The Irish women's hockey team came up just short in their bid to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.
Sean Dancer's side lost 2-1 to Great Britain at the third/fourth-place play-off in Spain.
Great Britain went into the game having qualified for every Olympics except 2004. Ireland's women, on the other hand, had only ever qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo, which were deferred until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ireland's most recent victory over Great Britain was an unofficial international warm up match ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in Belfast during 2020 when travel was restricted.
In major tournaments where the caps counted as did the ranking points, Great Britain always enjoyed the upper hand. This was the context as Ireland entered the win or bust final on Saturday afternoon in Valencia, Spain.
Ireland started well, but Great Britain were dangerous on the counterattack. Indeed, the first clear-cut scoring opportunity fell to the 2016 gold medallists.
Katie Robertson almost opened the scoring for Great Britain. She lobbed McFerren but Charlotte Beggs cleared it off the line. Her second effort was hit away by McFerren's block in the 8th minute. Ireland dominated possession in the closing stages of the first quarter, Ireland 0 Great Britain 0.
Great Britain took the lead in the 18th minute after a counterattack into the Irish D they were awarded a penalty corner. Sarah Jones deflected the ball past Ayeisha McFerren, Ireland 0 Great Britain 1.
Great Britain had the better of the possession for the rest of the half save for a breakaway by Katie Mullan whose cross deflected skywards was deemed dangerous and ended up with a free hit out of their own D for Great Britain half time score was Ireland 0 Great Britain 1. The main feature of the third quarter from an Irish point of view was that Deirdre Duke left the field through injury.
Sarah Jones crossed a ball later in the quarter which Ayeisha McFerren had to kick clear. Ireland were awarded a penalty corner in the 41st minute. Ireland were only able to win a long corner from the penalty corner. Ireland had a reasonable amount of possession in the third quarter and were on the attack when the end of third quarter hooter sounded. Score remained Ireland 0 Great Britain 1.
Katie Robertson got the first Great Britain goal of her career to put Great Britain 2-0 ahead in the 46th minute. Ireland withdrew goalkeeper McFerren in favour of an extra outfield player with 6minutes to go.
Best chance fell to Sarah Torrans who shot wide. Ireland were awarded a penalty corner which Great Britain referred to the video umpire. The umpire upheld the decision, and they lost their video referral. Heesh saved from McLoughlin. Ireland were looking for another penalty corner which was referred to the video umpire by Ireland, the penalty corner was awarded and Heesh saved and also blocked the rebound from Niamh Carey.
In the final minute, Ireland tried to get on the scoreboard. In the last seconds, Ireland looked for a penalty corner and it was referred to the video umpire. Ireland were awarded the penalty corner.
McLoughlin's first effort hit a foot and Ireland were awarded another penalty corner. Ireland scored through Hannah McLoughlin with the last hit of the game to make it Ireland 1 Great Britain 2, but the clock had run out and so did Ireland's Olympic hopes.
