Ireland’s Aga Khan team needs to place in the top three tomorrow afternoon if they are to again earn a place in the €2m Furusiyya Nations Cup final at Barcelona next October, an event in which they finished third last year. Following a cruel joint forth behind USA in last weekend’s penultimate qualifier at Hickstead, Ireland still lie eighth position in the Division 1 league. This leaves them just above the relegation zone but still one place away from one of the seven qualifying slots for the final. The Irish do have one advantage in that three of the teams placed above them on the league table have used up all of their points-gaining rounds for the season – Belgium (295), Switzerland (280 points) and Spain (282.5). Switzerland and Spain can both be caught by Ireland if we place third or better tomorrow. Ireland are currently on 205 points and have Dublin as their final points-gainer. With 100, 90 and 80 points on offer for the top three placings, the door is open for the home side to earn their slot in Barcelona. The other sides aiming for points tomorrow are Britain, Sweden, Ukraine and a very strong German side.

Ireland team manager Robert Splaine will be picking his team of four from Bertram Allen, Billy Twomey, Denis Lynch, Cian O’Connor and Dermott Lennon.

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