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Irish Hockey Internationals awarded Trinity Sport Scholars Awards.

Three Irish Hockey athletes among those at Trinity Sports Awards. Well done to all.

Trinity College Dublin Sport Scholars:

Katie Mullan – Hockey

Laura Noble – Hockey

Sam Hickmott – Hockey

 

Trinity Sport unveiled its sport scholars for the 2022 / 23 season on Monday, 21st November at an event for family and friends at the Dining Hall, Trinity College Dublin. This year’s awardees, comprising of 27 Trinity Sports scholars and 33 club academy scholars will represent Trinity this season in a wide variety of sports including rugby, basketball, GAA, rowing and cricket.

Maire Treasa Ni Cheallaigh presented the awards on the night and Trinity student-athletes Joe McCarthy (International Rugby player), Rebecca Stokell (International Cricket player) and Katie Mullan (International hockey player) took part in a ‘dual career: combining sports and studies’ panel discussion on the night.

Sadhbh Doyle, Gavin Hoey and Harry Sheridan were recognised as Trevor West Sport Scholarship athletes for their contribution to their respective sports at Trinity and outstanding performances. Giulia Anderlini and Niamh Kenny were recognised as K.O Lee Basketball sport scholarship athletes. This is award is in association with Trinity Meteors, this scholarship is in memory of K.O. Lee, Trinity alumnus and coach of the Meteors Ladies Basketball team in the 1970s.

Linda Doyle, Provost, Trinity College Dublin commented on the night, “I would like to congratulate all our student-athletes who are receiving scholarships. It is impressive to see how they balance their commitment to sports with their commitment to their studies. This takes a lot of hard work and dedication. The scholarships will enable our student-athletes to continue to pursue their passion for sport while also benefiting from the excellent educational opportunities at Trinity. I am delighted to celebrate the students’ achievements and award these scholarships in recognition of such exceptional sporting ability.”

Michelle Tanner, Director of Sport and Physical Activity, Trinity College Dublin commented on the night, “We’re delighted to be celebrating the strongest calibre of student-athletes that we’ve had for many years, certainly in the history of the Trinity Sport Scholarship awards programme. It is quite outstanding the number and level of student-athletes that we have in Trinity including international, senior county and academy pathway athletes. We’re very excited about their prospects and potential over the coming months and years.”

Prof. Catherine McCabe, Dean of Students, Trinity College Dublin commented, “To our student-athletes, congratulations on receiving a place on this year’s Trinity Sports Scholarship Programme. This scholarship recognises your achievements so far, and importantly, your potential to go even further. All of you here today come from a wide range of sports, including athletics, basketball, GAA, rowing, cricket, and rugby. It is our commitment to ensure all our student-athletes get the full support and backing of the University to compete regionally, nationally and at international levels while also being able to excel in your academic course.”

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Sports Energy Support Scheme

Last week Sport Ireland opened the application process for €35 million of funding in response to the rising energy costs crisis.

The purpose of the funding, which was secured as part of Budget 2023, is to support National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and their affiliated Clubs with the rising energy costs associated with the provision of sport throughout the winter period.

Depending on the level of submissions, the outcome of those deliberations will be communicated to NGBs in December. NGBs will begin the disbursement of this funding to their relevant clubs, affiliate organisations from January 2023 onwards.

Hockey Ireland is seeking applications for funding from all clubs in ROI for the ‘Sports Energy Support Scheme’. This can be done by filling in the form at the following link:

https://forms.office.com/r/1xKmxu5wNE

If you have any further queries, please contact your Regional Development Officer (https://hockey.ie/my-hockey/)

The closing date for applications is Thursday 24th 12:00.

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Irish-based coaches selected for the EHF’s elite coaching program

Coaches 4 Europe (C4E) is a global coaching initiative. It is intended to inspire coaches to consider coaching philosophy via individual technical, individual tactical, and team tactics.

It is intended for coaches who have already advanced in their development and have the potential to become high-performing coaches in their chosen environment.

