Second half doubles from Audrey O’Flynn and Emma Smyth finally got Ireland over the hump of world number 30 side Mexico as they eventually ran out 5-0 winners against the minnows at the women’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Kontich, Belgium yesterday.
A third successive win, it means an Irish win on Thursday against top seeds Spain will guarantee a final berth on Sunday for the one Olympic place on offer. Hosts Belgium defeated the Spaniards with a second minute goal to put a huge dent in their plans.
On a day when Nikki Symmons became Ireland’s most capped player, surpassing Eimear Cregan’s mark of 171, the Mexican win was not a pretty one.
Ireland endured a sluggish 35 minutes, unable to get past Mexican netminder Ahidee Castillo who had been beaten 12 times against Belgium two days earlier.
But the goals began to flow after ten minutes of the second half when former UCC woman O’Flynn flicked in a short corner for the all-important lead.
And it eased the Irish tension as they added four further goals in the last ten minutes through Smyth, O’Flynn and Cliodhna Sargent, who notched a rare effort from play.
Ireland: P Smithwick (GK), C Sargent, E Smyth, E Clarke, N Evans, A Speers, S McCarthy, A Connery, N Symmons, A O’Flynn, L Colvin.
Subs: L Jacob, M Harvey, N Daly, S McCay, C Watkins
Athlon Car Lease FIH Road to London Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Ireland 5 (A O’Flynn 2, E Smyth 2, C Sargent) Mexico 0
Belgium 1 Spain 0;
Russia 3 France 2
Standings: 1. Belgium 9pts (+17) 2. Ireland 9pts (+12) 3. Spain 6pts (+7) 4. Russia 3pts (-6) 5. France 0pts (-6) 6. Mexico 0pts (-24)