Classy Cregan a model of consistency

Like all accidental sporting heroes, Eimear Cregan could have chosen a very different path, had fate not played its part. The Limerick native is set to become the most capped Irish hockey player of all time, in either the men’s or women’s code; she has 165 to her name, one shy of the record set by fellow Munster woman and former Cork Harlequins team-mate Rachael Kohler. Ireland’s senior women kick off their Four Nations campaign against Australia in Essen, Germany tonight (7pm), with skipper Cregan set to equal Kohler’s tally of 166 — a record since 2003 — if she plays. And she is almost certain to overtake that mark in the games against India and the hosts over the weekend.

But the free-scoring Catholic Institute player wasn’t always destined to leave a hook-shaped imprint on the sporting landscape. Typically prodigious in almost every sport she had a crack off, Cregan had looked set to be a GAA star. A niece of legendary former Limerick player and coach Eamonn Cregan, camogie seemed set to be her calling — she’d first picked up a hurley at age three. But, as she recalled this week, her introduction to hockey almost didn’t happen at all. “I absolutely hadn’t a clue of the rules and I was from a big GAA family. My friend asked me to come down, gave me a stick and shinguards and the minute I picked up the stick I absolutely loved it,” she recalled. “A lot of it would transfer over from the ground hurling. I loved the smaller skills, the dodging and so on, from the very start. I didn’t have any expectations, I just went out to enjoy it and it went from there. “I always wanted to play for Ireland and that drives you on. But it does take a lot of hard work and commitment.” You do put certain things on hold in your life; you miss a lot of parties but you get to play for your country and see the world. We’ve been so lucky and I feel so privileged.” She made her international debut while studying at the University of Limerick — where she also won an Ashbourne Cup in camogie — in 2001, aged 19. When an U21 tournament was cancelled due to foot and mouth, then-Irish coach Riet Kuper gave Cregan her chance in the senior setup, and she hasn’t looked back. She cites scoring a hat-trick against Korea in 2005 and partaking in the 2002 World Cup as her career highlights. But she is is determined to create more memories in the future. “We’re a young team, we were obviously disappointed with our performance in Chile (failed World Cup qualification campaign) but it’s so good to have a month off and then be able to play in a high quality tournament. “We’re constantly improving. I don’t think I’ve played with a squad which has been so tactically aware and technically aware due to the teaching of (coaches) Gene Muller and Denis Pritchard. We can adapt to different situations.

“This team, as long as we stay together and keep improving, we really are focusing on getting an outcome from every tournament to build to getting that fourth in Europe in August 2011 where we’ll be a serious force to be reckoned with.” Considering that modern-day exceptional talents now make their senior international bow as young as 15 or 16, the fact that Cregan stands on the cusp of such a remarkable achievement at just 28 years of age is proof of her outstanding talent and superb consistency in terms of form. Had she not been so troubled by injury in recent years, Cregan would have reached this landmark even sooner. Possessing superb 3D, mid-air skills that are all-too-rare in the women’s game — as well as never-ending determination — she stands out at all levels. And like all great forwards, she has the knack of scoring crucial goals at important times. The best of these, for me, came in Cork Harlequins’ final Irish Hockey League pool game at home to Armagh in April 2009. Quins were leading 3-1 but needed a fourth strike to give them an all-important bonus point, in order to make the semi-finals. But with 45 seconds remaining, up stepped Cregan, picking up the ball 40 yards out and careering past three players, before cracking the ball into the bottom corner from the top of the circle, despite being off-balance. It was just one of hundreds of memorable career moments for Cregan; all of Irish hockey hopes she has plenty more to come, but she isn’t taking anything for granted. “If I’m honest, I know it sounds a cliché but I always take one game at a time. Obviously, you take each test series as it comes and because I was out injured and had surgery in September, I had to work very hard behind the scenes to get back. “At that stage, my aim was just to get to Chile and play as well as I could there so now its an absolute bonus to go to Germany and hopefully get my 166th cap. “I’ve been very lucky to get into the squad, selected by Riet Kuper, and to play in a World Cup and four European championships. I do still take one game at a time and every game as a bonus and never take being selected for granted. It’s just another game, but I’m obviously honoured and delighted.” Quotes courtesy of, and with sincere thanks to, Stephen Findlater. Check out The Hook today (Friday) for his full interview with the Irish skipper.