Shaw named as Ireland U18 boys coach

Graham Shaw has been appointed as the Irish U18 boys coach as he aims to impart some of the top level knowledge garnered in over 150 international caps.

Since retiring from the national side, he has taken up a full time coaching position at Rathdown school while also is the co-coach with both Glenanne and Loreto’s first teams. With the latter, he won the 2010 Irish Senior Cup on the same day he claimed the cup with Glenanne while he worked with the Ireland A at the Celtic Cup in 2010 and was head coach for the senior men when they played Egypt last summer. He is joined by Lisnagarvey’s Mark Murray as the U18 manager, the current captain of the Irish Masters team. Speaking about Shaw’s appointment, the Irish Hockey Association’s high performance director said: “He is an excellent appointment for this key group of players. “He will bring a natural enthusiasm and passion to the role that the players will feed off and playing experience that will help these young developing players develop a full understanding of what it takes to play at this level of the game.” The Ireland U18 squad for 2012 has yet to be finalised though a first trial was held before Christmas under the guidance of Turloch Ó Siocháin, with five Munster players involved.