Ireland heartbreak as Spain win FIH Nations Cup final

Ireland 0-2 Spain

It was heartbreak for the Ireland women's hockey team on Sunday as they were beaten in the FIH Nations Cup final by hosts Spain.

While it was a better showing than their Pool A opening match when Ireland were on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline, they ultimately came up short and it is Spain who claim the only spot available in the FIH Pro League for the 2024-25 season.

The decisive goals occurred in the second quarter. Liz Murphy denied Marta Segu and made another decent save, but it was not a surprise when Spain took the lead. Lala Vidosa sent a pass to Patricia Alvarez who sped down the right and fired in a shot that deflected into the goal off Murphy's pad.

The Irish side then had a purple patch. Sarah Hawkshaw, scorer of two goals in the semi-final win over New Zealand, won a penalty corner in the 27th minute. But the drag flick was blocked.

Niamh Carey had a shot blocked by Clara Perez a minute later. Spain countered through Begonia Garcia who had a shot saved by Murphy and won a penalty corner.

And it was from that penalty corner that the Spanish increased their lead in the final seconds of the first half when Lola Rieira converted the penalty corner to make it 2-0 at the break.

Speaking after the match, Ireland captain Katie Mullan said: "I'm incredibly proud of the Green Army, of the fight we put in, not just this week but over the past couple of months.

"It's been an incredibly tough couple of months, both on and off the pitch. And what the girls have done, the resilience they've shown, is just an incredible story for sport really.

"I hope that we've inspired young people so that if they maybe don't achieve their dream, that they get back up and go again. We'll be back again."

Ireland: Liz Murphy (GK),