The following Irish-based coaches were selected:

Jack Kyle (Ireland)
Kay Gaffney (Ireland)
Leanne King (Ireland)

The EHF Top Coaches Programme (TCP) is a global coaching development programme. It is intended to get instructors thinking about elite coaching concepts.

The curriculum will aid in growing their goal to provide world-class performances, in addition to practical implementations ranging from on-field strategies to the philosophy of leading top teams.

The following Irish-based coaches were selected:

Eimear Cregan (Ireland)

Jason Klinkradt (Ireland)

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EY Hockey League Round 7 Preview

Round 7 of the EY Hockey League this weekend.

This weekend a doubleheader will be live-streamed on our Youtube channel. Watch Pembroke M1 take on Glenanne and Pembroke L1 take on Monkstown. Hockey Ireland YouTube

Fixtures
Saturday 11th November

MEN
Three Rock Rovers v Monkstown – 1:00 pm at Grange Road 

Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne – 2:00 pm at Serpentine Avenue 

Annadale v Cookstown – 2:30 pm at Lagan College 

Lisnagarvey v YMCA – 3:00 pm at Lisnagarvey HC 

Banbridge v Instonians – 6:00 pm at Havelock Park 

WOMEN

Catholic Institute v Ards 1:00 pm at Rosbrien 

Loreto v UCD 1:15 pm at Loreto Beaufort 

Railway Union v Old Alex 1:30 pm at Park Avenue 

Belfast Harlequins v Pegasus 2:30 pm at Deramore Park 

Pembroke Wanderers v Monkstown 4:00 pm at Serpentine Avenue 

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EuroHockey Club of the Year 2022

EuroHockey has opened the nomination period for the annual Club of the Year awards, celebrating the best in grassroots hockey across the continent.

The competition is split into two sections: nominations are the Large Club of the Year are open to those with over 300 members with the Small Club of the Year award open for outfits with under 300 members.

The guiding theme for this year’s awards is Volunteers, focusing on what has your club done for volunteers, the local community and development in 2022?

“Each edition the Eurohockey Club of the Year is a great event, showing what our clubs in Europe are capable of,” said EHF Development Committee Chair Peter Elders. 

“It is always a great joy to be able to celebrate this with the winners. I invite all clubs, large and small, to give it a try.”

The winning nominations go beyond the simple winning of trophies with awards going to those clubs who develop themselves, their local communities and make hockey more inclusive.

Each winner will receive:

  • a financial award of €1,000
  • an EHF Club of the Year Pennant
  • and a VIP visit by an EuroHockey ambassador to present the awards

The competition is open to all clubs affiliated to a national federation under the auspices of the European Hockey Federation. They will look to follow in the footsteps of 2021 winners KHC Dragons (large club) and City of Birmingham (small club).

To nominate your club please do not hesitate to nominate them before the deadline of October 31st 2022 via the following link:  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EHClubofYear2022

Please note, following your submission, EuroHockey will check your club’s eligibility with your National Association before any decision.

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EY Ireland extends sponsorship of Hockey League

Dublin, 13 September 2022: EY Ireland has announced it will continue as official sponsor the Irish Hockey League, Irelands highest performing hockey competition on the island of Ireland for a further three years.

The EY Irish Hockey League (EYHL) with ten men and ten women’s teams from around the Island of Ireland coming together to compete. Matches are scheduled to take to the pitch for the first round of the Men’s and Women’s EYHL this weekend on Saturday 17th of September, while the EYHL 2 returns to action on the 12th of November.

Covering all four provinces, the all-island EYHL will see twenty of Ireland’s top male and female clubs battle it out to become league champions over 20 weeks of exciting, fast-paced hockey.
The top six in each competition advance to the EY Champions Trophy where the ultimate champion for the season is determined at an end of season festival, showcasing the men’s and women’s grand finals on an equal basis.
The sponsorship also supports the EY Hockey League Division 2 (EYHL2), which will also feature 10 men’s teams and ten women’s teams, the top two of which will win promotions to the EYHL for the following season via an end of season playoff series.
The EYHL and EYHL2 showcase some of Ireland’s top players and has provided a vital stage for club players on their road to the international arena and, notably, the World Cup and Olympic Games.
EY Ireland has been the primary sponsor of the Irish Hockey League since 2016 with the formation of the EY Hockey League and its subsequent expansion to feature a second tier in 2019 The competition has since become universally known as the EYHL, a measure of the intrinsic link between sponsor and competition and provides an elite hockey competition on an equal basis to male and female players.

