Ireland gets EHL rankings boost

Ireland will have two representatives at the top table of European club hockey next season, it was confirmed yesterday. Thanks to Three Rock Rovers’ achievements in reaching the last 16 of the EuroHockey League (EHL) and Pembroke Wanderers’ success in winning the EuroHockey Club Trophy last weekend, Ireland has jumped three places in the EHL rankings. Ireland surged ahead of Scotland, Poland and Russia to move from 10th to seventh in the official rankings released yesterday. Poland maintain their two entries, but Scotland were the big losers, going from two spots down to one. With the Irish Hockey Association deeming that the winners of the Irish Hockey League (IHL) and Irish Senior Cup (ISC) will take the two available spots, it represents a huge opportunity for Cookstown. Despite failing to win a single game in the IHL — which is played under much of the same rules as the EHL — they have progressed to their first ISC final in 22 years. Champions Pembroke will provide the opposition next weekend, and the Dubliners are also in with a shout of winning the IHL. Should they carry off both titles, the IHL runners-up will take the second EHL slot.