Heavy hitters return for double Welsh test

Ireland’s senior men get will have a chance to get acclimatised to their surroundings ahead of the Euro Nations Trophy in Wrexham in August as they take on Wales in a double-header at the venue next week. Scottish-based forward Michael Watt returns to Paul Revington’s squad having completed his studies, while the likes of John Jermyn, Stephen Butler, Timmy Cockram and Geoff McCabe are making their first appearances in green this year after missing the games against France in March. An experimental Irish side lost their last encounter with the Welsh 3-2 in Cardiff in September, but recorded a 3-1 win that clinched the Celtic Cup on home turf in Cork in July when the sides were last at full strength.

Meanwhile, Andy Smyth has named his 18-strong panel for the EuroHockey Youth Nations Trophy to be held in Austria in July. Eleven players remain from the U18 side that claimed Four-Nations success in August last year in Cardiff, while the side will continue to be skippered by Stuart Loughrey. Cork C of I duo Karl Lynch and Stuart O’Grady have both made the cut, though St Andrews’ skipper Cian Speers is unable to travel with the team due to injury. Smyth said: “My heart goes out to Cian who had a excellent tour of Belgium but has unfortunately broken his arm. These things happen in sport but Cian will react well to this setback and will come back stronger for it next year. “This has been an incredible group to work with so far. The attitude and commitment they have shown in the face of exam pressures has been superb. It was a real challenge for the coaching staff to cut to 18 players as the quality throughout the training squad was so high. “Those players who have missed out will have an opportunity to train with the squad right up to the tournament such was the close margin for selection.” “Currently the most important things for those selected is to focus on their exams and keep a good level of physical conditioning. We have gone to regional sessions for the next month in order to minimise travel and maximise study time before coming together again at the end of June for matches vs Scotland.” Ireland get their campaign underway on July 6 against Ukraine, before facing the hosts and Switzerland in the group stages. France, Wales, Italy and the emerging Croatia could potentially lie in wait in the playoff stages. Meanwhile, Ireland U18 coach Mary Logue has also pared her squad back to 18 as her side go in search of success at the European Youth Nations Championships, to be held at Nivelles in Belgium in July. Having watched her troops in action against Scotland earlier this month – losing 2-0 but bouncing back to win the second game 6-0 – Logue has named an exciting squad packed with talent. Greenfields’ Dora Gorman, Hermes pair Chloe Watkins and Niamh Atcheler and Catholic Institute’s Naomi Carroll are among those seemingly destined for great things, and Logue yesterday lauded her players for giving her “difficult decisions” to make.

“The commitment shown by the players has been fantastic to date, especially given that a number of the training panel are currently preparing for exams,” she said. Ireland will compete in an initial group phase against England, France and Belgium before entering the crossover phases with Holland, Germany, Lithuania and Russia. Ireland senior men’s squad to play Wales in Wrexham: D Harte (GK, Pembroke Wanderers), I Walker (GK, YMCA), R Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers, capt), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), J Brennan (Glenanne), C Harte (Pembroke Wanderers), J Jackson (Loughborough), G Shaw (Glenanne, vice-capt), S Butler (Glenanne), D Hobbs (Cork C of I, vice-capt), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), A McConnell (Three Rock Rovers), G McCabe (Banbridge), E Magee (Banbridge), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), M Darling (Three Rock Rovers), A Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers), M Watt (Grange). Irish U18 Boy’s squad for EuroHockey Youth Nations Trophy, Vienna, July 6-11th): A Thom (Cookstown), S West (Three Rock Rovers), P Brown (Banbridge), S Forbes (Banbridge), S Cole (Monkstown), K Lynch (Cork C of I), S Hunter (Lisnagarvey), D Carson (Corinthians), S Loughrey (Pembroke Wanderers), P MacDonnell (Lisnagarvey), P Purcell (Annadale), M Crooks (Cookstown), I Sloan (Cookstown), K Good (Three Rock Rovers), S Dowds (Banbridge), S O’Donoghue (Glennane), J Ames (Cookstown), S O’Grady (Cork C of I) Ireland U18 squad for EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships: SJ Greer (GK, Coleraine/Ballymoney), E Molloy (GK, Colaiste Iognaid/Galway), N Atcheler (St Andrews/Hermes), N Barr (Lurgan/Lurgan), N Carroll (St Patricks Comprehensive/Catholic Institute), K Codyre (Colaiste Iognaid/Greenfields), D Duke (Alexandra College/Hermes), B Flannery (Captain) (Colaiste Iognaid/Greenfields), O Fox (Mount Sackville/Pembroke Wanderers), S Greene (Loreto Foxrock/Hermes), H Matthews (Loreto Beaufort/Loreto), A Meeke (High School/Loreto), AM Morton (Royal School Armagh/Armagh), D Gorman (Taylors Hill/Greenfields), G Pinder (St Andrews and Hermes), V Surgeoner (Ballyclare/Randalstown), L Trainor (Colaiste Iognaid/Galway), C Watkins (St Andrews/Hermes)