The Irish men's hockey team will be going to the Olympics for the first time in 108 years after Australia beat New Zealand 3-2 in the Oceania Cup last night. Sound lads, those Australians.
Given that Australia had already qualified it left Ireland as the next time to book their place in Rio.
Congratulations to @IreMenHockey who qualified for the @Rio2016_en hockey event: https://t.co/mbooKBYw8D #GoingToRio pic.twitter.com/oQGZ2U4xhK
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) October 25, 2015
It's the first time the hockey team has qualified since 1908 and the first time any Irish 'team' had qualified for an Olympics since 1948. Their coach Craig Fulton told Newstalk:
Firstly commiserations to New Zealand and congratulations to Australia. We have secured our spot at Rio 2016! It probably hasn’t sunk in yet but we’re over the moon.
It’s testament to what the guys have achieved this year on and off the field.
Nice to have some good news in a bad week for Irish sport.
