World League Round 2 - Quarter-Finals Ireland 2 Lithuania 0

Ireland took a big step toward progressing their Olympic qualification ambitions with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Lithuania in Belfield from the UDG Healthcare World League Round Two.

The win sets up a semi-final date with Belarus where a win would ensure they earn a ticket to round three of the World League where the tickets to Rio in 2016 will be doled out.

Two first half goals from set pieces - one from Nikki Evans, the other from captain Megan Frazer - killed off what proved a low-key battle as the Lithuanians intention to put numbers behind the ball made for a tie low on goalmouth action.

In the early phases, the containment policy meant space in the attacking circle was limited for Ireland but they did run up a series of penalty corners. Gillian Pinder, Frazer and Emma Smyth all had pot-shots before Cliodhna Sargent saw a hit taken off the line by Simona Grubliauskaite.

They eventually broke through in the 20th minute from the fifth corner, Sargent diverting play to the right post where Evans slid in for her second goal of the tournament.

Another penalty corner forged number two as Shirley McCay's sweep bounced off a defensive foot on the line. Frazer rolled home with little fuss for a 2-0 half-time lead.

Thereafter, Lithuania did not have a shot in anger, meaning there was little tension to the tie while Ireland were thwarted by a jam-packed defence in the second half despite numerous attacks, an exercise in frustration.

Nonetheless, the semi-final berth was assured and now Darren Smith's side face Belarus in the semi-finals of the competition. Three of those sides will win a place at World League round three.

Speaking afterwards, coach Darren Smith said it was a frustrating game but the result was the all important factor.

"Lithuania slowed the game up and we obliged a bit," he said. "We needed to try and get out of that hole and try and quicken things up, play the game with a bit more aggression.

"In terms of the result, 2-0 is great as is being in a semi-final. In terms of watching the game, it had that slow tentative feeling and it was hard for us to get out of second gear and was a tough watch."

As for the game against Belarus in the semi-final, Smith is expecting a much more open tussle. They beat Ukraine 5-1 to reach the final four.

"We played Belarus twice in 2013 and I think they have gotten better and better. They finished strong against Ukraine, have some dangerous forwards and good distributors from the back.

"We look forward to matching up against them on Saturday for a good, hard game to hopefully progress out of World League 2."

Ireland: E Gray, C Sargent, E Smyth, N Evans, S McCay, M Frazer, A Connery, N Daly, H Matthews A O'Flanagan, G Pinder
Subs: N Carroll, C Watkins, L Colvin, K Mullan, K Dillon, A Meeke, A McFerran

Lithuania: V Vileikyte, E Kalinauskaite, U Chmeliauskaite, K Poskute, D Grigiene, S Grubliauskaite, J Juodyte, S Jakovlevaite, S Adomaviciute, R Zukaite, R Petrauskaite
Subs: I Kenstaviciute, A Garbataviciute, U Aucynaite, E Nomeikaite, E Malyseva, I Paulaviciute, O Maksimovic