Ireland are on the verge of achieving their best-ever finish at a Hockey World Cup after a 7-4 win against Malaysia. The victory in the crossover Pool H match moves them closer to securing a 9th/10th place play-off.
Jonny Lynch was a standout performer, scoring a hat-trick in the high-scoring encounter. Matthew Nelson added two goals, with Johnny McKee and Ben Walker also finding the net for Ireland.
The win places Mark Tumilty’s side three points ahead of South Africa, who beat France 3-1. Ireland's goal difference is also superior by seven goals. Ireland will face France on Sunday, with South Africa playing Malaysia.
Irish coach Mark Tumilty acknowledged the quick turnaround after a loss to Spain, stating, “For any side, a turnaround that quickly was going to be a challenge.” He added, “Actually, we probably played some really good hockey at times.”
The upcoming game against France is crucial, as the two nations are vying for a key position in the world rankings. This ranking will determine seedings for next year’s EuroHockey championships in London, which could impact qualification for the LA28 Olympic qualifiers.