TOKYO, July 31 (Reuters) – Debutant Ireland suffered an emotional setback after losing 2-0 to Great Britain in five Olympics on Saturday after dropping out of the women’s ice hockey tournament at the Tokyo Games.

“I was devastated. I am proud of the girls and their efforts, ”said goalkeeper Ayesha McFarlane in tears.

“I can not blame anything, I am proud to wear a green shirt. I was devastated that our journey now had to end like this group. ”

“I think we still have a lot, but yes, it’s hard right now.”

Ireland need a win to advance to the knockout stage.

Prior to Tokyo, Ireland had never qualified for the Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament, which was added to the game schedule in 1980.

The Green Army lost qualification for the 2012 and 2016 games.

Disappointed head coach Sean Dancer said the team needs to move forward.

“That’s it,” he said.

Veteran Chloe Watkins also said it was hard to contain everything.

“Of course we want more from this tournament,” she said.

“But at the end of the day – in a few days, in a few weeks – we look back and see what we did.

“We are here at the Olympics. It is a great achievement for us as a nation and as individual athletes.”

McPherson said he did not know what to expect when the team got home.

“I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t expect to finish it so quickly, ”she said with a laugh.

“I know family and friends will be proud of us. I hope Ice Hockey in Ireland is still on the train.

Report by Daniel Lusing, edited by Pritha Sarkar

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