Ireland set up quarter-final with Lithuania after Turkey shoot

Naomi Carroll scores four and Emma Smyth grabs a hat-trick in Belfield rout

Emma Smyth scored her first international hat-trick in Ireland’s 13-0 defeat of Turkey in the World League Round 2 match at Belfield. Photograph: Inpho
Emma Smyth scored her first international hat-trick in Ireland’s 13-0 defeat of Turkey in the World League Round 2 match at Belfield. Photograph: Inpho

Ireland 13 Turkey 0

Ireland proved far too strong for Turkey to complete their UDG Healthcare World League Round 2 with a huge win, with Naomi Carroll netting four times at Belfield.

Emma Smyth weighed in with her first international hat-trick while Megan Frazer scored twice with Katie Mullan, Anna O'Flanagan, Nikki Evans and Aine Connery also chipping in.

It sets up a quarter-final date with Lithuania on Thursday after the tournament hosts completed their group phase with three wins from three in this section of the Olympic qualifying process.

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Mullan got the scoring underway on four minutes with a powerful backhand shot to the top corner after she was afforded a wealth of space in the circle.

Carroll got her first in the ninth minute, walking the ball home as the signs already began to look ominous for a big score.

Smyth then powered home for 3-0 before the end of the first quarter. From there, it was target practice with five more arriving before half-time.

Carroll completed her hat-trick two minutes into the second half to make it 9-0 as the run continued while Smyth’s third closed out the victory with five minutes remaining.

It puts Ireland in good shape for their date with Lithuania. Win that and they will have two shots at reaching the top three of the competition which means they will progress to World League 3 where the Olympic places are decided.

IRELAND: A McFerran, C Sargent, E Smyth, S McCay, M Frazer, A Connery, N Daly, H Matthews, K Mullan, A O'Flanagan, G Pinder. Subs: N Evans, N Carroll, C Watkins, L Colvin, K Dillon, A Meeke, E Gray.

TURKEY: S Guzeller, K Guzelal, C Baser, O Calayir, M Koksal, S Alpakan, A Esen, P Kucukkoc, L Ozturk, E Bahcivan, F Gultekin. Subs: P Yilmaz, S Ozdere, O Yaldiz, D Aksoy, E Iskender, M Oymal, S Turker