IRL Indoor Men’s Squad make history with maiden EuroHockey Championship campaign.

Monday, January 12, 2026 – Heidelberg, Germany: The IRL Men’s Indoor Hockey Team made history last week as they became the first Irish Men’s team to represent Ireland at the EuroHockey Indoor Championships, the highest tier of European Indoor Hockey.

The team has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last six years since reforming in 2020. Despite starting at the bottom of the pile in Europe’s third tier, Ireland achieved back-to-back European promotions, securing topflight promotion with a EuroHockey Championship II finals win over Denmark in Portugal in 2024. It all culminated in an immense effort from the team against Europe’s top sides in Heidelberg.

The EuroHockey Championships were always going to be something of a baptism of fire for the World #23 Ireland Team. They found themselves drawn against Germany (#2), Belgium (#3), Switzerland (#13) and Spain (#19) in Pool B, but went toe-to-toe with each, nonetheless.

Ireland began with an encounter with Belgium, making an immediate statement that they weren’t to be underestimated. Ireland drew first blood early in the second quarter, with Gregory Williams scoring the team’s first topflight goal, before Irish Stalwart Ross Canning doubled the team’s lead. But Belgium regrouped at half-time, with three penalty corner goals and one from open play seeing them change the tides and take control. The world #3 got their fifth in quarter 4 before Ireland’s Williams scored from the spot to complete the scoring.

The main event for the IRL team came later that same day as they faced hosts and reigning world Champions Germany in front of some 5,000 fans. Ireland kept Germany scoreless in the opening phases, with goalkeeper and captain Stephen O’Keefe denying Germany from the penalty spot. Germany eventually broke the deadlock just before the end of quarter 1 and doubled their lead a minute into quarter 2.

However, Ireland remained in touching distance throughout, pulling a goal back through Greg Williams. Germany scored just a few minutes later but once again Ireland responded, this time through Rory Patterson. Germany restored their two-goal lead in Q3, but Ireland kept knocking at the door and were denied from penalty corners before Ross Canning made it 4-3 early in the final quarter. Germany, however, showed their experience under pressure, with three late goals from open play seeing them run out as 7-3 victors.

A tough penultimate pool stage outing for Ireland saw Spain showcase their recent transformation into a top Indoor side. Four goals in the opening quarter gave the eventual Bronze medallists a commanding lead, before they added a fifth towards the end of the first half. Spain added four more in quarter three, with Ireland also finding the net twice through Ross Canning and Oliver Kidd, but Spain finished strong, adding two more in the final quarter to record a comfortable win.

Ireland finished off the pool stages against Switzerland, yet again showing their ability to meet the challenge. Ireland dominated the opening quarter, with Craig Mackay opening the scoring after just two minutes, and Oliver Kidd doubling the lead four minutes later. Switzerland fought back, reducing the deficit to a single goal in quarter 2, and then turning the game around with two early second half goals. But Ireland responded, Greg Williams scoring in the latter stages of quarter 3 to bring Ireland level going into the final period of the match. Switzerland, however, made a perfect start to that final quarter, scoring back-to-back goals to make it 5-3, and then scoring at the death to take a 6-3 win.

A thrilling final outing against Türkiye brought Ireland’s campaign to a close, as the teams battled for ninth spot. Ireland’s Ross Canning broke the deadlock in the first quarter from a penalty corner, but Türkiye responded, scoring twice in quarter 2 to take control, before Ireland fought back to make it 2-2 through James Walker. Türkiye gained control in quarter 3, getting their third, before adding a fourth from the penalty spot in quarter 4. Ireland got a late consolation, with Ross Canning getting his 50^th International goal.