Irish stay on London trail

It says a lot about where Ireland are and where they want to be that last night’s draw with world number six Korea at the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London Olympic qualifier at a sold-out Belfield was met with disappointment by coach and players alike.

In front of the largest crowd seen at an Irish hockey international match in years, Paul Revington’s side earned a point that keeps their Olympic dreams alive following an attritional encounter.

David Ames put the hosts in the lead on 27 minutes from a superbly-worked penalty corner but Hyun Woo Nam drag-flicked home a second-half equaliser for the visitors.