Frank O’Keeffe, Managing Partner for EY Ireland: “We are proud to announce EY Ireland’s continued sponsorship of the Irish Hockey League for a further three years. Hockey embodies strong team building and a great commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equality, values that are integral to EY. This partnership highlights our commitment to building the highest performing diverse teams and to celebrating the amazing men and women who participate in this incredible sport at a national level. We look forward to the continued success of all of the teams in the league over the coming three years as we have proudly done since 2016.”

 

Ronan Murphy, CEO of Hockey League Ireland: “We are delighted to have the continued support of EY Ireland for another three years. The support over the past seven years has been game-changing for clubs in Ireland, enabling them to hone their skills and match their ambition at an elevated level of competition. EY Ireland’s sponsorship is invaluable to raising the game, assisting with the organisation and promotion of the EY Hockey League, its high quality of matches, and ensuring clubs across the island are able to compete at the highest levels. It is no coincidence that our international teams have enjoyed an almost unprecedented run of success in the last decade, with Olympic and World Cup qualification for both genders. We are really looking forward to some top-class matches taking place over the coming season as we embark upon what promises to be a highly competitive 2022/23 season.”

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Ireland defeat Turkey but miss out on top tier qualification

EuroHockey Championship qualifiers

Ireland 9 (B Walker 3, J McKee 2, S Murray 2, M Robson, L Madeley) Turkey 0

Ireland closed out their EuroHockey Championship qualifier with a comprehensive 9-0 win over Turkey but ultimately finished runners-up to tournament hosts France in Calais.
It means they will contest the second tier of the European Championships next summer which, on the current basis, could offer one place in the Olympic qualifier events for Paris 2024.

 

The first half against the Turks was a slightly sleepy affair befitting the 10am Saturday morning start. Sean Murray smacked in a fourth minute effort from Walker’s pass but, otherwise, they found Turkey’s deep-lying defence tricky to unpick.

 

That changed in the second half with eight more goals coming in the last 25 minutes. McKee got the credit for the second when he intercepted 40-metres from goal with his eventual cross turned in by a diving defender.

 

Walker deflected in a powerful hit from Neal Glassey; McKee finished off his 15th goal in 14 matches and Murray clipped in a tidy shot for 5-0 at the three quarter break.

 

Michael Robson’s penalty stroke, another smart finish from Walker and a Luke Madeley drag-flick made it eight. Walker completed the scoring with the pick of the goals in the dying seconds, a head-high volley from Daragh Walsh’s bouncing aerial ball into the circle.

 

And while coach Mark Tumilty was pleased with how his side finished, netting eight second half goals, the 4-1 loss to France was the defining memory.

 

“We were a bit slow to start which was expected after the disappointment of Thursday,” said Tumilty after the tie. “We played some good hockey in Q3 and Q4, scored some nice goals which is pleasing.

 

“But against France, we weren’t good enough. We can’t give a team of France’s standard a two-goal lead and expect to win the game. We can’t make the individual and collective errors and we didn’t create enough chances. You have to be clinical in a game of few chances.”

 

Next on the agenda is the FIH Nations Cup in South Africa which gets under way on November 28th. As such, the Irish men will be back together in two weeks time and have fixtures against England in October in the pipeline.

