The girls in green face a daunting task as they share a pool with world number ones the Netherlands and Commonwealth champions Australia.

Anna O'Flanagan: One of four new faces in Ireland squad. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Pritchard said he wishes to give pitch time to less experience players, namely Niamh Atcheler, Hannah Bowe and Anna O’Flanagan, who come in for Emma Smyth, Shirley McCay and Lisa Jacob. 55-ctimes-capped Niamh Small replaces Lizzie Colvin in the fourth change to the squad that contested March’s Olympic qualifiers.

But aside from those changes he appears to have stuck with tried and tested players, though a handful are somewhat short on gametime. Nikki Evans and Michelle Harvey barely featured for Railway Union and Pegasus respectively during their IHL/ISC finals weekends while Pam Smithwick and Cliodhna Sargent haven’t played since the final IHL regular season weekend on April 21.

Ireland meet Australia on June 6 before facing the world number one side, the Netherlands, a day later before potentially playing two classification matches on June 9 and 10 if they finish above third in their three-team pool. Great Britain, South Africa and Germany are on the other side of the draw.

Commenting on the upcoming tournament Pritchard said that the tournament offers the right environment to begin the preparations for next September’s Champion’s Challenge I which is likely to be played in Sardinia.

“This event presents us with an unique occasion to play with freedom, to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the world and to give valuable pitch time to some less experienced players.

“Using well measured performance criteria we can enter every game with a focus for improvement. It’s going to very tough going but we will relish the challenge and embrace the opportunity.”

IRELAND women’s squad for Investec London Cup 5-10): N Atcheler (UCD, 14), H Bowe (Slough, 24), E Clarke (St Albans, 126), A Connery (Hermes, 54), M Crowley (Hermes, 39), N Daly (Loreto, 39), N Evans (Railway Union, 28), E Gray (GK, Hermes, 49), M Harvey (Pegasus, 87), S McCarthy (Hermes, 51), A O’Flanagan (UCD, 16), A O’Flynn (Hermes, 64), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins, 115), N Small (Loreto, 55), P Smithwick (Old Alex, 14), A Speers (Railway Union, 120), N Symmons (Loreto, 175), C Watkins (UCD, 45).

Pritchard (pictured left), an FIH-qualified coach, steps up from the assistant coach role he held for the past five years with Gene Muller and steps into the role with immediate effect until the end of the Champions Challenge I in early October.

He brings experience from his time working as Munster senior coach along with a successful stint at Cork C of I, winning an All-Ireland Club Championship in 2003. He was also the Irish men’s assistant coach in 2005 and 2006, and was also at the helm alongside Paidi Hartnett as UCC’s women claimed a Munster Senior Cup title in 2009.

Denis Pritchard (left): Cork man takes over Irish senior women's job on an interim basis, with IHA hoping to appoint full-time coach by October.

An IHA statement said of his appointment: “Denis was the natural choice for this position given the time he has spent with the squad over the past few years. He is best placed to further develop the technical development and style of play that saw the team produce a great run of results in the lead up and to the final of the Olympic Qualifier.

“Having worked as the assistant coach over the past five years he has detailed knowledge of the opponents the team will face, without much preparation to their forthcoming competitions.”

Despite Ireland missing out on Olympic qualification, they still have a series of tournaments over the summer, starting with the Investec Cup in London – a pre-Olympic test event – in early June along with the Celtic Cup later that month.

But the year’s key event is September’s Champion’s Challenge I, one which carries with it world ranking points and Pritchard says he is keen to build on the recent final appearance in the London qualifiers.

”The summer series of games gives us another opportunity to compete against some of the world’s top teams. We must build on the hard work that has been done and progress the squad towards our goal of world tournament qualification.

“I am honoured to be asked to lead on an interim basis; working in this environment is a great challenge and working with high-performance athletes is a huge privilege. The journey continues unabated.”

In the backroom staff, an assistant coach will be named in the coming weeks while current manager Sally Ann Fanagan will stay on in her role until June until a long term replacement is appointed. Karen Coughlan steps down as physio. The full-time coaching position will be advertised in late July with a view to appointment in mid October.

On the women’s side, the blues could afford to draw – or even lose by a couple as it transpired – but they never looked like needing any recourse to such an outcome.

