Double blow for Ireland’s World Cup hockey hopes

IRELAND’S hockey coach Paul Revington has described the loss of two key players on the eve of his side’s World Cup qualification campaign as ‘a body blow’.

The squad departed yesterday to South America for the tournament – which gets underway in Quilmes, Argentina this weekend – without vice-captain David Hobbs and Glenanne sweeper Joe Brennan, who have both lost their respective battles to be fit.

Brennan broke his thumb in action for his club in the EuroHockey League last month, and only had the cast removed last week.