Hockey: Ireland women hoping to emulate male counterparts by winning opening FIH World Cup qualifier
Gareth Grundie says Ireland women must “control the tempo and impose our game” as they start their FIH Hockey World Cup qualifying campaign later today.
Ireland face Malaysia on Monday, before locking horns against Japan and Canada on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.
Ahead of the tournament, head coach Gareth Grundie said: “We are really looking forward to the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers, and while we take confidence from two positive FIH Hockey Pro League stages, this will be a different challenge and one where we must control the tempo and impose our game.
"There is absolutely no room for complacency, and we must be at our best to achieve our goal of qualifying. Every game will be tough given the size of the prize up for grabs.”
Ireland women’s squad: Charlotte Beggs, Michelle Carey, Niamh Carey, Ellen Curran, Christina Hamill, Sarah Hawkshaw, Mia Jennings, Katie Larmour, Emily Kealy, Sarah McAuley, Hannah McLoughlin, Jessica McMaster, Holly Micklem, Lisa Mulcahy, Katie Mullan, Elizabeth Murphy, Caoimhe Perdue, Sarah Torrans, Roisin Upton.
Meanwhile, Ireland men’s hockey team go in search of their second successive qualification win as they take on Korea on Tuesday.
Mark Tumilty’s side got their bid for FIH Hockey World Cup qualification off to a flying start after a 5-2 victory over Canada on Sunday.
Ireland had to stave off a late Canada push, but goals from Lee Cole (2), Adam McAllister, Jonny Lynch and Jeremy Duncan were enough to secure a comfortable victory in Santiago, Chile.
Meanwhile, Korea lost their opening game on Sunday as Poland edged their way to a 3-2 win.
Ireland will have fond memories from their last meeting against the Koreans as their win secured a passage through to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The final group game will be played on Wednesday as Ireland take on Poland.
Ireland men’s squad: Jaime Carr, Luke Roleston, Greg Williams, Luke Witherow, Fergus Gibson, Lee Cole, Kyle Marshall, Mark McNellis, Sam Hyland, Peter McKibbin, Peter Brown, Johnny McKee, Adam McAllister, Sean Murray, Jonny Lynch, Jeremy Duncan, Ben Walker. Matthew Nelson, Louis Rowe, Ali Empey.
With nine men’s and women’s teams already qualified, these tournaments will determine the remaining seven nations that will earn their place at hockey’s biggest stage later this year in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Should Ireland progress out of the pool, they will then have a semi-final and a potential final. Alternatively, they can also secure their World Cup berth should they lose their semi-final but win the 3rd/4th place play-off.