Ireland women miss out on Olympic qualification after defeat to Great Britain

HOPES DASHED: Sarah Hawshaw of Ireland in action against Sophie Hamilton of Great Britain during the FIH Women's Olympic Hockey Qualifying Tournament third/fourth place play-off match between Ireland and Great Britain at Campo de Hockey Hierba Tarongers in Valencia, Spain. Pic: Manuel Queimadelos/Sportsfile

Ireland women’s hopes of Paris Olympic qualification ended on Saturday after Great Britain recorded a comfortable 2-1 victory to seal the final ticket on offer for this summer’s Games.

Goals in either half from Sarah Jones and Katie Robertson - Welsh and Scottish internationals respectively - proved the difference in a game Great Britain dominated, Ayeisha McFerran forced into a number of saves and her opposite number, Sabbie Heesh, kept quiet over a disappointing 60 minutes.

Ireland hogged possession in the final moments. A brace of penalty corners finally saw Hannah McLoughlin make inroads with a deflected goal. A second later, the game was over and Irish players sank to their knees.

Great Britain had beaten Ireland in 2004 Olympic qualification and at the Tokyo Olympics. Another defeat here now leaves funding for the women’s programme in peril and questions over whether Sean Dancer, their Australian coach, will stay on in the role.

Great Britain started with confidence and outletting to the right flank which offered a brace of early opportunities. McFerran twice had to save with her pads from close-range flicks.

Midway through the opening quarter, more mounting GB pressure, with McFerran again making another telling double save.

Laura Unsworth first fed Izzy Petter who then directed into the Irish stopper’s pads before Robertson nearly scored her first GB goal with a push across goal. McFerran cleared each time but a third rebound saw an Irish stick clear off the line.

Ireland finished the stronger after turning over Great Britain’s penchant for running with the ball into the opposition half. Twice Ireland made circle penetration but couldn’t force Heesh into any notable saves.

The game opened up in the second quarter, quick ball finding its way into the GB circle but Deirdre Duke miscuing her forehand wide.

A baseline counter upfield led to a first penalty corner, which No.1 runner Sarah Torrans blocked before Welsh international Jones found a way across goal with a low forehand.

There were rare flurries up field from Dancer’s side for the rest of a quarter GB dominated. A side so adept at the back in this tournament needed to find attacking third spark to save their Paris hopes.

Duke limped off the field five minutes into the second half, while Ireland were gifting too much possession in the key midfield battle and Heesh having an increasingly quiet game. McFerran, meanwhile, was also an onlooker until forced into a comfortable boot save.

Ireland were now making good use of the right flanks and won their first corner of this semi-final. Fed to Roisin Upton, Fiona Crackles was quick enough to deflect her dragflick.

At the start of the final quarter, Ireland twice lost possession in their half. A third wave of attacks saw Lily Owsley send a direct slap into the circle. After a pinball set of rebounds, Robertson squeezed a reverse chip into the net.

McFerran was taken off with six minutes left, but even with 11 outfield players, Great Britain proved the stronger side to keep up their 20-year record of qualifying for the Olympics. The final flurry of circle possession and Heesh's goal being breached only delayed the inevitable.