Deirdre Duke hails Ireland support as Green Army seek Olympic hockey ticket to Paris in showdown with Spain
Sarah Hawshaw of Ireland, hidden, celebrates with teammates after scoring her side's first goal during the FIH Women's Olympic Hockey Qualifying Tournament Pool A win over South Korea at Campo de Hockey Hierba Tarongers in Valencia, Spain. Photo by Manuel Queimadelos/Sportsfile
The Women’s World Cup may be old news in Deirdre Duke’s eyes, but she admits that there is “certain kind of feel” to Ireland women’s progression to the Olympic qualifying semi-finals.
On Thursday (from 11.30am Irish time), they aim to beat Spain for the first time since the 2018 World Cup’s dramatic semi-final shoot-out success.
As in London, messages have flooded into the camp and flights are being booked to make it over for Ireland’s Olympic quest. Victory will book their ticket to Paris, defeat will see the Green Army into the winner takes all play-off match.
“We are getting texts from people flying over for the game and the numbers could double,” said Duke. “They have been on a journey with us for many years, well before anyone was at our games. We are repaying a lot of years in the dark I suppose.
“It really does feel like a home crowd. We have an incredible amount of support and the numbers seem to be rising.”
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Ireland have played the hosts 25 times since Duke first came onto the international stage, while the Green Army have won just seven times. The world No.8 side are also unbeaten in six matches against Ireland since 2018.
Duke, though, says there are hallmarks from their World Cup run. She admitted: “There is a certain kind of feel to it, but it doesn’t really change what we do or how we approach the game.
“If there was nobody there we would put out a similar performance. But it adds that extra oomph when you hear the crowd and you see familiar faces, coaches or those we played with over the years. They are a very good outfit, but there is nothing to fear in that Spanish squad.”
Duke scored twice in Ireland’s three unbeaten group games. In their 3-1 win over Korea she was diving in the D but was content to score from a lovely acute angle on the reverse.
“Unfortunately the throwing about didn’t come off but once you put yourself in the mix it’s half the battle," she said
“For us it’s being present in what we’re doing and sticking together is a huge part of who we are as a squad. We are in a really good place in our ability to stay connected.”
Sarah Hawkshaw, Ireland’s stand out against South Korea, concurred. “We did a great job and when we stick together and are compact we can do anything really," she said.
Duke is the only ‘legal head’ in the current squad from the five who lined up in the 2018 World Cup team, while the Dubliner is a few weeks away from qualifying as a solicitor.
She said: “Hopefully if we take care of business over the coming days I will be back to finish off my last few months as a trainee and stay with my firm. They have been supportive of me and hopefully that’s where I will be with an Olympics to play in the middle of it all.”
