CEES KOPPELAAR, the Ireland hockey coach, has been invited to attend the next meeting of the IHU executive committee in Dublin on May 24th. The failure of the Irish squad in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur will no doubt be discussed.
Koppelaar's contract does not expire until next year and he may see out a full term at the post or, indeed, seek to extend the appointment. On the other hand, the Dutch coach may feel that he has contributed enough to Ireland's cause and - in a similar situation to Jack Charlton - resign after a decade at the helm.
Participation in the new world series - if it gets off the ground - will be the next involvement for the Irish squad. Then, the European championship in Padua in 1999, to be followed by the Olympic Games qualifying competition in which, after all, Ireland (ranked 18th) will probably get the last berth in Tokyo. This depends largely on South Africa and Argentina winning their Continental championships.
Koppelaar, having contributed to the de politicising of the Irish set up but not seeing a lot of live domestic action, might agree that an all native management structure could be put in place before long.
Individual coaches who have been mentioned include former internationals John Clarke (who missed being assistant to Koppelaar in Kuala Lumpur because of illness), Sam Martin, Jonathan Cole, Simon Filgas, Gordon Watkins and Peter Murphy, as well as John McInerney, who shaped Leinster into winning ways.
Or the new team in charge of the under 21s could well progress into the next millennium with their proteges. That balanced set of officials is made up of coach George Blackwood (Ulster), assistant coach Aidan Kidney (Leinster), manager Ian O'Keeffe (Munster), and chef d'equippe Herbert Sharman (south East Midlands).
While there's much encouragement in the promise being shown at under 21 level, the national senior manager, George Compston, stressed in his report to a marathon six and a half hour executive committee meeting last Saturday that the current senior squad should not be made to feel inadequate.
Compston, who wants to step down after looking after the needs of Irish players in 113 internationals, feels that most of the present squad have plenty to offer in the immediate future.
Meanwhile, though, grand slam chasing Lisnagarvey are firing on all cylinders as they go into tonight's final Ulster league fixture at Banbridge, looking fully capable of taking the two points which will put them into the All Ireland play offs at Belfield on May 3rd-5th. As regards the Irish Senior Cup final on April 26th, Pembroke Wanderers defender, Peter Young, is back in training hoping to overcome a groin injury, while goalkeeper Nigel Henderson did not turn out for the Irish Presidents selection in the Ulster branch centenary match on Sunday so as not to put a broken finger in further jeopardy. Former international, Dave Larmour, played instead at Blaris and brought off several vintage clearances.