Munster were unable to build on their opening day win Pic: Adrian Boehm

Early efforts from Gillian Pinder and Eanna Horan put the women 2-0 up inside six minutes and, with Caroline Hill, supplying an insurance effort prior to half-time, they were handsome three goal winners.

It left Munster a chance to snatch second place but they came unstuck against Connacht as they could not build on Emily O’Leary’s early opener.

NUIG’s Aimee O’Connor levelled in the 12th minute before Tara Melvin and Deirdre Hatton put the westerners 3-1 up by half-time and no further goals ensured Ulster took second place.

On the men’s side, despite international absentees, Leinster repeated the feat of 2010 with a 3-2 win against Ulster. Injury to Richard Sykes and a flight to Germany to link up with the men’s senior Irish team ruled out Shane O’Donoghue but they still managed to prevail in a cracker.

They went two up through Jamie Tobin and Stephen Cole before being pegged back by Banbridge duo Owen Magee and Stephen Dowds, but the blues’ David Watkins hit a late winner.

It meant they won the Interpro series with a perfect two from two record while they also snagged the four-team series which included the Ireland U-18s.

Graham Shaw and Gareth Evans’ charges won their third tie to end the competition unbeaten as they beat Munster 5-2 – Ashton schoolboy Gary Wilkinson scoring against his home province in the second half after Pembroke team mates Karl Lynch and Mark Loughrey had exchanged first half goals.

Cork man Jonny Bruton, meanwhile, scored on his return to the Irish men’s national team but it was not enough to stop Paul Revington’s side from falling to a 3-2 defeat to world number two side Germany in Mannheim.

In their first international since dramatically being denied an Olympic berth by Korea in March, Revington made eight changes with St Andrew’s College student David Cole making his debut.

Bruton opened the scoring just past the half hour on his reverse but Matthias Witthaus responded with a corner rebound off the post before Thilo Stralkowski and Jan-Philipp Rabente moved the hosts 3-1 clear with 12 minutes to go.

Jonny Bruton scored on his return to the Irish senior side Pic: Adrian Boehm

Ian Sloan got a late second for Ireland but could not affect a result in a tie in which both sides were under-strength due to players required elsewhere, notably at the European Hockey League quarter-finals.

Ireland play again today, this time against the Germany U21 side at 3pm before taking on the senior squad again on Wednesday at 2pm.

Ireland: D Fitzgerald, K Carroll, J Jackson, R Gormley, J Bruton, P Caruth, I Sloan, B McCandless, T Cockram, D Ames, P Gleghorne
Subs: B Doherty, P Maguire, J Bell, J Lynch, D Cole

U21 Interprovincials, Cork – day three
Men:
Leinster 3 (J Tobin, S Cole, D Watkins) Ulster 2 (O Magee, S Dowds);
Ireland U18 5 (M Loughrey, G Wilkinson, M Allister, J Sutton, J Duncan) Munster 2 (K Lynch, F O’Leary)
Interpro standings: 1 Leinster 6pts (+2); 2 Ulster 3pts (+1); 3 Munster 0pts
Tournament standings: 1 Leinster 7pts (+2) 2 Ireland U18 5pts (+3) 3 Ulster 4pts (+1) 4 Munster 0pts (-6)

Women:
Leinster 3 (G Pinder, E Horan, C Hill) Ulster 0;
Munster 1 (E O’Leary) Connacht 3 (A O’Connor, T Melvin, D Hatton)
Standings: 1 Leinster 9pts (+11); 2 Ulster 3pts (-1); 3 Munster 3pts (-2); 4 Connacht 3pts (-8).

Men’s Senior International, Mannheim
Ireland 2 (J Bruton, I Sloan) Germany 3 (M Witthaus, T Stralkowski, J-P Rabente)

UCD hitman O’Donoghue will play two rounds of the U21 tournament at Garryduff in Cork for Leinster before jetting to Mannheimer for three back-to-back matches for an experimental Ireland side against their German hosts.

The games see Ireland begin life after the Olympic qualification near miss, and serve as the start of a warm-up programme for the summer, which sees  Lisnagarvey play host to the senior men’s and women’s Celtic Cup in late June and early July.

Brian Corcoran is back between the sticks for Munster U21s as the tournament returns following a one-year hiatus. Picture: Adrian Boehm

It’s also a potentially busy few days for Chris Cargo, David Ames and Ronan Gormley, who are all in Rotterdam today for the KO16 round of the EHL.

