Ireland head coach Graham Shaw: “A big learning curve today and maybe a step too far against an out-standing side but we can be so proud to stand here and say we came second in the world and when the girls reflect back they will look on an astonishing, remarkable achievement.”
“Hopefully we can improve on this and we’ve got a big future ahead of us in our sport – both men and women – because there is a lot of talent in Ireland.”
“I hope we get the recognition it deserves and the girls are rewarded for a world silver medal.
“We talk about performance and we talk about trying to reach goals and they’ve absolutely smashed them out of the park. I think they deserve to be rewarded now and hopefully we can have some conversations and bring the sport to a new level.”
Sally Walton, London 2012 bronze medallist on BBC Radio 5 live
“It isn’t that Ireland played badly it is that the well-oiled machine that are the Dutch just absolutely steamrollered them.
“A little bit of fatigue potentially, but that’s going to affect both teams. Take nothing away from the Dutch, they have played sublimely in this final.
“The girls are obviously going to be disappointed for Ireland, they play the sport because they love it and because they want to win, but when the disappointment of just this result goes out of the way they’ll realise that they’re champions no matter what.”
