Ireland's World Cup hopes alive after win over NZ

Ireland's women looked no further than the success of the country’s athletes and swimmers over the past 10 days to inspire them to a first Hockey World Cup pool win in eight years.

Tuesday's 3-2 victory over New Zealand was the first since a 1-0 win over India in 2018, a tournament in which Ireland progressed to the final and took home a silver medal.

Sarah Hawkshaw, Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan were on target in Wavre, Belgium as they secured a narrow win.

As they prepared for this World Cup, the squad were keeping a keen eye on the likes of Kate O’Connor, Mark English, Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe who all brought back medals from the European Athletics and Swimming Championships.

“It's been unbelievable. This squad is sports-mad, so we've been cheering on every evening, watching how unbelievable it's been,” explained Upton.

“Even out here, all the fans must have come from the athletics in Birmingham over here because the place is packed with green again, and the Irish support has been fantastic.

“I think Irish sport is pretty unique. We're able to compete across so many different sports at such a high level, and you always take a lot from it.”

Mullan echoed those sentiments.

“I think one of the most special things about Irish sport being so small sometimes is that we know those athletes personally,” she said.

“We get to train with them, we get to sit and have coffees with them, we share experiences, and we learn from one another.

“If you looked at us at any point in time, whether we were out having a pre-match meal or we were supposed to be in bed, we're all huddled around the TV watching those special moments in Irish sport. And they definitely motivate us.”

After losing narrowly to Spain in their opening game on Sunday, this was a must-win for Ireland, as it was for New Zealand who had been beaten by co-hosts Belgium.

The deadlock was broken in the second quarter when Niamh Carey’s cross was deflected in by captain Hawkshaw.

Emelia Surridge equalised for the Black Sticks Women from a penalty corner after half-time to set up a vitally important final 15 minutes.

In the fourth quarter, Upton held her nerve to convert a penalty stroke that gave Ireland a 2-1 lead.

“I think this past weekend, watching Kate [O’Connor] hold her nerve in the 800m gave me all the inspiration I needed,” she added.

It was Upton again, this time with a drag flick from a penalty corner that set up Mullan to add to the Irish lead.

While New Zealand scored a last minute consolation through Katie Doar, it did not detract from an important victory for Ireland in which the outstanding Sarah McAuley was voted player of the match.

Ireland will face hosts Belgium on Thursday evening in front of a full house in Wavre.

To progress in the tournament, they most likely will need something from the game - a daunting prospect - but they have battled the world number three side hard in recent encounters, losing a pair of Pro League games 2-1 in Dublin last December.

Eight of the current squad played their club hockey here in Belgium last season.

"It doesn't get much better. As soon as the groups were announced, my first thought, you want to be in the same group as the host nation," explained Mullan.

"We got to experience it four years ago in Holland with our opening game against them, and now we get to experience it on Thursday night, it's why we play the game.

"The last place you would want to be is sitting at home on the sofa watching that kind of a fixture.

"You want to be out there in a packed-out stadium under lights against the host nation, and something really to play for as well. So we'll go out and we'll prepare now for the next 48 hours, and then we'll fight really hard on Thursday, and I can't wait."