Limerick woman helps Ireland women's hockey side secure World Cup qualification

LIMERICK woman Róisín Upton played a starring role as the Ireland women's hockey team secured qualification for this year's FIH Hockey World Cup after defeating Japan 3-1 in a penalty shootout in Chile on Sunday night.

Having suffered a 1-0 defeat to Australia in their semi-final on Saturday, the Ireland side had one more chance to secure a place at via Sunday's third place play-off and they grabbed the opportunity, after their match with the Japanese finished 0-0 in regulation play.

Olympian Róisín Upton is a key member of the Ireland women's hockey squad, who have qualified for the World Cup for a third successive time. The Limerick woman has played well over 100 times for her country since winning her first cap in 2016.

Upton played football with Janesboro and Gaelic football with Mungret-St Paul’s before switching to hockey with Catholic Institute and Crescent College Comprehensive. 

The Limerick woman was a key member of the Ireland side which claimed silver at the 2018 World Cup and that competed at the 2020 Olympic Games. 

Ireland held their nerve in the shootout  at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago to book their ticket to the World Cup. The Irish side had defeated Japan 2-1 in their pool meeting with Japan ealier in the week on Tuesday.

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Ireland and Japan both scored their opening shootouts, with Hannah McLoughlin scoring Ireland’s second and Elizabeth Murphy saving Japan’s second. Emily Kealy was denied before Murphy pulled off another save. Jessica McMaster converted with Murphy providing the decisive save to book Ireland’s place at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.

Ireland will now turn their attention to their remaining FIH Pro League stages in June.

After a first quarter that belonged to Ireland in Santiago on Sunday, Japan picked up the pace in the second. The two teams were on par with each other, not allowing a single goal to be scored.

In the final two minutes, a scramble in front of the goal cage ended in a goal for Ireland, but upon an umpire self-referral, the call was amended to be a free hit out for Japan. With ten seconds remaining, Ireland won a set piece, but it was defended, and the match headed to shootouts.

Ireland goalkeeper Elizabeth Murphy was honored as player of the match. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Murphy.

“This group have worked so hard to get there, and it’s not only the 20 players here, it’s the 30 of the squad that are at home. We’ve pushed, we’ve had a tough year, and we’ve just kept building.”