Ireland must wait for green light for Rio Olympics

Sponsorless, under-funded and waiting on others to decide their Olympic fate — yet the Irish men’s hockey team are one of the country’s most successful Irish national sides in any sport in 2015.

Ireland medalled for the first time at a European championships last week, defeating England in London to claim bronze at a tournament containing four of the world’s top five teams.

It should be the springboard for greater things, but instead the Green Machine are in limbo until October, when they’ll find out if Rio is on the agenda for 2016.