Harte twins Holland-bound

Cork-born brothers Conor and David Harte have joined the exodus of Irish men’s international players, having decided to take up opportunities to play in the Dutch hoofdklasse with SCHC. While the Bilthoven-based outfit will not contest the EuroHockey League next season, goalkeeper David and defender Conor will have their abilities tested to the full in one of the strongest domestic leagues in the world. They are one of a number of internationals on the move; while the women’s international side are centralising in Dublin, the men’s are taking the opposite tack by scattering their way around Europe.

Pembroke Wanderers are the main side to suffer; as well as the Hartes, they will be without Irish skipper Ronan Gormley and Andy McConnell next season. Gormley has returned to Club de Campo in Madrid, where he enjoyed a successful season back in 2004 when on Erasmus in his university days. McConnell has returned to Amsterdam’s Hurley after a three year stint in Dublin. With Mitch Darling – who will reach 50 caps on his next appearance – moving from KHC Leuven to Den Bosch, it brings the number of Dutch-based players in this Irish squad to four. The Harte brothers are due for training on September 1, making it a quick dash from Paris back to Ireland and then on to Holland, following an intense two-week session with the Irish panel. Another quartet of Irishmen are based in Belgium; Michael Watt, Eugene Magee and Geoff McCabe have been plying their trade with the Dragons, while Phelie Maguire lines out for KHC Leuven. David Ames is on the move to Nottingham’s Beeston from Cookstown for their EHL campaign, while Chris Cargo confirmed he will stay with Reading as he completes his studies in England. One player travelling the other way is recent new addition to the 50-cap club, John Jackson, who returns to Mossley after a stint with Loughborough Uni. It all means that the 17-strong squad named by national coach Paul Revington for this week’s Five Nations tournament in Paris is largely dominated by foreign-based players; just five of the panel play their club hockey here. Revington will bring the 16 players which lined out against Malaysia in the fourth of their test matches last weekend to Paris for this week’s Five Nations’ event with Iain Walker travelling as the 17th man and Peter Caruth as a non-travelling reserve.

C of I’s John Jermyn was due to make a return to the Irish jersey against Malaysia last week but failed to do so and misses out again here, while fellow Cork men Jason Lynch and Adam Pritchard are also absent. The side flew out today for the five day event which sees Ireland pit their wits against the hosts France, Poland and the Commonwealth-bound Scotland and Malaysia. Speaking about the tournament, meanwhile, Revington said: “France has done really well to put together an event for various countries that have not benefited from a World Cup or Champions Trophy in 2010. The team will play four games in five days on the back of several tests against Malaysia – a period of competition that we are very pleased to be involved in.” Ireland: David Harte (GK, SCHC, Netherlands), Iain Walker (GK, YMCA), David Ames (Beeston, England), Chris Cargo (Reading, England), Timmy Cockram (Lisnagarvey), Mitch Darling (Den Bosch, Netherlands), Alan Giles (Pembroke), Paul Gleghorne (Loughborough Uni, England), Ronan Gormley (capt, Club de Campo, Spain), Conor Harte (SCHC, Netherlands), John Jackson (Mossley), Eugene Magee (Dragons, Belgium), Phelie Maguire (KHC Leuven, Belgium) Geoff McCabe (Dragons, Belgium), Andy McConnell (Hurley, Netherlands), Alan Sothern (Pembroke), Joe Brennan (Glenanne). Non-travelling reserve: Peter Caruth (Annadale) Match Schedule – Five Nations, Paris August 25 (3pm): Ireland v Poland August 26 (5pm): Ireland v France August 28 (2.30pm): Ireland v Malaysia August 29 (1.30pm): Ireland v Scotland