The Irish Senior Ladies Hockey team beat Kazakhstan 1-0 in Amiens today to put their World Cup qualification hopes back on track. The squad play Ukraine tomorrow with an automatic World Cup place as the prize for the winners.
Bouncing back from a difficult defeat against France on Sunday, the Irish squad opened brightly and created a number of good chances in the first fifteen minutes. Their sense of purpose was rewarded in the seventh minute when a good passing movement enabled Laura Lee to set Clare McMahon free on the right wing. Taking the ball past two Kazakhstani defenders McMahon pulled back the ball to Lynsey McVicker who remained composed to put the Irish 1-0 ahead.
It was a tight game with a lot at stake for both teams and at times the tension showed. Ireland could have gone further ahead before half-time with chances falling to Jenny Burke and McMahon but both saw their shots go narrowly wide. This was the Irish team’s fifth match in seven days but the squad’s fitness and steely resolve was to prove crucial in the second half. Kazakhstan pushed forward in numbers and it took strong tackles from Arlene Boyles and Daphne Sixsmith at different stages to protect Ireland’s narrow lead.
Coach Riet Kuper has praised the efforts of her squad in recent days. Today, she can feel particularly proud of the players that came off the bench to ensure an Irish win. Karen Humphries and Ciara O’Brien were magnificent in the crucial last ten minutes, staying composed in possession as the Irish supporters nervously counted away the remaining moments.
Ireland’s chances of automatic qualification all depends on the result tomorrow. A win tomorrow guarantees Ireland a top four finish and an automatic place in next year’s World Cup. Anything less and the squad will need to lift themselves for weekend crossover matches against the third and fourth placed teams in the other group to determine whether they are to secure one of the remaining World Cup spots.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