Ames’ Beeston meet Gormley’s Club de Campo in the competition early this  morning, meaning at least one will be required for the KO8 round on Sunday when the Irish side is convening across the German border.

Cargo’s Reading are in action in the KO16 tomorrow evening and progression against Club an der Alster would more than likely rule him out of the first game of the Irish series, the EHL quarter-final clashing directly.

The return of the U21 interpros after a season’s hiatus reflects the Irish Hockey Association’s decision to field a national side at the grade this summer for the first time since 2004.

Graham Shaw’s Ireland U18 boys — featuring Munster men Scott Sullivan (Bandon) and Gary Wilkinson (Cork C of I) will step into the men’s tournament to make it a quadrangular event like the women’s, given Connacht do not field a men’s side at this level.

Munster’s men are back-boned by  UCC’s  Irish Hockey Trophy-winning side last weekend, including captain Adam O’Callaghan, while Dublin-based trio Karl Lynch (Pembroke), Nick Burns and Ben Dobson (both UCD) bring Leinster league experience.

Hopes of home glory on the women’s side have been boosted by the return of captain Olivia Roycroft (UCC) from a broken collarbone, while potential stars have returned from foreign fields to don the red of Munster, namely former Ireland U18 pair Rebecca Barry (America) and Nicola Laarhoven (Holland).

There’s also sure to be some extra bite in the Munster-Leinster clashes for two players in particular; UCC’s Colin Manning and Aine Curran are both Kilkenny natives but like the Connery sisters before them, will line out for Munster against their native province.

Leinster are the defending champions in both competitions, dating back to their victories at the 2010 vintage in Dublin.

Men’s U21 Interprovincials, Garryduff, Cork

Tomorrow: Leinster v Ireland U18, 10am; Munster v Ulster, 2pm; Sunday: Ulster v Ireland U18, 10am; Munster v Leinster, 12pm. Monday: Ulster v Leinster (11.30pm); Munster v Ireland U18, 1.30pm.

MUNSTER U21:  B Corcoran (GK), A O’Callaghan (capt), A Power, C Manning, S O’Grady, F O’Leary, P Catchpole, C Kavanagh (UCC), R Lynch, A Daunt, R Sweetnam, J Phillips (GK), P Daunt (Cork C of I), K Lynch (Pembroke), N Burns, B Dobson (UCD), A Scannell (Bandon).

LEINSTER U21: S West (GK, TRR); C Quinn, P Byrne, S O’Donoghue, R Burke, L Chadwick, R Anderson, D Watkins (UCD); R Sykes, S Cole, F Ryan (Monkstown); J Tobin (YMCA); S McKeever (Fingal); D Carson (Corinthian); P English (Railway Union); S Ludgate (Clontarf); S Roberts, S Nolan (Trinity).

ULSTER U21: A Thom (GK), R Miller, M Crooks (Cookstown), M Bell, P Brown, S Dowds, S Forbes, O Magee (Banbridge), N Gilmore, J Wright (Portadown), S Hunter (Loughborough Students), A McCann (Lisnagarvey), M Murphy (Durham Uni), P Purcell (capt), A Williamson (Annadale), J Robinson (Mossley).

IRELAND U18: A Allen (Friends School/Lisnagarvey), M Allister (Sullivan/Annadale), P Brown (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), C Roberts (Sullivan/Annadale), L Cole (St Andrews/Monkstown), B Cosgrove (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), J Duncan (Kilkenny College/Railway Union), S Gallagher (GK, Newpark/Avoca), J Hool (GK, RBAI/Mossley), R
Nair (St Andrew’s/Railway Union), M Robson (Sullivan/Annadale), M Rollins (Cookstown HS/Cookstown), K Shimmins (Wesley College/Pembroke Wanderers), S Sullivan (Bandon Grammar/Bandon), J Sutton (Wesley College/Corinthian), G Wilkinson (Ashton/Cork C of I), M Loughrey (St Andrew’s/Pembroke Wanderers).

Women’s U21 Interpros, Garryduff, Cork

Tomorrow: Leinster v Connacht, 12pm; Munster v Ulster, 4pm; Sunday: Ulster v Connacht, 2pm; Munster v Leinster, 4pm; Monday: Ulster v Leinster, 9.30pm; Munster v Connacht (3.30pm).

