Ireland set for four-game series with Rio rivals Canada

Hockey team faces Canada at Stormont on Thursday in the first of four matches

Ireland's men face Rio group opponents Canada at Stormont Thursday evening in the first of four matches.

Craig Fulton will use the same 27-man panel for this series with this tournament marking the last set of fixtures before a reduction to 20 players takes place in the next 10 days or so.

It follows a successful four-game series against higher ranked Korea.

Canada will be one of the must-win ties for Ireland in August if they are to have a chance of claiming a quarter-final spot. The sides meet again on Friday in Stormont before switching to Pembroke in Dublin on Sunday, then to Trinity's ground on Santry Avenue on Tuesday.

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On the women’s side, Ireland meet Spain for a third time on Thursday afternoon with the final game Friday in Jordanstown.

Stephen Findlater

Stephen Findlater

Stephen Findlater is a contributor to The Irish Times writing about hockey