Rankings slip sees Quins’ EHL dream die

Cork Harlequins’ EuroHockey League dream was snatched from them today after Ireland lost one of its places in world hockey’s top club competition. As winners of the Irish Senior Cup, the Farmer’s Cross outfit took Ireland’s second qualification berth in the EHL, with Lisnagarvey claiming the first on the basis of winning the Irish Hockey League. However, today’s updated EHL rankings saw Ireland slip three places from sixth to ninth, losing the right to enter a second team. Scotland earned the same ranking points (14.625) as Ireland but leapfrogged them into eighth based on the goal difference of their European representatives, European Hockey Federation (EHF) competitions manager Dariusz Kurc told Southern Fried Hockey yesterday.

Controversially, these results were achieved by Kelburne in the EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy — a tier below the EHL, where Ireland’s Banbridge and Cookstown competed last season. Cork Harlequins coach Phil Oakley yesterday spoke of the club’s disappointment at the news, given the squad had already returned to training in preparation for the EHL in October, while the club had also begun to seek sponsorship for the venture. “It’s very disappointing for the club and the players, especially the way it has happened and the timing, although I suppose we weren’t going to find out before we won the Irish Senior Cup. If those are the EHL rules then we will have to accept it,” he said. Many Quins stalwarts, inclduing captain Mark Black, had been set to put retirements on hold to play in the EHL, but it remains to be seen whether the news will affect their decision. “I’m not sure as to whether it will affect retirements or not,” Oakley said. “The club have already competed in and won this tournament (the Trophy) in 2007, it was one of the reasons Ireland got two EHL places in the first place. “We’re going to have to have a team meeting to discuss this. I do know the IHA are keen to query it to see if anything can be done, but I wouldn’t be holding out hope.” There was further bad news for Ireland this week as the European Hockey Federation (EHF) announced a restructuring of the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup, the marquee competition in women’s club hockey. Following Euro victories from the likes of Loreto, Pegasus and Hermes in recent years and their own third place finish in 2011, IHL champions Railway looked set to be the benefactors from Ireland’s improved status as one of the top eight nations. Last term, it featured 12 teams from eight nations but the new format allows only for eight entrants coming from six countries with Ireland one of the two nations to make way. Railway, as such, have been bumped back down to the secondary competition, a situation which coach Mick McKinnon felt should not have occurred. He said on Twitter: “The EHF changing qualification criteria after the qualification period is poor form. It should have been done prior to last season or for 2014.” Irish Hockey Association high performance director Dave Passmore said the national body are “seeking clarification” on both issues. Meanwhile, outgoing Irish senior men’s coach Paul Revington is expected to be confirmed as the new coach of the Malaysian men’s team in the coming days. The New Straits Times also reports that the South African is set to be joined on the coaching ticket by Malaysian native Arul Anthoni, who has spent the last five years coaching in Ireland, most recently as Revington’s assistant with the national side. **The goal difference ruling referred to in paragrpah four is available to read in Appendix A, Part 5 of the EHL competition regulations (page 16/21).