Irish enter brave new World League

John Jermyn has a big chance to become his country’s all-time top goalscorer this weekend, as Ireland embark on their first foray into the new FIH World League. Under interim coach Brendon Carolan, Ireland are grouped with Sweden, Wales and Austria in the first round of the competition, which takes place in Cardiff this weekend and will double as a World Cup qualifier should the green machine advance to round three.

Two more goals for Cork man Jermyn, who has signed up to play with Royal Pingoin in Belgium this season, will see him overhaul Stephen Butler’s long-standing record. With a number of first-choice midfielders unavailable for this tournament, drag-flicking specialist Jermyn should see an increase in gametime having been used more sparingly off the bench by Paul Revington during March’s Olympic qualifiers. Ireland are by a distance the highest-ranked and most experienced side in the group, and will expect to progress to the second round of the ambitious competition — which sees 60 countries compete in four rounds over two years — without too much difficulty. The tournament also represents a big chance for Cookstown’s Timmy Smyth to stake his claim for a regular spot in Irish panels, replacing injured Banbridge hitman Stephen Dowds. Meanwhile, Ireland’s women are Scotland-bound for a three-game series, their last warm-up matches before the Champions Challenge I in Dublin later this month. UCD pair Katie Mullan and Nicola Gray are the young guns given an opportunity to put their hand up for selection by interim coach Denis Prichard. FIH Men’s World League Rd 1, Cardiff Today: Austria v Sweden, 3.30pm; Ireland v Wales, 6pm. Saturday, September 8: Ireland v Austria, 2pm; Wales v Sweden, 4.30pm Sunday, September 9: Ireland v Sweden, 12pm; Wales v Austria 3pm Women’s International Series,  Scotland Today: Scotland v Ireland, 7.30pm Saturday: Scotland v Ireland, 2pm Sunday: Scotland v Ireland, 2pm