THE Ireland hockey party for the 14-nation World Cup preliminary qualification tournament in Cagliari, Sardinia, from September 29th to October 12th shows six changes from the squad which finished fifth in last year's European Championship in Dublin.

Goalkeeper Peter Darley, defender Errol Lutton, midfielder Robert Ryan and youthful attackers Galahad Goulet, Chris Jackson and Lee Tumilty come in for, respectively, Raymond Geddis, Ger Burns, Robert Hollway, Martin Sloan, Jimmy Kirkwood and Liam Canning.

Burns, Sloan, Kirkwood and Canning have retired, while Geddis is unavailable because of business commitments and Hollway is out through injury.

Apart from Lutton, who played in the Intercontinental Cup in Poznan in 1993, none of the newcomers to championship competition has reached double figures in caps. Avoca will be delighted that their representation has jumped to four players, with Colin Hade being joined by Darley, Ryan and Goulet.