Ireland have ended their 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup qualification campaign with a perfect record after a 2-1 victory against France in Santiago.
Gregory Williams netted twice for the Irish to round off a successful week for Mark Tumility squad where, after a wait of eight years, they qualified for this summer's World Cup finals.
Qualification was earned with an emphatic 4-0 win over Wales on Friday.
The tie got off to an energetic start as the sides battled for early dominance, Ireland produced the best opportunity of the early stages as a crash ball across the circle gave Louis Rowe an opportunity to deflect towards goal, but it hit his back stick and the game remained level.
The Irish began the second quarter superbly, finding good space down the left flank, Jeremy Duncan and Sean Murray connected well with Duncan having a strike on goal which was well saved. France responded well, building some phases in Ireland territory and eventually working an opportunity to shoot in the circle, but Alistair Empey made a good block to deflect the ball high and wide.
France won the first penalty corner of the tie for a foot in the circle. They opted for a variation, working the ball back to the injector and back across goal where Louis Haertelmeyer touched it into the net.
Ireland responded, with Feargus Gibson doing well to break into the circle and find a foot to win a penalty corner. Greg Williams was the option from Ireland who rifled the ball into the net for his second of the tournament to level it up going into the break.
The intensity of the tie continued into the second half, as France immediately tried to restore their lead, but Ireland's Jaime Carr kicked clear.
The team in green went up the other end soon after, with three separate Irish players trying to get a shot off in the French circle, eventually they won their second penalty corner. Greg Williams was the option once again, and the Corinthian player fired into the French net for his second.
The Irish win sees them lock down ninth in the world rankings, their highest position since beating New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The team will turn their attention to the FIH Hockey Nations Cup this summer before the all-important World Cup in August.
