The Irish women’s team’s Olympic Games hopes received a huge boost as they were confirmed as one of the host nations for the next phase of qualifiers for Tokyo.

An international summer of over 80 matches at each level tips off in earnest with perhaps the biggest of the challenge games, Olympic silver medalists Germany, coming to Pembroke tomorrow and Saturday.

Craig Fulton has expressed frustration that little movement has been made to support Irish athletes – both from hockey and beyond – who work full-time in addition to representing their country.

Kinsale man Conor Harte will become the fifth Irish man to reach 200 international caps this evening when he lines out to face Pakistan at Comber Road (7.30pm).

The second season of the EY Hockey League gets underway this weekend and 11 Olympians will feature, fresh from their Rio 2016 campaign.

“Bloody delighted!” That was David Harte’s simple assessment as Ireland claimed their first win in an Olympic hockey tournament since 1908 in helter-skelter fashion, seeing off Canada 4-2.

Ireland 2 Germany 3

One hundred and eight years — that’s how long it’s been since an Irish hockey team competed in the Olympic Games, a drought which is finally set to end this summer.

EuroHockey Championships semi-final: Netherlands 1, Ireland 0

Hockey: Ireland 4 Malaysia 1

Ireland’s men made a huge statement as they began their Olympic qualification campaign with an 8-0 rout of Chile at the World League 2 in San Diego.

UCC hope a historic day at the Mardyke turns out to be one to remember for the right reasons as both their men’s and women’s first teams host Irish Hockey League opposition.

Ireland pushed world number five England hard, but ultimately fell in a shoot-out after drawing yesterday’s men’s Investec Cup final 2-2 in London.

Three Rock Rovers bridged a 40-year gap to win the men’s Irish Senior Cup at Belfield yesterday, seeing off Pembroke Wanderers on penalty strokes.

Ireland 0 Japan 3

Cork Church of Ireland’s miserable recent Irish Senior Cup record doesn’t look any better today as they recover from a shock 4-1 loss away to Kilkeel.

Six points and a goal difference of plus 17 from two games represents a decent weekend’s work for Ireland’s senior men at the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London Olympic qualifier, but they will get a first real test of their mettle against Korea tomorrow night (6pm).

Ireland 12 Ukraine 0

Ireland 6 Russia 1

After a spectacular 2011, Ireland’s men will hope they can continue the momentum and qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time.

The next week will be a make-or-break one for the Irish senior men’s hockey squad as they bid to qualify for the London Olympics.

PAUL REVINGTON is refusing to get carried away despite watching his ever-improving Ireland senior men’s side rout Russia 8-2 to retain A division status at the EuroHockey Nations Championships in Germany.

IRISH hockey was yesterday celebrating one of the most famous results in its recent history, after the senior men’s side routed world number six Korea 5-1 at the INSEP Five Nations in Paris yesterday.

IAN SLOAN gets another chance to continue his remarkable development into a top-class international hockey star after he was named in the Irish squad for next week’s INSEP Five Nations in Paris.

IRELAND all but assured themselves of a UCD Nations Cup final place as they hammered France 6-1 in Belfield last night, rounding off a miserable few days for the French.

CORK HARLEQUINS and UCC face season-defining clashes tomorrow as they bid to progress to the last four of the Irish Hockey League.

THE hockey season kicks back into gear tomorrow with the Irish Senior Cup looming into view for most clubs, after an enforced month-long absence.

JASON LYNCH faces the novel prospect of lining out against former colleagues on his old stomping ground for the second time in a week, as he prepares to don the colours of Ulster at the senior hockey interprovincials at Garryduff in Cork this weekend.

HOCKEY fans in Cork are spoilt for choice this weekend as eight of the country’s top sides do battle on Leeside in round three of the Irish Hockey League.

DAVE PASSMORE yesterday stepped down as the Irish senior men’s hockey coach but will take on the full-time role of high performance director, as part of the Irish Hockey Association’s (IHA) decision to split the roles.

IRELAND earned the bronze medal and some consolation for their failure to qualify for the Beijing Olympics with a 2-1 win over Canada at the University of Victoria yesterday.

THE Irish men’s international hockey season has a tough opening weekend with three tests against Scotland at Instonians’ newly laid water-based pitch in Belfast.