Men's Hockey: Tomorrow's match against Argentina is the most important fixture Ireland have faced in many years.
Victory could put Irish coach Dave Passmore's side one game away from qualifying for the Olympic Games in Beijing later this year. The higher-ranked Argentina are favourites to win the match but Ireland have been in encouraging form.
The side have scored goals when they needed to and only lost out to New Zealand in the first match in Auckland after a controversial goal was allowed to stand at 1-1. The diving New Zealander, David Kasoof, diverted a right-wing cross into the Irish goal off his chest. It was obvious to all but the umpires.
"It is pointless having a video umpire for only the final game of this Olympic qualification tournament, especially when critical mistakes happen like they did here," said Passmore.
"All the sides have invested so much time, effort and financial investment and to only have it available for the play-off match defies logic."
Ireland are on the cusp of doing what no Irish team has previously done (largely due to the fact that Ireland did not enter a team for the Olympics because of politics in the sport and at a time when the team was ranked an unprecedented 12th in the world).
Qualification for Beijing would attract more money to the sport, more television coverage and it would rev up interest in Ireland.
No doubt, it is a difficult task as Argentina are ranked seventh in the world to Ireland's 19th.
But as they showed when they drew with the fourth-ranked Spain and held the third-ranked Holland to 1-0 in the European Championships, the team can punch above its weight. Mark Gleghorne's total of nine goals should also give confidence. The Ulster striker is currently the top scorer at the tournament.
SATURDAY: Leinster Senior League: Division One- Glenanne v YMCA, Glenanne Park 1.00; Bray v Kilkenny, Loreto Bray 1.30; Corinthians v Pembroke, Whitechurch 1.00; UCD v TRR, Belfield 1.00. Division Two- Suttonians v Navan, Sutton 1.00; Skerries v Clontarf, Skerries 3.00; Trinity v Avoca TBC; PSBPP v Naas, RCSI 1.00.
SUNDAY: Leinster Senior Cup quarter-finals- Avoca v Pembroke, Newpark 3.30; Kilkenny v Fingal, TBC; Weston v TRR, Griffeen Park 2.00; Glenanne v UCD, Glenanne Park 1.15. Leinster Senior League: Division One- Bray v UCD, Loreto Bray, 1.30.
