Ireland reach final and secure European elite status

Ireland 2 Austria 1

They now face surprise finalists the Czech Republic who beat Wales 3-1 in the other semi-final.

As a result of the victory at the Tre Fontaine stadium, Ireland have now regained their status amongst the elite nations in Europe - irrespective of today’s - but should they win the final, they will also automatically qualify for the World Cup qualifying competition in China next Spring.

“That was a huge result for Irish hockey,” Passmore said, “not just men’s hockey, but Irish hockey as a whole and while that was a big game, the final will be bigger again and it really does mean a lot.”

Ireland made the final largely on the back of a brilliant first half performance, at the end of which they were two goals to the good, having totally overcome the threat of Austria’s much vaunted counter-attacking game.

Even so, it still took them 28 minutes to break down a well-drilled Austrian defence, despite dominating possession to that point.

Austria were largely confined to a long ball game, finding it difficult to get through the Irish midfield, but with both Paddy Brown and David Smyth controlling things for Ireland at the back, their attacking options were largely negated.

The Austrians did manage to put the ball in the Irish net from a 24th minute short corner, but Minar’s shot was disallowed for being dangerously high.

That stung the Irish to a certain degree and they scored a great goal from play four minutes later when Andy Barbour, once more tormenting the Austrians down the right, got to the by-line and his cross found Mark Irwin, who had the easiest of tap-ins.

Ireland then started piling on the pressure and forced a raft of short corners, before Stephen Butler finally flicked one in as the clock wound down to half-time.

The Irish were not quite as fluent in the second period, but unlike Irish teams of the past, they did not panic. There were chances for Justin Sherriff and Graham Shaw, and they were certainly both playing with the same level of flair they showed in the first half.

Austria scored a goal at the death through the feisty Szmidt, who was then promptly yellow carded for making unpleasant gestures at the Irish goalie. But it was too late for the Austrians. There was only two minutes left and the Irish simply kept possession and ran the clock down.

“There was no way they were going to beat us,” an elated Wes Bateman said later when asked if the Irish got a little nervy towards the end. “We had the beating of them throughout and even though they got the goal near the end, there was no way we were going to lose it.”

IRELAND: W. Bateman, P. Brown, J. Black, D. Smyth, S. Butler, K. Burns, M. Irwin, G. Shaw, J. Sherriff, A. Barbour, M. Black.Rolling subs: N. Henderson, M. Raphael, D. Hobbs, M. Gleghorne, I. Lewers.

AUSTRIA: A. Podlesak, C. Minar, A. Stremizer, G. Netal, P. Fischer, W. Laminger, M. Mayer, B, Stanzl, P. Proksch, E. Stremitzer, T. Szmidt. Rolling Subs: R. Buchta, G. Jelinek, P. Greutter, M. Korper, M. Grazer.