HOCKEY/Women's World Cup QualifierIreland - 2 Italy - 1: A last-gasp goal from Caitriona Carey yielded a rather fortunate victory for Ireland over their hosts at the World Cup qualifying tournament to keep the dream alive.

But fate dealt Ireland a cruel hand when Jenny McDonough was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured jaw after she was struck by the ball early in the second half. With reserve defender Fiona Ferguson returning home to get married tomorrow, Ireland will be down to 14 outfield players for the crucial play-off phase.

The win, though, combined with Korea's victory over New Zealand, guaranteed Ireland a top four finish in the pool and a place in the fifth-eighth place play-offs, regardless of the outcome of today's final pool games.

A win over Azerbaijan, however, would leave them third in the pool and almost certainly ensure a potentially less difficult first cross-over match against France on Thursday. China need only a draw against the French today to finish third in Pool A.

Things did not look good for the Irish cause when they trailed to a 48th-minute Francesca Faustini goal.

But two goals in the final quarter from former camogie players Eimear Cregan and Carey turned the tide. It was a scenario which had looked unlikely earlier as the Irish looked both tired and, on occasion, nervous.

Captain Linda Caulfield was, once again, in inspired form in midfield. "When Caitriona scored I asked the bench how long there was left and it was six seconds - amazing," she said.

"By the end of the week we will have played four games in five or six days. We looked a bit tired out there, but credit to the girls for their staying-power."

The first half saw Ireland on the back foot despite a bright start in which a couple of half-chances went abegging. But gradually the Italians seized the initiative and Angela Platt, in goal, had to be alert from time to time without being in real difficulty.

But Ireland's normally impregnable defence was breached in the 48th minute when Faustini was allowed to drift past several players unchallenged before scoring with a low shot.

With the game seemingly slipping away, Ireland began to play with more urgency and Cregan plundered the equaliser when she swept home Nikki Symmons's pass 10 minutes later.

Then with the clock running down, after a couple of unrewarded penalty corners, Clare Parkhill joined the attack from the right back position and crossed the ball for Carey to control it on the reverse before planting it into the net from close-range to score her first goal for her country.

IRELAND: A Platt; C Parkhill, C O'Brien, J Orbinson, F Connery; C Carey, L Caulfield (capt), B McKeever; J McDonough, N Symmons, E Cregan. Subs: S Beaney, C McKean, K Elkin.