Jermyn still among Irish injury concerns

John Jermyn and Ronan Gormley will both miss Ireland’s second Spanish training camp as coach Paul Revington has been forced to shuffle his deck somewhat. Injury to his central panel was a rarity in 2011 but leaves the Irish boss with a string of concerns ahead of next month’s Olympic qualifiers in Dublin. Jermyn (ankle) is one such worry while skipper Gormley (knee) and schoolboy David Cole (broken shoulder) also miss out on the Valencia trip. Cork C of I drag-flicker Jermyn is not always a starter for Ireland these days but his drag-flicking ability – along with Timmy Cockram’s – remains vital to Ireland’s cause. The ankle injury suffered while training with his club last October, which restricted him to minimal game-time in the series against the Netherlands last month, is still causing concern.

Richard Sykes and Brian Doherty both fit the bill as defenders with corner skills to fill the gap while utility man Bruce McCandless is available after injury and has the edge in experience. On the goalkeeping front, Ian Hughes steps out with Stephen West moving up as number three keeper following Iain Walker’s shoulder surgery last week. Centurion Phelie Maguire has been added to the panel as part of a half-dozen players taking the place of a quartet of the Alicante selection for the latest 26 player panel. On the trip, Ireland will play five matches against sides ranked higher in the world; Spain twice and Belgium three times. They are coming off the back of two draws with Great Britain at Bisham Abbey; notable results in their own right but the side were annoyed not to have eked out a win. Paul Gleghorne – whose brother Mark, a former Irish international, lined out for GB – finished off a fine team goal in game one (1-1) while Timmy Cockram’s pair of drag-flicks, including one on the final hooter, salvaged a 2-2 draw in the second encounter. Ireland (Valencia, February 4-13): David Ames (Beeston), Jonny Bell (Lisnagarvey), Peter Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers), Chris Cargo (Reading), Peter Caruth (Annadale), Tim Cockram (Lisnagarvey), Mitch Darling (SCHC), Brian Doherty (Beerschot), David Fitzgerald (Monkstown), Paul Gleghorne (Instonians), Conor Harte (SCHC), David Harte (SCHC), John Jackson (Braxgata), Stuart Loughrey (Loughborough Students), Jason Lynch (Royal Racing Club Brussels), Eugene Magee (Dragons), Phelie Maguire (Hurley), Geoff McCabe (R.S. Tenis), Bruce McCandless (Banbridge), Andy McConnell (Hurley), Shane O’Donoghue (UCD), Ian Sloan (Cookstown), Richard Sykes (Monkstown), Gareth Watkins (Monkstown), Michael Watt (R.S. Tenis), Stephen West (Three Rock Rovers) Match schedule: February 6: Ireland v Spain, 12pm;  February 8: Ireland v Belgium, 12pm; February 9: Ireland v Belgium, 12pm; February 12: Ireland v Belgium, 4pm; February 13: Ireland v Spain, 12pm