Quins will dig deep to overcome Euro odds

Cork Harlequins will delve into the depths of their reserves as they bid to overcome the odds at this weekend’s EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy in Vienna. The story so far has been a bizarre one for the Farmers Cross men. Having stunned Irish hockey with an unexpected Irish Senior Cup triumph last year, the team’s veterans – including former Irish internationals Mark and Jason Black, and Paul Lombard – were convinced to postpone their expected retirements to give Europe a lash. Having kept up training throughout the summer in anticipation of an October EuroHockey League date, their hopes were dashed as Scotland snuck ahead of Ireland in the rankings, instead sending them to this weekend’s second-tier competition in Austria. Furthermore, Quins have endured a rotten season domestically, relinquishing their Munster league and cup crowns to Cork C of I, the nadir coming when they were thumped 6-0 by their great rivals in the Munster Senior Cup final. At one stage, they almost had more players on the treatment table than were available for first-team duty, meaning they played one half of an Irish Hockey League game against Monkstown without substitutes. Other Irish clubs – not least Banbridge, who are Ireland’s second European representatives next year – will be hoping Quins can bounce back to earn enough ranking points in Vienna to reclaim the country’s second EHL berth. But coach Phil Oakley says they’ll be performing for themselves first and foremost. “I think we mainly want to do this for ourselves as we feel our season, which started so brightly with a good win over Cookstown in the Irish Senior Cup, fell away with a lot of poor performances in the league,” said Oakley. “We have seen some improvements during the IHL, despite the results, and hopefully we can continue to improve going into the Europeans. Personally for me, I feel we owe it to ourselves. “Of course in the back of our minds, we’ll know that doing well in this will benefit Irish Hockey in the longer term and hopefully we can follow Lisnagarvey’s lead this season and gain as many ranking points as possible. [pullquote align=”right”]People can write our chances off and probably will, there’s not much we can do about it except focus on our own performances and doing well in each game. We certainly won’t need any external motivation[/pullquote] “It is difficult when you know little about your opposition but we’ll have a good idea where we stand after the first round of games and what is required. The last time Quins played in this tournament, they won it and achieved the second EHL place for Ireland so we know what is required. “We have a good squad travelling out, plenty of experience and some good young players. If we perform well in the first couple of days, we should be able to build on it. People can write our chances off and probably will, there’s not much we can do about it except focus on our own performances and doing well in each game. We certainly won’t need any external motivation.” While the likes of Philip McLaughlin and Darren Farrell are still on the injured list, David Egner, Brian Hayes-Curtin and Darren Beamish have recovered in time and experienced Stockholm-based goalkeeper Chris Daunt has made himself available. Quins have pulled off a notable coup in getting former Irish underage international midfielder Colin Crowley – last seen patrolling the wing for UCC in rugby’s All-Ireland League – back playing hockey in time for Vienna. A pair of U16 starlets, goalkeeper Jack Ryan and the club’s IHL top scorer Julian Dale, will also be given a chance to shine. “Colin is back from travelling and made himself available,” explained Oakley. “His last hockey match was for Quins and we checked with both the branch and the IHA to ensure his eligibility. He’s a big boost for our midfield and it means we will be able to rotate more often.”

Oakley feels the squad’s European experience and pedigree will stand to them, citing the contribution of a number of older players: “The Blacks and the Lombards epitomise what Harlequins are about – work rate, determination, intensity, leadership. “It has often been the case where their performances have made the difference in big games – I think of Paul Lombard’s last minute intervention to stop Railway playing a Hail Mary in the Irish Senior Cup final last season – even though they were unlikely to score, he wanted to ensure they had no chance and he injured himself in the process. There are countless examples I can think of where their performances have inspired other players around them and driven the team to win, even in the most unlikely circumstances. “I would include guys like Dave Eakins, Chris Daunt and John Hobbs, who have made huge contributions in my time at Quins. We are lucky to have so many leaders on the pitch and it makes my job straightforward.” Quins aren’t the only Irish side in European action this weekend; Railway Union are Antwerp-bound as they fly the Irish flag in the women’s EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy. It’s Mick McKinnon’s swansong with the Park Avenue girls – who took to imitating their coach at training this week in tribute to him – after an incredibly successful few years which saw them earn a first Leinster title in 100 years as well as an Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey League double this season. As such, they are well-equipped for their European adventure having hit form at the business end of the season; coming from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 with UCD in the league was the catalyst for that superb run. There’s a Cork connection with Julia O’Halloran among a powerful forward line led by Irish captain Alex Speers, who saw five of her team-mates called up to Darren Smith’s 43-strong national squad with at least two more very unlucky to lose out. Railway are grouped in Pool A with Real Sociedad de Futbol SAD (Spain), Belarus outfit HC Victorya Smolevichi and MSC Sumchanka (Ukraine). UCD’s women are also bound for the continent this weekend as they welcome back a number of defensive players for the EuroHockey Women’s Club Champions Challenge I. For more information on the Irish clubs in European action this weekend, check out the Irish Hockey Association’s interviews with Railway’s Mick McKinnon and UCD’s Hannah de Burgh Whyte. CORK HARLEQUINS squad for EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy, Vienna: C Daunt (GK), J Ryan (GK); P O’Driscoll, R Hobbs, J Hobbs, D Hobbs, J Black; M Black, D Lombard, C Ross, D Beamish, C Crowley; J Dale, P Lombard, D Eakins, D Egner, B Hayes-Curtin, P Burns. Schedule (all times Irish): Friday: Cork Harlequins v HC Bra (Italy), 1pm; Saturday: SV Arminen (Austria) v Cork Harlequins, 4pm; Sunday: Cardiff & UWIC v Cork Harlequins, 3pm. Monday: Classification matches.