Róisín Upton hopeful extra year under Dancer can get Ireland in tune for Tokyo

Róisín Upton at the announcement of the continuation of Circle K’s ‘Here for Ireland’ initiative. Customers can scan the Circle K app or Play or Park loyalty tag in-store to generate digital coins, which Ireland’s Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls can use to fuel their
journey to Tokyo. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Róisín Upton knows a thing or two about homework. A teacher who has put her career in the classroom on hold for another year after the Olympics got pushed back 12 months, she feels that the delay could work in the favour of an Irish hockey team under new management.

Graham Shaw took Ireland to a World Cup final in 2018 but shocked the sport here when he stood down in March of last year.