Hockey: Ireland suffer shoot-out heartbreak

SO NEAR...: Ireland’s Roisin Upton. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek, Inpho

Spain women produced a peerless set of shoot-outs to deny Ireland automatic qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Thursday afternoon.

Ireland, dominant throughout this qualifying semi-final, were left heartbroken as Roisin Upton, Sarah Hawkshaw and Hannah McLoughlin missed all three of their efforts in a dramatic shoot-out.

The hosts came into their own from the 23m line, scoring three out of four takes after Ayeisha McFerran had saved Spain’s first effort.

But in front of a sell out crowd, Spain’s goalkeeper Clara Perez came to the fore before captain Maria Lopez lobbed McFerran with an audacious effort at the top of the circle to spark wild celebrations. 

After a 0-0 draw in normal time, Spain had prevailed 3-0 in the shoot-out.

It left Spain to atone for their Women’s World Cup shoot-out loss in 2018 and Ireland to play either Great Britain or Belgium for one final shot at booking Olympic qualification in Saturday’s third/fourth play-off.

Earlier, Spain had failed to notch a single penalty corner or a single shot on goal.

A bright opening quarter from Ireland saw Katie Mullan handed the first chance but she shot wide of goal with a scuffed forehand. 

Mullan was also at the centre of any direct counters. 

Meanwhile, Michelle Carey and Hawkshaw were making hay on the left flank, their promising areas of turnover attack.

The first quarter hooter sounded and this semi-final had yet to find rhythm in an opening Ireland had dominated.

Mullan soon had the game’s first shot on target, a reverse from a tight angle which Perez gloved away. It led to the first penalty corner, but Ireland’s battery couldn’t control it.

Sean Dancer’s side continued to press Spain in the second quarter, but Spain were snaffling circle penetration with telling stick tackles.

Spain had shown signs of fallibilities in their final group game when 1-0 down to Canada heading into the final quarter, before scoring five. 

Here, they had yet to post a shot on target.

As the half ended, Spain rallied, with Julia Strappato making several dangerous runs and crosses.

A second penalty corner of the game fell Ireland’s way with six minutes left of the third quarter. 

The MC asked the noisy 2,000 sell out for quiet as Ireland asked for a review after Spain had blocked the initial hit.

The decision fell their way and in a match with few chances, the Green Army failed to make inroads again after a failed trap.

With 20 seconds left of the quarter, Deirdre Duke spun on the turn and unleashed a powerful forehand. 

It seemed destined for the bottom corner but Perez went low and deflected it wide with her left pad.

Spain had the lion’s share of possession in the final 10 minutes, but their first penalty corner chance was overturned in Ireland’s favour. 

So too was a final corner review with 40 seconds left. The reversal came dramatically in Spain's shoot-out success.