Ireland hockey: Mark Tumilty’s side clinch World Cup place with win over Wales

Ireland’s nerves were settled after just 47 seconds with a stunning opening goal. Jeremy Duncan’s diagonal ball into the circle was met on the reverse stick by Lynch, who lifted it high into the net and beyond Welsh goalkeeper Toby Reynolds-Cotterill.

These two sides had met twelve times before with Ireland winning eight of those encounters but Wales had won twice in a shootout in two of the biggest matches, a similar scenario four years ago with a World Cup place on the line, and in the final of the FIH Nations Cup Division 2 last year.

So while they dominated possession, Ireland were desperate for a second goal and it came in the 26th minute. Nelson held onto the ball before releasing Rowe who tucked it inside the post

The third goal for Ireland came just after half-time when Lynch turned in his second goal of the game from close range, converting the pass from Fergus Gibson.

With the Welsh discipline letting them down, Ireland took full advantage by adding a fourth when Nelson and Lynch played a one-two with the former applying the finish.