O’Flynn helps Ireland edge closer to dreamland

Audrey O’Flynn’s remarkable hot streak from short corners helped Ireland to a 3-2 win over Spain in Belgium that Gene Muller and Alex Speers termed the best of their Irish careers, moving the green army to within 70 minutes of Olympic qualification. 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).

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.

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)