HOCKEY: Ireland coach Dave Passmore yesterday named his squad for the forthcoming European Championships, which take place in Rome from September 11th to 17th.
In a tight selection process, Passmore has again gone for experience, with the result that the less experienced Phelie Maguire, Tim Cockram and Eugene Magee have missed out in the final selection of 18.
Three goalkeepers are named in the travelling party: Charlie and Nigel Henderson and Wesley Bateman. But that three will be reduced to two before the competition begins.
Top domestic marksmen, Stephen Butler, Justin Sherriff and Mark Irwin are also included as Ireland seek to claim their rightful position in the top echelon of European hockey.
In Pool A with Wales, Russia and Belarus, Ireland will be aiming to win their group and make it to the final of the tournament.
That would place the team in the elite end of European hockey, where the Irish women's team are currently competing.
A tournament win would also give the team a chance to play in the next World Cup qualifying event, in China. Only the tournament winners will be afforded that opportunity.
As part of their warm-up for the European Championships, Passmore's team will play two test matches against Italy, on August 26th and 28th, which, all things considered, is a surprising decision.
Italy are likely winners of Pool B, which contains themselves, the Austrians, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. And so there is a strong possibility Ireland will meet Italy in one of their crossover matches.
One envisages that nothing much will be given away in the warm-up games, but at least they will give the Irish time to get used to the pitch.
Ireland may also play against Austria a few days before the European Championships.
"I would have liked to have taken more of the younger players," said Passmore. "But the guys in the final 18 are there on merit."
IRISH SQUAD
A Barbour, W Bateman, J Black, M Black, P Brown, K Burns, S Butler, G Elliott, M Gleghorne, C Henderson, N Henderson, D Hobbs, M Irwin, I Lewers, M Raphael, G Shaw, J Sherriff, D Smyth, B Waring. Coach: D Passmore. Manager: S Hiles.
