Ireland women’s hockey team take step closer to Rio with Lithuania win

Ireland 2 Lithuania 0

It was scarcely entertaining but Ireland got the job done and took another step towards Olympic qualification with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Lithuania in Belfield yesterday in the UDG Healthcare World League Round Two.

The win sets up a semi-final date with Belarus, where success would ensure a ticket to round three of the World League, with tickets to Rio in 2016 on the table.

Two first-half goals from set pieces – one from Nikki Evans, the other from captain Megan Frazer – killed off what proved a low-key battle as the Lithuanians intention to put numbers behind the ball made for little goalmouth action.

Their containment policy meant they did not garner a single circle penetration and only committed two players to their fleeting attacks.

Ireland broke through in the 20th minute from the fifth corner, Sargent diverting play to the right post where Evans slid in.

Another penalty corner forged number two as Shirley McCay’s sweep bounced off a defensive foot on the line. Frazer rolled home with little fuss for a 2-0 half-time lead.

Coach Darren Smith said it was a frustrating game but the result was the all important factor.“Lithuania slowed the game up and we obliged a bit,” he said. “You come up against teams like that and the way to do a job on them is to up the tempo and take a chance.”