Draws all round in Pool C means Ireland and Spain are in pole position to qualify directly for the women’s 2025 EuroHockey Championship while Italy and Scotland need a result to avoid next summer’s qualifiers.

The latter pair shared a 1-1 draw in the opening game of Pool C with the game defined by goals within a minute of each other. 

The Scots did have a run of penalty corners which Lucia Caruso did brilliantly to keep out but they were caught out when Lara Oviedo turned over the ball on the left sideline. She shovelled the ball to Antonella Bruni who exchanged passes with Emilia Munitis who poked home.

The advantage was short-lived, however, with Amy Costello scoring almost immediately with a powerful slap from the top of the circle. 

It meant a first point for both sides in the group, now knowing they must win in their final game to avoid playing in next summer’s EuroHockey qualifiers.

That is because Ireland and Spain drew 2-2, a result which lifts both sides to four points going into the last games of the pool.

The Green Army went in front 1-0 via a Sarah Macauley tip from a penalty corner move but Spain swapped the lead with goals in quick succession from Candela Mejias and Belén Iglesias. 

Both were from set pieces, Mejias from the injector position, Iglesias from a deflection in mid-circle. Róisín Upton, though, levelled through a drag-flick to tie the game.

And they went close to winning it when Naomi Carroll’s touch was brilliantly denied by Maria Ruiz. Ireland face Italy on Friday with Spain taking on Scotland.