Ireland coach to quit after Olympic qualifiers

Ireland’s senior women will lose coach Darren Smith after June’s Olympic qualifiers — regardless of whether they get to Rio or not.

Smith yesterday confirmed he will step down after the World League 3 in Valencia next month, with current assistant coach Graham Shaw stepping up to the head coach role.

The New Zealander yesterday said his decision was motivated by a desire to return to his homeland to be with his family, news which wasn’t entirely unexpected in Irish hockey circles.