TEAM IRELAND play on Friday for a bronze medal at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Italy.
A heavy 5-0 defeat yesterday by North Korea means that Ireland will face Russia or Japan in Benevento, with a bronze medal at stake.
Greencastle’s Gemma McGuinness – who plays for Derry City – came on as a half-time substitute for Ireland in tehri semi-final in Stadio Arechi.
The Ulster University student has featured off the bench for Ireland in three of their fixtures.
Zoe McGlynn and Zoe Green are on the Irish panel but have yet to taste action.
Containing a large representation of their Senior team who are ranked 13th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Koreans proved to be too good for an Irish side who had been the lowest ranked University team in the tournament.
Ireland fell behind on fifteen minutes when Hae Yon Ri’s cross found Jong Sim Wi seven yards out and despite Amanda McQuillan pulling off a quick reflex save to deny the Korean, Wi tapped the ball in from close range.
Ri doubled the lead for North Korea just before the half-hour mark when Wi returned the favour and slipped in her team-mate to slot the ball past McQuillan at the near post.
Ri got her second goal just on the hour mark before Wi added further pain to the Irish when her effort took a wicked deflection and flew past McQuillan.
Yon Jon finished proceedings with a free kick on the edge of the box that flew into the top corner.
