Ireland teams triumph in World Cup qualifiers

Ireland's men and women both booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIH Hockey World Cup qualifiers in Chile with victories on Tuesday.

The men recorded a record 6-1 victory over Korea to make it two wins from two in Pool B.

Lee Cole and Louis Rowe both scored twice with Greg Williams and Matthew Nelson also on target.

Early pressure was rewarded when Williams flicked home from a penalty corner just before the end of the first quarter, but there was still time for Korea to equalise with a penalty corner of their own.

This didn't prove much of a set-back for the Irish who had the opportunity to retake the lead from a penalty in the second quarter, awarded when Sean Murray was adjudged to have been impeded and Cole tucked away the award.

A third arrived moments later when Nelson turned home from Jeremy Duncan's shot at the corner to strike at the back post for Matthew Nelson to deflect in for Ireland's third.

Ireland pushed on with Ben Walker denied by Korea goalkeeper Jaehan Kim, while Greg Williams flicked wide from a penalty corner.

Their persistence would pay off as Rowe finished well and a fifth followed soon after through Rowe who turned home after Alistair Empey's initial effort hit the post.

Jeremy Duncan was then denied by the post, while Rowe was twice denied his hat-trick by Kim in goal, but the sixth would come through Cole from a penalty corner.

With a place in the semi-finals guaranteed, Ireland will now bid for top spot in the group when they face Poland tomorrow at 12:00 GMT.

A semi-final win or victory in the third/fourth place play-off will seal their place in August's World Cup which is being held by the Netherlands and Belgium.

Later on Tuesday, the women made it double Irish delight with a 2-1 win over Japan to seal their place in the last four.

Both sides had their chances in the first quarter but the game remained scoreless.

Ireland increased the pressure in the second and were rewarded from a penalty corner when Roisin Upton found Niamh Carey at the back post to finish.

They would double the lead before half-time when Katie Larmour won a penalty corner which led to Caoimhe Perdue flicking home to make it 2-0 at the break.

Katie Mullan went close to extending the lead in the third quarter but her effort was well saved.

Japan began to exert some pressure with Ireland goalkeeper Elizabeth Murphy called into action, while at the other end, Mullan again forced a save forced a save.

Ireland were dealt a blow when Upton was shown a yellow card but they dealt with the temporary numerical disadvantage well, winning a penalty corner which Charlotte Beggs couldn't convert.

Japan grabbed a lifeline five minutes from time from a penalty corner and they pressed for an equaliser with a couple of efforts whistling past the post, but Ireland held on for the win which sees them through to the last four with a game to spare.

They will face Canada in their final Pool B game on Thursday [18:00 GMT] with a win securing top spot.