Northern Ireland book netball World Cup spot despite missing automatic qualification

Northern Ireland's netball team, ranked 15th in the world, delivered a commanding 73-50 win over the Republic of Ireland in their final World Cup qualifying match. However, that result alone did not guarantee them one of the two available qualification spots, as the outcome also depended on a separate fixture played later the same day.

A tense wait for confirmation

Scotland went on to edge past Wales in a close contest, and that narrow victory settled the qualification picture: both Scotland and Northern Ireland secured their places at the World Cup, while Wales, ranked ninth in the world, missed out despite their higher ranking.

Northern Ireland player O'Hanlon described the day as a rollercoaster, noting that after a hard-fought win over the Republic of Ireland, the team still had to watch the Scotland-Wales match from the stands, unable to influence the result, which she called a nerve-wracking experience.

From experience to expectation

O'Hanlon captained the side seven years ago when Northern Ireland finished 10th at the World Cup. Now 31, she said the squad's ambitions have shifted for this tournament in Sydney, aiming to compete for results rather than simply gain exposure at the top level.

She contrasted the upcoming tournament with the previous edition held in Liverpool, which benefited from strong home support, noting that Sydney is currently regarded as the heart of world netball and home to the sport's strongest league. According to O'Hanlon, the tournament promises to be a great spectacle, and the squad intends to go there not just to learn but to actively compete and pursue wins.