MUNSTER U21: C Hayes (GK, Bandon); R Barry, K Campbell, N Carroll, R Upton (Catholic Institute), O Cotter, Y O’Byrne (Cork Harlequins), J Coyne, O Roycroft (capt), A Curran, N Kerr, K Murphy, E O’Leary, S Peters (GK), A-K Trevor (UCC), E Reidy (Cork C of I), R Shanahan (NUIG), N Laarhoven (Almeerse).

LEINSTER U21:  N O’Connor (Genesis); G Pinder (Hermes); H Matthews, A Meeke, S McGirr, H Mulcahy (Loreto); E Hinkson (Old Alex); S Conway, A O’Grady (Pembroke); O Fox, R Barnett (Railway Union); E Horan, V Taaffe (Trinity); S Greene, N Gray, C Hill, D Duke, N Atcheler (UCD).

ULSTER U21: SJ Greer (GK, Leeds), N McKnight (Ards), N Barr, S McClure, L Murray, K Scott  (Lurgan), C Warnock, K McDonald (Armagh), S Rose (Nottingham Uni), J Alison, J Orr (QUB), L Ewart (UCD), K Lammey, D Axon (Ulster Elks), H Dawson (Belfast Harlequins), E Reid (Randalstown).

CONNACHT U21: E Molloy (GK), H Jenkinson, R Butler, R McInerney, A Rossiter, A O’Connor, O Callanan, N Whelan (NUIG), N Cooke (GK), T Melvin, F Timmins, L Fahy, E Carey, R Bradley, D Hatton (Galway), B Flannery (capt), J McMickan (UCD), K Codyre (Hermes).

IRELAND senior men’s squad v Germany, Mannherimer, April 8-11:  D Ames (Beeston), J Bell (Lisnagarvey), J Bruton (YMCA), C Cargo (Reading), D Carlisle (Banbridge), K Carroll (Railway Union), P Caruth (Annadale), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), D Cole (Monkstown), B Doherty (Beerschot), DFitzgerald (GK, Monkstown), P Gleghorne (Instonians), R Gormley (Club De Campo), I Hughes (GK, Cookstown), J Jackson (Braxgata), J Lynch (unattached), P Maguire (Hurley), B McCandless (Banbridge), S O’Donoghue (UCD), I Sloan (Cookstown).

Schedule: Monday: Ireland versus Germany (senior), 3pm; Tuesday: Ireland versus Germany (U21), 3pm;  Wednesday: Ireland versus Germany (senior), 2pm.

As the players took to social networks to thank friends and family for their support, many apologised for the side’s sub-par performance and that unfortunately was the tale of their day as Belgium won out comfortably.

“The girls said after it was like living a nightmare,” said Audrey O’Flynn, the tournament’s top scorer with eight. “The match just flew by. They were just winning every 50-50 ball, I don’t know, we just never got in to it, never got going. Ah, it’s just so disappointing.

The sides line out in front of a packed Beerschot Hockey Club. Picture: Ian Hall/Hall's Pictorial

“We said before the match that we’ve put in two years of hard work for this but we have to show that on the pitch – and we didn’t show it today. We just didn’t perform in any area of the pitch,” she added.

Like their male counterparts, Ireland can nonetheless be justifiably proud of their efforts. They kicked the top-ranked side Spain to the kerb en route to a final few expected them to reach, and the unkind run-in which gave them their three toughest games in succession didn’t help their final chances.

Belgium, easily the fatest-improving side in international women’s hockey, proved to be inspired rather than intimidated by the 4,000-strong crowd that packed every available vantage point in sun-drenched Kontich, effectively wrapping the result up inside 19 minutes.

That’s how long it took Sofie Gierts to bag a hat-trick that owed equal parts to individual brilliance, a bizarre umpiring decision and poor Irish short corner defence.

Ireland were given a boost when O’Flynn – who shipped a heavy blow to the jaw against Spain that ruled her out of Friday night’s pool clash with Belgium – was passed fit to start, although Chloe Watkins missed out on making the 16 for the game meaning Ireland were without arguably their most skilful forward.

A nervy start saw both sides turn over the ball regularly but Belgium won the first corner of the game – a tame switch cleared bu Sinead McCarthy – while Ireland had a let-off when Charlotte de Vos, the hosts’ skipper, touched wide at the back post when seeming certain to score.

