A DUNFERMLINE Water Polo Club star was thrilled to play her part in putting Great Britain "on the map" on the European and world stage.

Niamh Moloney said helping the senior women's team to a seventh place finish at last month's European Water Polo Championships, and qualification for the World Championships, was a "massive" achievement.

The efforts of the 21-year-old and her team-mates, who were part of the first senior GB women's team to play on the European stage in a decade, saw them rewarded with a place at this month's World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

It is the first time that GB are participating at that level in 11 years, and Niamh is one of 13 players who are aiming to better that team's final finishing position of 13th.

A top three finish in their section will guarantee a place in the top 12 teams at the tournament, and a win over South Africa today (Thursday) in their final match in Group D will secure it.

On Sunday, GB opened their campaign with a 22-19 loss to 2023 World Championship bronze medallists Italy, before losing 20-5 to Canada, ever-presents at the tournament, on Tuesday.

With South Africa having also lost their opening two matches, the winner of the final match will place third in their group.

Niamh, who has been involved in both matches so far, told Press Sport before the tournament about her experiences at the Europeans, of which she said: "It was great for us really.

"I don't think any of us expected it to be honest, but we're really happy to have achieved it, and it's a big thing as well for water polo in Great Britain now because it's put us on the map.

"It's a massive achievement, especially as the last time we qualified for a senior Europeans was over 10 years ago. To then get the result of seventh, and qualify for the worlds, is probably the biggest achievement in the last 10 years. It's really big.

"We were hoping for top eight, but it just depended on who we'd be playing. It worked out in our favour so it was a massive achievement to get seventh."