Cup hopes hit by cancellation

After demanding a meeting with the Irish Hockey Association (IHA) at the weekend, senior coach Riet Kuper has accepted that its handling of the cancellation of the squad's trip to Lithuania, with which she was deeply unhappy, was due to a "breakdown in communications".

Kuper insists, however, that preparations for September's World Cup qualifier have been severely damaged by the IHA's decision, made for budgetary reasons.

"Between mid-June and September we will probably play just three internationals (at the Celtic Cup in France), whereas most of the serious contenders will have played on average 15 to 20 matches. It simply isn't good enough, and if the money isn't there to fund a decent build-up then we have to make more of an effort to find some.

"This is the kind of programme we need ahead of a major tournament - it is absolutely essential that we play matches of this quality," she said in reference to the Lithuania trip, which she said was cancelled by the IHA without any prior discussion with her. Ireland were due to play the hosts and the Ukraine, both of whom will also be at the qualifier.