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.