IHA begin second Olympic talent search

The Irish Hockey Association begins its annual search for the stars of the future this weekend, with Cork one of their first ports of call. The Talent ID Olympic talent search, now in its second year, aims to unearth boys and girls aged between 11 and 14 who may not yet have been exposed to the game. The attributes they are after include athleticism (speed, balance, agility), games awareness developed from playing other sports and good hand-eye co-ordination, which may have been picked up from sports such as hurling and tennis. A further requirement, according to the association, is “a desire to be involved (in) sport at a high level, and to represent your country at an Olympic games”. Prior experience is not considered essential, as much of the sessions will take place minus a stick and ball.

Catholic Institute’s Naomi Carroll has been cited by the likes of Mick McKinnon and Phil Oakley as a prime example of the talent that can be brought to their attention outside of the usual school and provincial routes. The St Pat’s Comprehensive, Shannon starlet made a huge impression upon breaking into the Irish U16 team – one of 10 girls and three boys to do so via the Talent ID process – by top-scoring for Ireland at the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships and progressing early to the U18 squad, for whom she is in action with in Scotland this weekend. The role played by GAA in equipping players with the hand-eye co-ordination for hockey is well-known at this stage. Irish women’s skipper Eimear Cregan was an Ashbourne Cup camogie star while at UL, while international colleagues Miriam Crowley and Aine Connery have been doing likewise this season with UCC. Banbridge and Ireland forward Eugene Magee was a Down minor, while Emer Dillon combines her hockey duties with Railway with winning All-Irelands with the Cork camogie side. Another starlet beginning to show the benefits of a GAA skill set is Munster U21 and Bandon prodigy Síle Johnson. Three of the 14 screening dates to take place over the coming weeks will be in Munster, at a cost of€17 per player. They are: Monday May 11: Garryduff, Cork – 5.30pm-9pm (boys) Wednesday May 13: Garryduff, Cork – 5.30pm-9pm (girls) Saturday May 16: Rosbrien, Limerick – 2.30pm-5.30pm (mixed) A full list of screening dates, plus the registration form for the Talent ID screening days can be found here.