Ireland should skate home

Ask for directions to the `hockey' stadium in Helsinki and there's a fair chance you'll end up at the Hartwall Arena. A stunning venue it is too, the `grandest in town', as one tourist brochure describes it, but the chances of Irish captain Mary Logue staying on her feet on the stadium's `pitch', when she sets off on one her trademark mazy runs, are a bit slim. Unless, of course, she swapped her hockey boots for ice skates.

Yes, `hockey' in Finland means ICE hockey, a national obsession. Field hockey is played by only 400 Finnish men, women and children and, when mentioned to hotel receptionists, draws only a blank expression. So, when you're looking for the venue for the European Nations' Cup qualifier it's a good idea to mention the sport is hockey of the un-iced variety.

The last time the city hosted a major `field' hockey tournament was almost half a century ago, when the Olympic Games came to town - this afternoon France and Slovakia will open the European Qualifier at the Helsingfors Stad, which sits in the shadow of the 1952 Olympic Stadium.

A further indication of how far down the sporting pecking order hockey comes in Finland is that the tournament will take place on an American Football pitch, complete with its `yardage' markings.

Before each match can get under way the local fire brigade will be called to water the pitch. They failed to answer the call on Thursday, causing the cancellation of Ireland's practice game against France.

If they arrive in time tomorrow, Ireland will open their campaign against Wales at 12.0 (Irish time), a match they will expect to win after their recent 5-1 victory over the same opposition in a four-nations tournament in Dublin. Following the withdrawal of Denmark from the qualifier last month, Ireland are now in a threeteam pool, with Belarus providing the opposition in their second match on Tuesday.

Ireland are favourites to win the tournament and to qualify for next summer's European Nations' Cup in Hurth, Germany, although a top three placing in Helsinki would be enough to secure their passage to the finals.

"If we beat Wales I think we'll be pretty much on our way," said Irish coach Riet Kuper yesterday. "I have told the players that our aim is to win the tournament, because I believe we are the strongest team here."

Kuper reports a fully fit squad, with Hermes' forward Jenny Burke recovered from a shoulder injury and Pegasus defender Julie Stewart fit again after missing last week's tour of Germany and Holland with a virus.