John Jermyn wrote himself into the history books in style as Ireland cruised through the opening round of the new FIH World League in Cardiff over the weekend.

A raft of Munster men will get their first taste of senior international hockey when Ireland A take on England A next weekend in Dublin.

Ireland's Olympic dream died in agonising fashion at Belfield today as they were undone by a Korean winner in the final seconds of the Electric Ireland FIH Road to London final, going down 3-2.

Ireland overcame a potential banana skin in work-manlike fashion as they dispatched Chile last night to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for a first Olympics since 1908.

Ireland 1 Korea 1

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

He’s not on Twitter or Facebook, but John Jermyn can’t resist swiping his girlfriend Louise’s smartphone from time to time to see what his Irish international hockey team-mates are up to.

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

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.

IRELAND continue to be European hockey’s great entertainers but ultimately saw their slim Olympic qualification hopes dashed by the Netherlands, who claimed a 7-4 victory in a topsy-turvy EuroHockey Nations Championship tie in Germany yesterday.

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.

IRELAND turned on the style to blitz Russia 4-0 and top their pool on goal difference from hosts France at the Champions Challenge II in Lille yesterday.

IRELAND breathed a sigh of relief last night after they ground out a 1-0 victory over Azerbaijan at a drenched UCD to ensure they will earn a chance to grab fifth place in the Champions Challenge I.

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.

THE feelgood factor for Irish hockey continued last night in Belfield as a second quarter blitz saw a sixth win in four days for the country’s senior teams as they beat China 4-2.

JOHN JERMYN has returned to the international fold ahead of Ireland’s series of friendlies against the Netherlands in Seville, but there is still no sign of his Cork C of I club-mate David Hobbs in the squad.

IRELAND senior men’s coach Paul Revington is hoping consistency of selection will help his side spring a major surprise when they get their World Cup qualification campaign underway in Argentina next month.

AS RUNAWAY favourites for the EuroHockey Nations Trophy, Irish men’s coach Paul Revington will be dealing with the rare notion in Irish hockey of high expectations.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS captain Alan Giles has earned a surprise call-up to the Irish senior men’s squad for next month’s EuroHockey Nations Trophy in Wrexham.

IRELAND’S hopes of becoming the first winners of the Champions Challenge II on home soil were left in tatters last night as Poland claimed a final victory on penalty strokes at Belfield last night.