 

After that, they await the breakdown of continental places for the Olympic qualifiers which will be confirmed in late January

 

Ireland: M Ingram, L Madeley, J McKee, D Walsh, N Glassey, K Marshall, S Murray, M McNellis, J Duncan, B Walker, N Page

Subs: L Witherow, C Robson, K O’Dea, M Robson, J Lynch, S Hyland, J Carr

 

Turkey: M Teke, I Bakar, S Polat, R Kayar, F Atas, M Elagoz, H Tasar, E Durmus, O Karakus, M Ekinci, H Erdogan

Subs: Y Yilmaz, H Ozturk, C Aydin, B Erman, M Demirel, F Ozkurc, F Bursalioglu

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Irish men record biggest ever international victory

Men’s EuroHockey Championship qualifiers
Ireland 19 (L Madeley 4. J Duncan 3, J McKee 3, B Walker 3, M Robson 3, S Murray, D Walsh, L Witherow) Lithuania 0
Ireland’s men recorded their largest ever win as they swept aside Lithuania on day one of the EuroHockey Championship qualifiers in Calais.

Four goals from Luke Madeley along with hat tricks for Michael Robson, Jeremy Duncan, Jonny McKee and Ben Walker helped outdo the previous best of 13-0 against Malta in 2002 and Fiji in 2013.

They took the lead with barely 15 seconds on the clock with Madeley scoring from their first penalty corner chance.

Three further goals followed in a 39-second spell before the end of the first quarter for a 4-0 advantage. Duncan flicked home to start that run; skipper Sean Murray cracked home first time from a McKee assist and then McKee finished off a gorgeous interchange.

The second quarter proved harder to break through with just a Walker reverse-stick effort adding to the tally – 5-0 at half-time.

The record came into view in the third quarter with seven arriving in that 15-minute stanza as Lithuania were reduced to the role of spectators as they barely laid a stick on Ireland. Walker got his second while Duncan polished off a hat trick with a pair of goals within 45 seconds of each other.

Madeley’s second corner goal, a solo peach from Daragh Walsh and set piece efforts from Robson and McKee made it 12-0 with a full quarter remaining.

Madeley duly equalled the record with his third of the game and put Ireland over the total with eight minutes to go. Two more from Robson, one more each for McKee and Walker and a first international goal for Luke Witherow completed the 19.

It gave Ireland a winning start to the four-team competition from which the top side will qualify for next summer’s European Championships.

“I don’t think that scoreline is good for the game but we have to take into consideration in this tournament, there could be a lot of value on goal difference on Saturday morning,” Tumilty said afterwards.

“I am pleased we were clinical, executed some corners but apart from that, there is probably not a lot of value in it.”

Next up will be a completely different contest against the highest ranked side, France (11th in the world), with the winner likely to take control of the group.

“It is the one we spoke about since we came together in May and it is time for this group to produce a performance,” Tumilty said of that showdown.

“We have prepped well and the team know what is expected of them. We know there is a performance in there; corners will be a key area but we definitely have a good chance.”

Ireland: J Carr, L Madeley, J McKee, D Walsh, C Robson, K Marshall, S Murray, M McNellis, J Duncan, S Hyland, N Page
Subs: L Witherow, K O’Dea, N Glassey, M Robson, B Walker, J Lynch, M Ingram

Lithuania: N Andrasiunas, A Cesnulis, P Lakstauskas, A Burkot, M Pocevicius, R Stankevic, A Ridlauskas, A Jackevicius, J Bandziulis, E Ustinovicius
Subs: M Grubliauskas, P Sinkevicius, T Pabjianskas, I Balbatunovas

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Ireland off to flying start in EuroHockey qualifiers

Women’s EuroHockey Championship Qualifier

Ireland 3 (R Upton 2, D Duke) Poland 0

Ireland recorded a strong opening win in the Women’s EuroHockey Championship Qualifier B at the Sport Ireland Campus to head their group after day one.

 

Deirdre Duke opened the scoring in the second quarter with a deft touch to Katie Mullan’s cross and Róisín Upton added her 22nd and 23rd international goals to put the result beyond doubt.

 

It has Ireland top of the group after day one following a 1-1 draw between Turkey and Czech Republic, putting them in pole position for the one ticket to next summer’s European Championships, a key waypoint on the road to Paris 2024.