A diving Emma Clarke was too far behind Emma Smyth’s cross after an excellent right-wing raid from the Railway Union woman – Ireland’s best player on the day by a distance. But that was as good as it got for the green army, as Gierts’ 14th-minute opener sparked her 10-minute hat-trick that changed the game.

This one was worth of any final. A right-side cross looped high into the Irish circle without danger, Gierts controlled it at waist height and cracked a first-time half-volley past Emma Gray from the top of the circle.

Audrey O'Flynn: Top scorer at the Olympic qualifier with eight goals from five matches. Picture: Ian Hall/Hall's Pictorial

Just a few minutes later, McCarthy was turned over trying to run out of defence and Jill Boon hit the Irish circle. Three Irish defenders surrounded her with Gray well positioned, but Nikki Symmons swept her stick into Boon’s from the reverse side.

It was an ill-advised tackle that deserved a corner, but somehow a stroke was given and Gierts needed no second invitation, firing a top-quality effort high to the left.

Ireland had every right to feel hard done by at this stage but the killer third goal was all too preventable. Belgium worked the ball back to Gierts in the injector spot and with postwoman McCarthy unable either to intercept the pass or block the shot, the Belgian has an easy finish.

Despite this flurry of goals, Ireland had six corners in the first half but two switches failed to come off while the hosts sent suicide runners right down O’Flynn’s throat. She got one flick away with Nadine Khouzam saved, and Cliodhna Sargent battered the rebound over the bar.

The second half was a near non-event as Belgium played the numbers game to protect their lead and Ireland didn’t seem to have the tools to unlock the defence. The best chance fell to Nikki Evans, whose good baseline work saw her flick goalwards; a Belgian defender cleared it off the line and back towards her with danger, and althoug Evans popped it in, the corner had been given.

That was until 56 minutes when from Ireland’s seventh corner O’Flynn – who had earlier been in the wars yet again after making a superb diving tackle to block a reverse-stick shot – found the bottom corner despite not fully getting hold of her drag-flick.

Any hopes of an unlikely Irish comeback evaporated just 30 seconds later, when a loose ball in the circle fell to Erica Coppey, who volleyed home. Cruelly, replays suggested her shot was heading wide but Gray got a glove to it and that touch redirected it to the net.

That started the party for the Belgians – the 11th side to qualify for London 2012 – with the fight dying somewhat from the Irish, the final whistle likely coming as a relief on a frustrating end to a good week.

Coach Muller pulled no punches afterwards, admitting this had been a game too far for his charges.

Some of the green army supporters cheering on Ireland in the Belgian sun. Picture: Ian Hall/Hall's Pictorial

“Technically, we were not good enough today, didn’t score on our corners and couldn’t get back into the game and whenever we had a sight of it, we’d let in another one,” he said

“They were the better team, they were technically better, they scored at moments of ascendancy, we just couldn’t get a foothold in the game. We had moments, but it wasn’t enough. In the end you just haemorrhage energy, it’s very difficult to turn it around.

“There were one or two controversial decisions that went against us, the stroke was a big moment – no one would have complained if that was given as a penalty corner, there was surprise everywhere – and their last goal came off a player’s body. But they still deserved to win, they have been the best team at this event, and deserve to go to London. I congratulate them.”

“This Irish team has improved enormously to get to this stage but there wasn’t enough in us; not technically, not physically so we could never create that tension.”

With the conclusion of this Olympic cycle, Muller’s contract with the IHA has now expired and will subject to review in the coming months.

He brought about the introduction of the CPP which had helped elevate the training time and methods employed. It is quite the undertaking, changing methods in order to achieve the Olympic dream but one which he praised his charges for taking on.

“My word, the players have been unbelievable, the amount they have put into this programme has been exceptional – I’m really appreciative and respectful of their efforts,” he said.

“As a group of people they decided they wanted to chase something, it’s so commendable, they put everything they had in to it. It’s just a pity they didn’t get what they came for. But we can have no regrets, we gave it everything.”

IRELAND: Emma Gray (GK), Nikki Symmons, Sinead McCarthy, Cliodhna Sargent, Emma Smyth, Lizzie Colvin, Emma Clarke, Lisa Jacob, Alex Speers, Aine Connery, Audrey O’Flynn.

Reserves: Michelle Harvey, Shirley McCay, Nikki Daly, Nikki Evans, Miriam Crowley

Having seen the men’s side defeated by Korea in the final seconds of the Olympic qualification playoff in Dublin last week, fans will be hoping the women can go one better when they take on Belgium in the final of the Athlon FIH Road to London Olympic qualifier in Kontich, Belgium tomorrow (3.30pm, live on RTÉ 1/British Eurosport 2).

