The Irish men’s hockey team has been strengthened by the return of several experienced players for their World Cup Qualifier in Cardiff (21st-24th October). The women’s team also takes part in an equivalent World Cup Qualifier in Pisa over the same weekend. The two competitions are knockout events.
Important tournaments for both national sides, the qualifiers will determine the level of hockey Ireland play over the next year with the women’s team especially under some pressure as they reached the World Cup final in London 2018.
The Irish men, ranked 14 in the world, need to win their first two games, beginning with 23rd ranked Russia, to earn a place at the 2023 World Cup finals in India.
It has been a quick turnaround since division two of the Euro competition in Poland last August, where Ireland, featuring eight tournament debutants, took bronze in a first competitive outing in almost two years.
Olympian Conor Harte has returned to the fold with Luke Madeley, Jamie Carr and Lee Cole also available, having missed out on playing time at the Euros when they were deemed close contacts in the lead-up to the event. Carr and Madeley spent 10 days in a Gniezno hotel in quarantine.
“There is more experience in this squad and, with the straight knockout format of the tournament, I feel experience will be very important,” said Irish coach Mark Tumilty.
“With Lee Cole and Luke Madeley available along with Tim Cross and Conor Harte, we have plenty of experience in our back four. The other big positive in the squad is that Luke Madeley, Lee Cole, Conor Empey and Conor Harte offer good attacking penalty corner options in addition to Shane O’Donoghue.”
Should Ireland win their opening game against the Russians, they will face either Wales or Italy on Saturday, October 23rd for a place at the World Cup.
Ireland men’s squad for World Cup qualifiers (club/caps)
Jamie Carr (GK, KHC Leuven, 34)
Mark Ingram (GK, Pembroke, 27)
Tom Cross (Annadale, 22)
Luke Madeley (KHC Leuven, 23)
Lee Cole (Monkstown, 90)
Conor Harte (KHC Dragons, 254)
Peter McKibbin (Lisnagarvey, 8)
Kyle Marshall (Old Georgians, 7)
Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne, 197)
Sean Murray (captain, KHC Leuven, 85)
Neal Glassey (Crefelder HTC, 67)
Daragh Walsh (KHC Leuven, 58)
Michael Robson (Annadale, 120)
Johnny McKee (Banbridge, 49)
Conor Empey (SCHC, 2)
Sam Hyland (YMCA, 2)
Ben Walker (Braxgata, 42)
Jeremy Duncan (Monkstown, 63)
FIH Men’s World Cup 2023 - European qualifier (Cardiff, October 21st-24th, 2021)
Thursday, October 21st: Ireland v Russia, 4pm
Saturday, October 23rd: semi-final
Sunday, October 24th: final/classification matches
