Consistency the consolation after 'gutting' FIH Women's Nations Cup final shootout defeat for Ireland - Sarah Hawkshaw

Ireland's shootout defeat to New Zealand in the FIH Women's Nations Cup final on Sunday was "gutting" but the consistency the team found throughout the tournament in Chile was one of the positive takeaways, according to captain Sarah Hawkshaw.

The Irish team won all three of their pool games against Scotland, New Zealand and South Korea, before reaching the decider in Santiago following a semi-final victory over USA.

The final hurdle, a reunion with New Zealand, proved insurmountable however, despite a late equalising goal by Katie Mullan which forced a shootout, as the Black Sticks overcame Ireland on penalties and gained promotion to the 2025–26 Women's FIH Pro League, the top tier of world hockey.

Hawkshaw, who succeeded Mullan as Ireland captain in December, was one of the scorers in the shootout which New Zealand won 4-2.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Darren Frehill in the aftermath of the defeat, Hawkshaw outlined the mixed emotions the squad would be feeling in the long run, with disappointment the primary emotion right now in spite of the evidence of progress made from earlier in the tournament.

"We are very disappointed with the final of the game there," the 29-year-old said.

"We came into this tournament really hammering on about being able to deliver consistent performances and it's something that we really believe we've achieved throughout the tournament.

"To only have conceded two goals in a tournament and then lose out on a shootout in the end, it is gutting.

"And even how the game ended with the amount of chances that we had to score, look we had the opportunities to win it and it just wasn't our day."

But casting an eye ahead to future challenges, Hawkshaw added that lessons would be learned and confidence absorbed from