Ahead of their historic World Cup finals weekend, Stephen Findlater looked at some things you may not know about our hockey heroes.

The pressure was ratcheted up on Stephen Bradley’s tenure as Shamrock Rovers head-coach when they became the first side to lose to basement side Bray this season.

There was no Friday the 13th nightmare for Dundalk, as they took sole possession of the Premier Division leadership.

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has hit out at the "disgraceful" treatment of Steve Smith by the media, stressing that the sacked captain "isn't Pablo Escobar".

Burton condemned Jose Morais to defeat in his first game in charge of Barnsley with a 2-1 victory which moved Albion off the bottom of the Championship.

Exeter’s Champions Cup engagement with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday is unlikely to be the time to stop and smell the roses.

Bray Wanderers 2

Bray Wanderers’ players last night took the extraordinary step of placing themselves on the transfer list after failing to secure assurances relating to the club’s finances.

The ominous asterisk that shaped so many Airtricity League tables over recent years may yet make a comeback.

UCC 1 Cobh Wanderers 0: A late Sean McLoughlin goal saw Noel Healy’s UCC claim the Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Premier Division title as they got the better of Cobh Wanderers at The Mardyke last night.

After a long hard season, it all comes down to one last game tonight as UCC and Cobh Wanderers go head to head at The Mardyke (7.45pm) to determine who is crowned Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Premier Division champions.

Three-year project. A key phrase in any football manager’s vocab these days. Any chance of a side order of romance with that? Cobh Wanderers gaffer Michael Deasy spins a mean love story.

Cork City manager John Caulfield has dismissed suggestions striker Seanie Maguire has had his head turned by transfer speculation as the club look to end the Premier Division’s first series of games tonight with a 100% record.

Last week they beat champions Dundalk and next week they face leaders Cork. But, this evening, Bray Wanderers will be hoping to keep their early title ambitions on course as they host Shamrock Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds.

Ronan O’Gara isn’t the first Corkman to make waves in Parisian rugby.

Mauricio Pochettino admitted his Tottenham side were lucky to beat Wycombe after Son Heung-min's stoppage-time winner completed an incredible 4-3 victory.

Bray Wanderers 4 Cork City 1: Bray gave Cork the worst possible FAI Cup final send-off on the last day of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season.

Bray Wanderers 1, Shamrock Rovers 1: Former Bray Wanderers man Gary McCabe came off the bench to end the Wicklow club’s record breaking run.

Ger Pender scored a first-half winner to lift managerless Bray Wanderers off the foot of the Premier Division as they shocked St Patrick’s Athletic, who finished with 10 men, with a 1-0 win at the Carlisle Grounds.

Today’s Ulster Bank League Division 1 clash between Clontarf and UCD is expected to be the first of two games between the teams in the next couple of weeks.

The Connacht team bus will leave the Sportsground shortly after noon today for The Strand Hotel in Limerick where the players and management will have a light meal, run through their plans for the match and then head for Thomond Park. 

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has tipped James Forrest to reach his potential next season as he dismissed suggestions the winger could move to Bolton.

As he contemplates a season in the Championship with newly promoted MK Dons — the club at which he is increasingly forging a coaching role — Keith Andrews insists he is not bitter about the abrupt manner in which his international career with Ireland dried up soon after the Euro 2012 finals.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet believes Liverpool now have a big chance of winning the FA Cup after sneaking through their fourth-round replay against Bolton.

Bolton 1 Liverpool 2

Playmaker Philippe Coutinho celebrated his new five-year contract with an added-time winner as Liverpool kept their FA Cup hopes alive in a dramatic late turnaround at Bolton.

Cork Church of Ireland remain on course to defend their Peard Cup crown, but only after another stern examination from traditional rivals Cork Harlequins.

Cork Harlequins’ hopes of making the Irish Hockey League semi-finals are hanging by a thread after a 3-1 defeat to Ards.

The Barbarians are to play Ireland at Thomond Park next year.

On the night that Bray Wanderers all but ensured their safety, Dundalk failed to keep up their side of the bargain and handed advantage to Cork City ahead of their final-day showdown on Friday, despite coming from a goal down.

The changing names of those clubs filling out the fixtures and tables are to be welcomed on the basis that change is not to be feared.

Wigan have enjoyed plenty of giant-killing acts in the FA Cup over the last two seasons but were on the wrong end of a Capital One Cup upset tonight when going down 2-1 at League Two Burton in the first round.

Fancy getting your hands on Nicky Rackard’s first All- Ireland hurling medal, perhaps a jersey signed by Cork’s 1990 All-Ireland winning hurling and football teams.

Stephen Kenny wants his Dundalk players to maintain their desire to help sustain their impressive start to the season.

Luke Varney’s first-half header past Paddy Kenny saw Leeds condemn Bolton to their fourth successive defeat in the Sky Bet Championship.

It comes as a bit of a shock when Ronnie Quinn jokes by email that when he takes the phone call from the Irish Examiner, his English will have a “strong Julio Iglesias accent”.

Hull defender Paul McShane has said watching his side get promoted from the tunnel at the KC Stadium was a “surreal” experience.