Some of world hockey’s big hitters will descend on Dublin next month as University College Dublin becomes the focal points for two top-class tournaments.
With pivotal European Championship campaigns on the horizon in August for Ireland’s senior teams as they bid to secure European qualification, the women’s FIH Champions Challenge I and the men’s Four Nations tournaments will provide vital preparation.
Gene Muller’s women’s side have been drawn in Pool B against world number 10 Spain, India (11th) and Azerbaijan (14th), with Scotland, Japan, South Africa and the USA making up the other pool at the competition, which will run from June 18-26 at Belfield.
Ireland, at 15th, will be the second lowest world-ranked side in the competition, recent nemesis Scotland at 21 the side below them, and are set to face a gruelling test against sides directly above them in the listings.
The tournament, though, represents a good opportunity to boost their world ranking as they have effectively been promoted a level after a third place finish in the Challenge II in Kazan, Russia two years ago.
Running roughly alongside that tournament will be the men’s UCD Four Nations Cup, which sees Paul Revington’s Ireland, currently ranked 18th in the world, take on Pakistan, China and France ranked 8th, 14th and 17th respectively.
The glamour at this tournament will come from Pakistan, who last visited these shores for the Setanta Sports Trophy in 2008. The maverick Asian side are currently in the midst of a resurgence following a turbulent 2010 which saw the entire team forced to announce their international retirement by a senior official, after a poor showing at the World Cup.
Things have settled down in the Green Shirts camp since, and earlier this month they reached the final of the Azlan Shah Cup where they went 3-2 to Australia.
Both the women’s and men’s tournaments were launched last night at UCD’s International Lounge, with Irish Hockey Association president Herbie Sharman insisting all in Irish hockey were “very excited at the prospect of the world-class hockey which we will witness in these two tournaments”.
He added: “Naturally our eye will be focused on our Irish teams, both competitions providing valuable preparation for our participation in the European Championships in Germany in August where a berth in the London Olympics is offered.”
The event was attended by the FIH’s Communications manager Jennifer Wiedeke along with ambassadors and representatives of the embassies of India, Pakistan, France, China, South Africa and Japan, representatives from UCD, as well as Irish senior international players and coaches.
Sharman’s words of welcome were echoed by Liam Molloy, General Manager ESB Electric Ireland, Brian Mullins Director of Sport at UCD and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Cathaoirleach Lettie McCarthy.
