Dave Egner has divided loyalties this weekend as the Cork Harlequins side he plays for face the UCC team he coaches in the Irish Hockey Trophy.

The Irish men and women’s teams have both been handed typically tough draws for next year’s European Championships in Antwerp.

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

And on it goes. For 10 days now, the Irish women’s seem to continually playing the biggest game of their lives, the biggest since the sport’s formation on the island in 1892.

Seven days on from the biggest result in Irish hockey history, the opponent and the venue is the same as Ireland look to make an even more seismic impact.

A heavily-deflected Giselle Ansley goal took some of the wind out of the Irish women’s sails but the upshot of their 1-0 loss to England at Lee Valley has probably provided the perfect scenario for Thursday’s World Cup quarter-final.

London’s Lee Valley is fast becoming a mecca for Irish hockey as it once again witnessed one of the greatest ever moments in Irish hockey history.

Chris Pelow looked set for a promising hockey career, before a throbbing pain in his foot changed his life forever. He spoke to Stephen Findlater.

THREE ROCK ROVERS will hope Leeside continues to be a happy hunting ground for them as they come calling to Farmer’s Cross for an Irish Junior Cup quarter-final clash with Cork Harlequins tomorrow (2pm).