Experienced star Jermyn battling to make Olympic qualifiers

John Jermyn faces into a crucial week in his race to be fit for Ireland’s Olympic qualification tournament in Dublin next month.

The experienced Cork Church of Ireland short corner specialist has successfully returned to club action in recent weeks, having fractured his ankle last October. But Irish coach Paul Revington admitted this weekend’s two-game series against the Czech Republic — Ireland’s final warm-up games ahead of the qualifiers on March 10-18 — will be vital to assess Jermyn and his walking wounded.

“The games against the Czechs will be important for him (Jermyn),” said Revington. “We’ll wait and see but he has had to work hard over the last couple of weeks. These games are important for us. We played our last game on February 13 and players who have been out for a while need a couple of games. It’s good timing and good opposition.”