MEN'S HOCKEY: Following on from the success of the Irish women's team in Belfield, where they finished fifth in the European Championships, their best position for many years, the Irish men knuckle down to the beginning of the end of preparation for their European Championships in Rome.
This weekend Irish coach Dave Passmore and his 18-man Irish squad face hosts Italy in a two-match warm-up series on the same pitch on which the tournament will be played from September 11th to 18th.
While there may be some doubt as to the real worth of two games against a team Ireland could very well end up playing in a crossover match in the tournament proper, the run-out will give Passmore and his players some quality time getting used to the pitch and its environs.
He also has the unenviable task of dropping one of the three goalkeepers, Nigel Henderson, Charlie Henderson and Wesley Batemen, as only two of them will occupy a place on the European squad.
Both Nigel and Bateman have had their share of injuries while Charlie has also had an ankle problem in recent weeks. Cork's Jason Black is also unavailable for the trip following the birth of a daughter but will return for the championships.
While the Italian matches may reveal little about what formation Italy will play or their short-corner routines, Ireland will get an opportunity to further build on what were two interesting games against a German side several weeks ago in Dublin.
Then, albeit against a weakened team - Germany effectively had two national sides playing on the one weekend in different countries - Ireland were more impressive than in previous games against similar opposition.
The key players performed. Stephen Butler was immense in midfield and defence. Indeed Passmore may well have noted than when Butler took a rest, the Irish team lost some of its shape and dominance.
Jason Black, the goalkeepers, Paddy Brown, Mark Irwin, Justin Sherriff and Andy Barbour are all expected to make an impression in a tournament Ireland hope to win.
A tournament win would put the Irish team - relegated to the second stream of European countries in Barcelona two years ago - back among the elite and ensure a place in the next World Cup qualifying event in 2006.
A place in the final would at least ensure promotion back to the top group of European nations, Ireland's first priority.
After the warm-up matches Ireland play an unknown quantity in Belarus on Sunday, September 11th, Wales on Monday 12th, and Russia on Wednesday 14th before going into classification matches on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th.
