A flurry of coaching appointments were announced by the Irish Hockey Association today, with continuity between the senior and U21 setups the primary concern.
It was a busy day for Graham Shaw in particular; as well as confirming 16 of the 18 players who will lineout for his Irish U18 Boys side at this summer’s European championships in Poland, he was also named as Irish senior women’s assistant coach and U21 women’s coach.
It follows a remarkable club season with Loreto and Monkstown, winning the Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey League double with the latter while reaching the women’s IHL final with Loreto.
Shaw yesterday named two Munster men – C of I’s Gary Wilkinson and Alex Burns (pictured, below) – in his Irish U18 side for Poland, with Simon Wolfe among a group of four players, two of which will be selected for the tournament.
Shaw said of the panel: “This is a very talented group of players and the expectation of Irish Hockey is that we will get our U18 age group back to the A division where we feel they should be. Promotion is our primary goal and the best way to do that is to win the tournament.”
He’ll be joined on Darren Smith’s senior coaching ticket by Mary Logue — who like Shaw, played over 150 times for Ireland — as she vacates her position as Hermes coach to assist Smith.
Logue (pictured, above) worked with the squad on an interim basis at World League 2 in Valencia in Smith’s first official tournament outing as head coach. Logue has also served as Head Coach of the Ireland U18 Girls from 2007 to 2009 and has been coaching Hermes for the past two seasons having led UCD to the Irish Senior Cup in 2009.
Meanwhile, Irish senior men’s strength and conditioning coach Jonny Caren was announced as U21 men’s coach.
Caren, also the coach of Belfast Harlequins, is currently away on duty with the Irish senior men’s team as they prepare for two games against the Olympic champions Germany this weekend.
They play a training match this evening before two official international ties take place in Mannheim on Friday evening (4.30pm) and Saturday afternoon (2pm)
Ireland U18: Gavin Adams (GK, Methody/Lisnagarvey), Jamie Carr (GK, St Andrews/Monkstown), Mark Loughrey (St Andrew’s/Pembroke), David Kane (St Kilian’s/Pembroke), Luke Madeley (Wesley/Three Rock Rovers), James Lorimer (RBAI/Lisnagarvey), Lee Cole (St Andrew’s/Monkstown), Johnny McKee (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Michael Robson (Sullivan Upper/Annadale), Alex Burns (Midleton/Cork C of I), Ben Campbell (St Andrew’s/YMCA), Kevin Mullins (Mount Temple/Clontarf), Gary Wilkinson (Ashton/Cork C of I), Sam O’Connor (St Benildus/Glenanne), Harry Morris (St Columba’s/Three Rock Rovers), Ben Cosgrove (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge)
Two from the following four to be added to main panel following Scotland series in late June: Simon Wolfe (Ashton/Cork C of I), Neil Byrne (St Colmcilles/Glenanne), George Dagg (Sandford Park/Pembroke), Brian O’Malley (Castleknock/Glenanne)
Manager: Mark Murray
Coach: Graham Shaw
Asst. Coach: Gareth Evans
Video: Gareth Borland
Irish Senior men’s international match Schedule:
Friday, May 17: Ireland v Germany 4.30pm (Irish time)
Saturday, May 18: Ireland v Germany 2pm (Irish time)
Shaw yesterday named two Munster men – C of I’s Gary Wilkinson and Alex Burns (pictured, below) – in his Irish U18 side for Poland, with Simon Wolfe among a group of four players, two of which will be selected for the tournament.
Shaw said of the panel: “This is a very talented group of players and the expectation of Irish Hockey is that we will get our U18 age group back to the A division where we feel they should be. Promotion is our primary goal and the best way to do that is to win the tournament.”
He’ll be joined on Darren Smith’s senior coaching ticket by Mary Logue — who like Shaw, played over 150 times for Ireland — as she vacates her position as Hermes coach to assist Smith.
Logue (pictured, above) worked with the squad on an interim basis at World League 2 in Valencia in Smith’s first official tournament outing as head coach. Logue has also served as Head Coach of the Ireland U18 Girls from 2007 to 2009 and has been coaching Hermes for the past two seasons having led UCD to the Irish Senior Cup in 2009.
Meanwhile, Irish senior men’s strength and conditioning coach Jonny Caren was announced as U21 men’s coach.
Caren, also the coach of Belfast Harlequins, is currently away on duty with the Irish senior men’s team as they prepare for two games against the Olympic champions Germany this weekend.
They play a training match this evening before two official international ties take place in Mannheim on Friday evening (4.30pm) and Saturday afternoon (2pm)
Ireland U18: Gavin Adams (GK, Methody/Lisnagarvey), Jamie Carr (GK, St Andrews/Monkstown), Mark Loughrey (St Andrew’s/Pembroke), David Kane (St Kilian’s/Pembroke), Luke Madeley (Wesley/Three Rock Rovers), James Lorimer (RBAI/Lisnagarvey), Lee Cole (St Andrew’s/Monkstown), Johnny McKee (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Michael Robson (Sullivan Upper/Annadale), Alex Burns (Midleton/Cork C of I), Ben Campbell (St Andrew’s/YMCA), Kevin Mullins (Mount Temple/Clontarf), Gary Wilkinson (Ashton/Cork C of I), Sam O’Connor (St Benildus/Glenanne), Harry Morris (St Columba’s/Three Rock Rovers), Ben Cosgrove (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge)
Two from the following four to be added to main panel following Scotland series in late June: Simon Wolfe (Ashton/Cork C of I), Neil Byrne (St Colmcilles/Glenanne), George Dagg (Sandford Park/Pembroke), Brian O’Malley (Castleknock/Glenanne)
Manager: Mark Murray
Coach: Graham Shaw
Asst. Coach: Gareth Evans
Video: Gareth Borland
Irish Senior men’s international match Schedule:
Friday, May 17: Ireland v Germany 4.30pm (Irish time)
Saturday, May 18: Ireland v Germany 2pm (Irish time)