Revington keeps faith with old heads for WCQ

Ireland senior men’s coach Paul Revington is hoping consistency of selection will help his side spring a major surprise when they get their World Cup qualification campaign underway in Argentina next month. The South African yesterday named his 18-strong panel for the tournament, a selection that included just one major bolter in the form of Loughborough defender Paul Gleghorne, who only made his senior international debut this summer. His inclusion is one of two changes to the squad that won the European B division, with Mikey Watt, as expected, also returning as Peter Caruth and Alan Giles step out.

Joe Brennan and David Hobbs, though, are injury doubts and will both have to pass fitness tests before travelling to Argentina for the competition, which takes place from November 14-22. Ireland are the third-ranked side in a pool of six, with just one team set to advance, but Revington is hopeful his side can spring a surprise by leapfrogging the hosts and Belgium. “There is a great deal of consistency to this team, highlighted in the fact that 16 of the 18 selected for Argentina were part of both the Champions Challenge II and Euro Nations event,” said Revington. “The final round of qualification for the World Cup is not for the faint-hearted and I believe this team has the strength and depth of quality to do justice to themselves and to Irish hockey by putting together a run of consistent performances.” Prior to Ireland’s departure for South America, they will take in two warm-up games against European champions England in Lilleshall on November 4 and 5, though just 14 of the panel will be involved, with four players sidelined by work commitments. Meanwhile, Ireland striker Cathy McKean yesterday brought the curtain down on a glittering nine-year international career. The Loreto woman amassed 130 caps since first pulling on the green jersey in June 2000 against Scotland, and marked both her 50th and 100th appearances — the latter in the 2008 Olympic qualification campaign — with goals. “The experience has given me moments of heart bursting pride, stomach tingling excitement, and crushing disappointment,” she revealed yesterday. “But yes it has absolutely been worth it. I have no regrets, I loved it. “Irish hockey has been a fantastic experience for me. Although I am sad to be leaving it all behind, I have no regrets.

“The future is bright for Irish hockey and I look forward to supporting the girls in green from the sidelines.” Gene Muller, her Ireland coach of three years, said of McKean’s decision: “Cathy has been a powerful presence on and off the field for Ireland. “Over the course of her international career, she has always been a brave and intensely committed hockey player. There is nothing ambivalent about her as a player or as a person. “She will leave a powerful legacy especially to the younger forwards who were fortunate enough to play with her. She is a true character and will be missed in our team”. C of I claim Texaco bursary award Cork Church of Ireland’s superb ongoing youth work was once again yesterday as they were one of 25 Irish sports clubs chosen to receive a Texaco Sportstars Bursary award. Over €120,000 has been allocated to the scheme. In the Republic of Ireland, bursaries are distributed in amounts of €5,000 each and in Northern Ireland in amounts of £3,500 each. Nicky Stokes, Rose Rose, C of I club president Mervyn Kerr and Ruth Wolfe represented the club at the awards ceremony at Dublin’s Conrad Hotel yesterday. The bursary will be used to purchase goalkeeping gear, as the club continues to help its 280 under-15 girls learn to play the sport. The club’s underage coaching commitments will continue next week, as it holds a two-day junior hockey camp on October 27-28. Irish senior men’s international Andy Herbert heads up the coaching team at the camp. More details available by clicking here.