Aussie success will secure Ireland a place in Rio

Ireland’s top international hockey players will assemble in the early hours of Sunday morning to find out whether their Olympic qualification dream can become a reality.

Due to the quirks of an overly-elaborate qualification system that even the sport’s experts struggle to comprehend, Ireland finished their international year with uncertainty over a potential Rio berth.

The Green Machine stormed to a superb fifth place finish at the World League 3 in June and followed it up with a maiden bronze medal at August’s European championships.