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Bray-born Kavanagh wins hockey World Cup gold with Australia

Fergus Kavanagh of Australia (centre) in action against Joaquin Menini (left) and Pablo Trevisan of Argentina in thier World Cup semi-final in The Hague. Kavanagh, born in Bray, Co Wicklow, went on to win gold in the final, the Aussies hammering the host nation 6-1. Photograph: Evert-Jan Daniels/EPA

Mon Jun 16 2014 - 01:00

Bray-born Fergus Kavanagh helped Australia land the men's hockey World Cup in the Hague yesterday afternoon in incredible fashion, his side winning the final 6-1 against the host nation.

The defender moved down under as a child but still has family links with Bray hockey club, while his brother Tom attempted to make the Ireland senior panel in 2012, attending trials in the lead-up to that Olympic qualification process.

Early deficit

It was the 29-year-old Fergus’s ’s second World Cup gold as his side bounced back from an early deficit.

Jeroen Hertzberger had given the Dutch that lead with a delightful strike but a trio of Chris Ciriello penalty corners along with Kieran Govers’ thumping shot, Glenn Turner’s tip-in and a crowning sixth goal from Aussie great Jamie Dwyer turned the tide emphatically.

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Ulster men – and former Ireland internationals – Mark Gleghorne and Iain Lewers missed out on medals as their adopted England lost the third/fourth place play-off 2-0 to to Argentina.

In Saturday’s women’s final, the Dutch added to their Olympic gold with a comfortable 2-0 win over Australia. Irishwoman Carol Metchette was video umpire for the final.

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