Hockey: Hitman Jermyn earns Irish recall

Cork Church of Ireland hitman John Jermyn will make a late charge for the Rio Olympics after earning a recall to the Ireland squad for the first time in over three years.

Jermyn, Ireland’s top goalscorer of all time with 87 goals in 155 appearances, was yesterday named in a 23-man panel to take on Great Britain in three uncapped matches in Bisham Abbey next week.

The 34-year-old Leeside man hasn’t featured for the national side since scoring in a 2-1 semi-final loss to hosts Argentina in the Champions Challenge I in December 2012. He subsequently took time out from the national panel and after enduring a run of injuries as Ireland’s stock rose with qualification for the Olympics for the first time in 108 years and a first European bronze medal, his chances of breaking back into the setup looked slim.