Ireland’s veterans are on the lookout for players after they received an invitation to take part in the 2009 International Masters Hockey Tournament in Hong Kong next October.
In recent years, the squad has been mainly Ulster-based, led by experienced players such as Marty Sloan, though the likes of Bandon’s Ger Burns and Cork Harlequins’ Stuart Egner have joined the squad in recent times.
This year, the management are looking to cast their net wider to get the best players available involved.
Players are aged over 40 on 31st December 2008 (certified by copy of passport as per tournament rules) are invited to contact Sam Ireland (sam.ireland@btinternet.com) should they wish to take part.
Responses are requested as soon as possible, as the invitation needs to be accepted by mid-January should the interest be there.
Mr Ireland said that while international recognition wasn’t a pre-requisite for taking part, players should still be playing at a decent level and be in good physical shape.
He added that unless Ireland can field a serious team, they are unlikely to accept the invite, having seen the fate befallen by Italy a couple of seasons ago.
They arrived at a tournament with a team of mixed standard and were shown no mercy by the better sides in the tournament, losing by cricket scores as a result.
Some of world hockey’s big hitters, including Australia, Germany, Holland and New Zealand have already announced their intention to take part.
