Irish women finally set to jet off for Chile tilt

IRELAND’S senior women’s hockey team have finally mapped a path to their World Cup qualification campaign in Chile, following a week of uncertainty.

The flight disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud left the Irish side, who were due to fly to Santiago via Paris last Sunday, unable to leave the country.

Players were sent home as a result, and with Malaysia and Scotland’s travel plans also affected, it left just two of the sides competing in the qualifier – favourites Australia and hosts Chile – in situ in Santiago.