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

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.

THE days where an Irish club might be seen at the finals weekend of the biggest club competition in world hockey might be some way off yet, but there will nonetheless be some local interest as the EuroHockey League draws to a close this weekend.

ULSTER man Chris Cargo made his mark on European club hockey’s biggest stage with a stunning two-goal salvo to help Reading into the last eight of the Euro Hockey League in Bloemendaal, Holland on Saturday.