Watt tenacity pays off as Irish stay on course

Ireland overcame a potential banana skin in work-manlike fashion as they dispatched Chile last night to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for a first Olympics since 1908.

Mikey Watt’s second-half double eventually eased Irish fears they might be sucker-punched by the South Americans, and ensures they head into tomorrow’s crunch clash with Malaysia needing just a draw to advance to Sunday’s final.

Competition favourites Korea are their likely opponents after they survived a Malaysian comeback to win 3-2 in the earlier game. A positive result against Russia tomorrow will put them into the decider.