Ireland dig deep to seal World Cup spot

Irish hockey had a Saturday to savour as the men guaranteed their place at the 2018 World Cup while the women have to wait a few months but look well set to match their efforts.

For the men, Alan Sothern’s strike 11 minutes from time in the World League fifth place play-off under the Johannesburg Saturday night lights proved the decisive score.

It provided a 1-0 win over New Zealand, the first time Ireland had ever beaten the world number eight side in 13 attempts and brought with it the last automatic ticket to India 2018. It means they will contest the elite event for the first time since 1990.