MEN'S HOCKEY:CLOSE BUT no cigar for the Irish men's side means they miss London 2012 but are in demand for the nations that have made it to the Olympics.
As one of the better teams not to have qualified for the biggest event of the year, Paul Revington’s side will now travel with a squad of 20 to Mannheim Hockey Club in Germany for two back-to-back matches against the world’s number two side, Germany, and one match against their under-21 side.
The trip overlaps with the Euro Hockey League and several of the Irish players will be involved in that over the weekend including Irish captain Ronan Gormley, David Ames and Chris Cargo, all of whom played in the Olympic Qualfier.
Depending on how their clubs progress in Europe they may or may not be available for Ireland’s preparation for Monday’s first match.
Revington’s squad is very much different to the one that competed at UCD two weeks ago with the likes of schoolboy David Cole, Cookstown’s Ian Hughes and Drew Carlisle from Banbridge coming in.
Familiar faces such as Gormley, Paul Gelghorne, teenager Ian Sloan and Tim Cockram are also included giving a mix of levels and experience.
“These games versus Germany offer our squad another great opportunity to test our strength in depth and individual quality,” said Revington.
“Each player will be keen to make their own unique contribution to our Ireland team again so soon after the recent Electric Ireland FIH Road to London, Olympic Qualifiers.”
Ireland do not have any major international competition until the European Championships and the World Championships roll around again.
The team is involved in the Celtic Cup, which this year is being hosted by Lisnagarvey.
The event, from Friday, June 29th to Sunday, July 1st, will have Ireland, Wales and Scotland compete with a fourth country to be confirmed due to the withdrawal of France from the Celtic Cup at all age groups.
IRELAND:D Ames (Beeston) J Bell (Lisnagarvey), J Bruton (YMCA), C Cargo (Reading), D Carlisle (Banbridge), K Carroll (Railway Union), P Caruth (Annadale) T Cockram (Lisnagarvey) D Cole (Monkstown), B Doherty (Beerschot), D Fitzgerald (Monkstown) P Gleghorne (Instonians), R Gormley (Club De Campo), I Hughes (Cookstown), J Jackson (Braxgata), J Lynch (Royal Racing Club Brussels), P Maguire (Hurley), B McCandless (Banbridge) S O'Donoghue (UCD), Ian Sloan (Cookstown).
FIXTURES:Ireland v Germany (Irish times): April 9th: Ireland v Germany (senior), 4pm; April 10th: Ireland versus Germany Under-21, 4pm; April 11th: Ireland v German (senior), 3pm.
