, either. The Irish women had already beaten the US, the world’s number seven side, before thrashing India. They take on England in their final group game tomorrow with a place in the knockout stages already secured.