The protagonists having both beaten favourites and 1992 Olympic champions Spain in the pool stages to get here. Curiously, the sides first had to meet in a dead rubber pool stage clash last night, playing out a drab 1-1 draw where giving as little away as possible was the name of the game.

For what it’s worth, Chloe Watkins equalised in the first half after Ireland fell behind to a Jill Boon penalty stroke and Belgium looked the sharper in attack, but Ireland coach Gene Muller knows this barely qualified as a dress rehearsal.

Alex Speers: Irish captain will hope to lead by example by getting among the goals against Belgium. Picture: Stanislas Brochier

“We were fortunate to tie that match as Belgium had most of the possession,” he admitted. “It was a difficult match given the emotional high of the (3-2) win against Spain last night.”

The real test of Ireland’s ability to play with the intensity required at this level came against the Spanish, with Muller and captain Alex Speers terming it the biggest win of their Irish careers.

“It was the biggest game in the team’s history – but it’ll get upgraded on Sunday,” Muller said.

Muller is naturally hoping there’ll be no repeat of what befell the Irish men and his fellow South African, men’s coach Paul Revington.

“I just felt enormous compassion for them. As a coach, I’ve lost close games at the end, (but) I’ve never seen anything in hockey so heartbreaking. I really feel for them.”

To keep Irish hockey’s Olympic dream alive Ireland will need to have heeded the lessons from a disastrous 3-0 loss to the Belgians at last year’s Europeans, and shut down the dangerous quartet of Charlotte de Vos, Lieselotte van Lindt, Sofie Gierts and Stephanie de Groof.

In Ireland’s favour is the obvious improvements that have taken place in what is now a much more settled and cohesive panel. The first signs were shown with the consistency of results against higher-ranked opposition in tournaments in Argentina and South Africa, while the Spanish win was a significant major tournament landmark too.

Watkins’ goal yesterday was the first Belgium have conceded at this tournament, however, and Ireland will once again need Audrey O’Flynn (7 goals in 4 games) on the mark at corner time as well as showing the accuracy that led to Alex Speers’ winner against the Spanish.

Despite numerous supporters jumping on cheap flights to cheer on the green army, the majority will once again be huddled around a TV as RTE yesterday confirmed it has secured live broadcasting rights for the game.

**SFH will provide play-by-play Twitter updates at https://twitter.com/#!/agoodjournalist

The former UCC and Cork Harlequins defender hit her 6th and 7th goals of the tournament in the first half while Ireland battened down the hatches in the second period – catching the world number 11 Spaniards with a sucker punch on the break – to make it four wins from four.

They play hosts Belgium next on Saturday in what is now a dead rubber where both sides will give nothing away, as they meet again in Sunday’s final (3pm Irish time, live on British Eurosport 2).

Ireland coach Gene Muller congratulates Shirley McCay. Picture: Stanislas Brochier

O’Flynn’s first flick was high and handsome to give Ireland a perfect 5th minute lead but they were pegged back almost instantly as Barbara Malda reversed past Emma Gray at the second attempt.

Spain had the ball in the net once more from a corner – harshly awarded in the first instance as Carlota Petchame kicked the ball into Sinead McCarthy’s foot – but the claims for a goal were half-hearted with a foot the decision.

With Aine Connery and Nicci Daly putting in the hard time up top, Ireland went in 2-1 up at half-time via a low O’Flynn drag, but it was backs to the wall stuff from the Irish as Gray, Shirley McCay and Cliodhna Sargent all made vital interventions.

The latter cleared a Spanish corner to Nikki Symmons on 62 minutes, she found Nikki Evans who played in Speers, who saw her first effort saved by Lopez de Eguilaz but she calmly rolled the rebound into an unguarded goal.

Petchame got one back with four minutes to go and Irish celebrations were made to wait as O’Flynn took a hefty blow to the jaw when blocking Raquel Huertas’ shot 30 seconds from time.

But Speers says they were never going to give up on what was their biggest ever result.

“We’ve been in big matches but never come out with the result like this so it shows our character and how much we have put into this in the last 18 months.

“We’ve got to where we want to be but the job is only half done. We’ll enjoy the moment now but when we debrief, that’ll be it, finished and looking forward to the final.”