 

“It was always going to be a really tough game because we know the importance of these games and that brings a bit of stress. To get the result is really positive,” said coach Sean Dancer.

 

Poland – ranked 27th in the world, 14 places below Ireland – offered a new challenge to the Green Army, one which took the hosts took a while to break down.

 

In the first quarter, Michelle Carey and Hannah McLoughlin both had shots brilliantly saved by Marta Kucharska while Katie Mullan poked a chance wide.

 

They went in front after 19th minutes when Duke got the deftest of touches from a move set in motion by Caoimhe Perdue and crossed by Mullan.

 

Upton then slung home a powerful drag-flick from the Green Army’s second corner of the game to give extra daylight. Poland, though, fought back in the second half and had a couple of key chances which Ayeisha McFerran dealt with confidently.

 

Ireland missed out on two glorious chances to make the game extra safe with both Ellen Curran and Mullan denied at point-blank range by sub goalkeeper Anna Gabara.

 

It left some tension in the contest until Upton repeated the feat in the closing minutes with another low bullet for 3-0.

 

“We are playing a tournament where we don’t really understand the opposition and so there is a lot of figuring out and a little bit of chess playing in the game,” Dancer said of the challenge.

 

“We got the better of the first half and they probably got the better of the second. 2-0, we were never fully safe and they still had a chance. Their keeper made some really good saves and if we had put one away, the game would have been done a bit earlier.”

 

Ireland face the Czech Republic on Saturday morning in their second fixture of the tournament at 1pm at the Sport Ireland Campus before completing the competition on Sunday against Turkey.

 

Ireland: A McFerran, S McAuley, M Carey, R Upton, S Hawkshaw, K Mullan, H McLoughlin, L Tice, N Carroll, C Perdue, D Duke

Subs: N Carey, S Torrans, C Beggs, K McKee, C Hamill

 

Poland: M Kucharska, M Drozda, A Katerla, J Balcerzak, M Rybacha, M Polewczak, S Tatarczuk, W Blaszyk, B Strubbe, N Suszynska, D Mazur

Subs: M Czujewicz, A Szot, D Skoraszewska, K Diurczak, M Pabiniak, P Slawinska

 

Women’s EuroHockey Championship Qualifier

Czech Republic 1 (T Mejzlikova) Turkey 1 (P Küçükkoç)

Ireland 3 (R Upton 2, D Duke) Poland 0

 

Standings: 1. Ireland 3pts (+3) 2= Czech Republic 1pt (0) 2= Turkey 1pt (0) 4. Poland 0pts (-3)

 

August 20:

Poland v Turkey, 10.45am

Ireland v Czech Republic, 1pm

 

August 21:

Poland v Czech Republic, 10.45am

Ireland v Turkey, 1pm

Tickets : https://bit.ly/EHCQ_Tkts

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‘Sport for All’ Disability Supports Club Funding

As part of 2022 NGB Dormant Accounts Fund, Sport Ireland will provide a €2,000,000 ‘Sport for All’ Disability Supports Club Fund. The Scheme will be open to the affiliated clubs of Sport Ireland Recognised National Governing Bodies only. This fund offers every club affiliated with a Sport Ireland recognised National Governing Body an opportunity to provide inclusive opportunities for participation for people with a disability. It will provide funding supports for local clubs to connect in a meaningful way with their community, potentially even building the club’s own community over time through the inclusion of people with a disability in all club activities.

A minimum application amount of €1,000 and maximum application amount of €5,000 is available for clubs to apply to their NGB for the following:

  • Disability Supports Education & Training.
  • Disability Supports Programme Activation and Delivery.
  • Disability Supports Small Scale Equipment and Infrastructure

For examples of what to include in your application, see the following spreadsheet DAF Club Support Budget H4A

To apply for the funding click here

Deadline for applications is 26th Aug 2022.

If you have any question, please don’t hesitate your Regional Development Officer, or Sue at: sue.haslam@hockey.ie / 00353 831007105 / 00447465947447)

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