Hockey

Image source, World Sport Pics

Ireland's women will face Australia on Saturday [21:00 GMT] for a place in the FIH Hockey World Cup.

Gareth Brundie's side completed a perfect group campaign in Chile with a 5-1 win over Canada on Thursday and were already assured of a top-two finish in Pool B and a place in Saturday's semi-final.

Australia beat Switzerland 3-0 to finish second in Pool A and book a final four meeting with Ireland.

Victory for either side on Saturday would seal a place in the World Cup, while defeat will leave a second opportunity in the third-fourth playoff on Sunday

It was a third consecutive win for Ireland who, despite making a positive start, had to come from behind as Canada opened the scoring in the first quarter through Anna Mollenhauer from a penalty corner.

Ireland turned it around in the second as they increased the pressure with Katie Mullan forcing an early save from Marcia Laplante.

The Canada goalkeeper was kept busy as Ireland pressed and were ultimately rewarded when Niamh Carey struck across goal on her reverse with Sarah Torrans applying the finish.

Laplante would then deny Sarah Hawkshaw, but was beaten by Caoimhe Perdue late in the first half after Niamh Carey had won the penalty corner.

It was a frantic start to the second half but Ireland would increase their lead as Hannah McLoughlin launched a counter-attack which led to Mullan setting up Torrans for her second of the game.

They would add a fourth soon after with Carey the provider for Jessica McMaster to touch in.

Ireland were now in full command as Charlotte Beggs shot too high, while Laplante would come to the rescue to deny Mullan, Beggs and Emily Kealy.

However, the fifth would ultimately come from a late penalty corner as Amy Handcock netted her first senior international goal to round off another win.

Image source, World Sport Pics

Ireland picked up a first FIH Hockey Pro League victory over Australia with a 4-1 win in Hobart to close out their second stage of the competition.

It was a shaky start for the Irish women as they conceded early, but responded brilliantly with Roisin Upton named player of the match thanks to a commanding performance in defence.

Ireland would seek an immediate response to that early setback by piling on the pressure but Michelle Carey was denied by Zoe Newman, while Sarah Torrans passed up a good opportunity and Caoimhe Perdue's close-range effort was stopped on the line.

They continued to press in the second quarter and were eventually rewarded when, from a penalty corner, Ellen Curran deflected Hannah McLoughlin's slap on goal into the net.

With Australia receiving two green cards, Ireland sought to take advantage and did so when Katie Mullan finished from Sarah Hawkshaw's pull back to hit the front at the half.

Their momentum carried into the second half and from another penalty corner, Sarah Torrans fed Sarah Hawkshaw to finish and a fourth almost arrived soon after but the crossbar came to the rescue for the hosts.

Australia sought a response with Elizabeth Murphy called into action in the Ireland goal but the two-goal lead remained going into the final period.

With both sides pressing, Australia were denied a lifeline when a video referral saw a goal chalked off for a foot in the build-up and the issue was put beyond doubt as Hannah McLoughlin finished from a penalty corner as Ireland claimed a famous win.

Ireland's focus will now turn to the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Chile with their opening game against Malaysia on 2 March (18:15 GMT) before facing Japan the following day (18:45) and finishing up against Canada on 5 March (18:15).

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland lost a shootout against Australia but secured a point in Hobart and moved up to sixth in the FIH Hockey Pro League.

Australia are ranked sixth in the International Hockey Federation [FIH] women's outdoor rankings with Ireland in 13th position.

The away side had the best chances early in the game with Niamh Carey's shot just wide before Michelle Carey and Mikayla Power also came close to opening the scoring.

In the second quarter, Jessica McMaster won Ireland the first penalty corner of the game, but Hannah McLoughlin's delivery was off target.

After the restart, Ireland continued to dominate with Sarah Hawkshaw's free steered just wide by McMaster.

Sarah Torrans then made a crucial defensive interception to stop a penalty corner from Australia.

Replacement Hockeyroos keeper Zoe Newman was then called into action to deny Hawkshaw's on-target effort.

Ireland made a poor start to the shootout and fell 3-0 behind before Hannah McLoughlin and McMaster scored and Holly Micklem denied Australia's fourth shot to make it 3-2.

However, Australia made no mistake with their fifth penalty to seal the bonus point.

Gareth Grundiewill's side will play their penultimate FIH Hockey Pro League match in Hobart on Friday, 13 February (08:30 GMT) and will face Argentina.