Defeating the 1992 Olympic champs and tournament top seeds was a different level to victories over minnows Russia, Mexico and France.

Alex Speers (right) and Nikki Evans celebrate Ireland's third and winning goal. Picture: Stanislas Brochier

The winner was always destined to join hosts Belgium in the final, a factor coach Muller said upped the ante for both sides.

“It was such a high pressure game with so much at stake. It was effectively a semi-final,” Muller said. “Whoever won it was going to play in the final but we stuck to the task, played really well in patches.

“Given the pressure and the stage, without a doubt it was the biggest result of my tenure and the most important game all of these players have played.”

*Based on a report from The Hook’s Stephen Findlater

Ireland: E Gray, C Sargent, E Smyth, E Clarke, A Speers, L Jacob, S McCarthy, A Connery, N Symmons, O’Flynn, Colvin
Subs: M Harvey, M Crowley, N Evans, S McCay, N Daly

Spain: M Lopez de Eguilaz, J Menendez, R YBarra, B Bonastre, M Prat, S Munoz, B Malda, P Sanchez, B Perez, G Comerma, G Oliva
Subs: M Lopez, C Petchame, R Huertas, O Pineiro, A Flores

Athlon Car Lease FIH Road to London, women’s Olympic qualifying tournament
Day four results: Ireland 3 (A O’Flynn 2, A Speers) Spain 2 (B Malda, C Petchame); Russia 5 Spain 1; Belgium 4 France 0
Standings: 1. Belgium 12pts (+21) 2. Ireland 12pts (+13) 3. Spain 6pts (+6) 4. Russia 6pts (-2) 5. France 0pts (-10) 6. Mexico 0pts (-28)

And even after one of the most heartbreaking moments of his sporting career, Jackson fought back the tears to offer a rousing rallying cry to team-mates and supporters.

The Belgium-based Belfast man had just seen his Olympic dream ended in cruel fashion on Sunday, as Ireland went down 3-2 to a Korean goal seconds from the final hooter in the final of the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London qualifier at Belfield.

“We’re devastated because we’ve got so much belief in what we’re trying to do, and where we’re going,” he told RTE Radio 1.

“If it’s not this week, and this Olympics, it’s going to be the next one. This team has taken a big step this week, and it’s never going to take a step backwards again. Our team are the strongest bunch, we’ll take it on the chin but we’re not going down.”

John Jackson: Keen to praise the Irish support. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Nam Yong Lee got the deftest of touches to a crashed free-in with just nine seconds on the clock to allow world number six Korea, who had twice rallied after go-ahead goals from Ireland’s Peter Caruth and Timmy Cockram, take their place at London 2012.

Ireland are ranked 10 places below them in 16th but have repeatedly shown over the past 18 months that they can mix it with the world’s best, with Jackson adamant his side could have claimed extra-time glory on Sunday.

“Definitely. We were so much stronger than them. Yes, they’re a good hockey side but we had dug deep,” he said. “I don’t know what happened at the end. We’ll obviously go back and, as we always say, do our analysis. We won’t let it happen again.”

Jackson played out of his skin at right-back for Ireland, claimed a couple of man of the match awards and was some pundits’ nominee for player of the tournament, but the Mossley man preferred to focus on the collective.

“I couldn’t give a monkeys about myself – I think this team has covered itself in glory,” he insisted. “We’ve performed, we’ve thrilled, we’ve dug deep like any Irish team is expected to do. There are personal accolades for me, but it’s the team that deserves all the accolades. They’re such a strong group.”

This is a young Ireland side with just three players the wrong side of 27. They’ll be hurting today after Sunday’s horrorshow but Jackson added that better things lie ahead for them.

“We’re staying together. Individuals might have different circumstances (regarding possible international retirements) but
there’s a belief in this squad, not just in the 18 at this tournament, but the 40-man panel, that we’re going places.”

As well as Ireland’s exploits on the pitch, much has been made in hockey circles of how the nine-day tournament at UCD captured the public’s imagination.

Belfield rocked to the beat of a sold-out crowd on four of the six match days amid unprecedented media attention, albeit without the desired outcome of an Olympic berth, with Jackson keen to praise the Irish support.

“I must pay credit to the crowd. As much as hopefully we entertained them, they pushed us on and on, and it wouldn’t have been half the tournament if it wasn’t for them.”