Big guns get Rev-ved up for July clashes

Irish senior men’s coach Paul Revington has reinstated his big guns for the inaugural Champions Challenge II tournament, which will be held in Dublin from July 6-12. While Revington picked an inexperienced squad for the Celtic Cup in Edinburgh, the 17 selected for the home tournament boast an average of 56 caps, even though the average age is just 24. An 18th member will be added after the Celtic Cup, to which Revington is sending a largely second-string outfit.

Revington said: ”The quality of teams attending this event will also provide us with a great test of how well we have progressed since January, as individuals and as a team collectively.” Pembroke’s Ronan Gormley will again skipper the side, with David Hobbs and Graham Shaw sharing vice-captaincy duties. Ireland are the fourth highest-ranking side in the tournament, behind world number 11 Japan, Malaysia and France, while Chile, Austria and Russia will also be involved. Ireland men’s squad for Champions Challenge II, Dublin, July 6-12 (club/caps): D Harte (GK, Pembroke Wanderers, 32), I Walker (GK, YMCA, 15), R Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers, capt, 75), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers, 41), J Brennan (Glenanne, 17), C Harte (Pembroke Wanderers, 19), J Jackson (Loughborough, 17), G Shaw (Glenanne, vice-capt, 129), S Butler (Glenanne, 143), J Jermyn (Cork C of I, 92), D Hobbs (Cork C of I, vice-capt, 128), G McCabe (Banbridge, 40), A McConnell (Three Rock Rovers, 7), E Magee (Banbridge, 81), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey, 74), M Darling (Three Rock Rovers, 20), A Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers, 16).