HOCKEY WEEKEND PREVIEWS:A QUIET move back into the domestic scene sees Glenanne face YMCA in Tallaght in the only scheduled Leinster Senior League match at the weekend. But on the international front, the Ireland team has ramped up its preparation for the Olympic Qualifying tournament to be staged in Dublin over the St Patrick's week.
Coach Paul Revington has opted for top-class opposition as Ireland play the Netherlands, Britain, Spain and Belgium in Alicante, and England and Valencia during January and February. In all the national team has organised 11 matches spread over about four weeks.
It’s a pretty intensive schedule and incorporates a warm-weather training camp for what will be the most important tournament Ireland has played in for some years. As hosts, Ireland will also come under more pressure than usual in their bid to become the first modern Irish hockey team to qualify for the Olympic Games.
First up Ireland play the Dutch in three matches in Alicante, beginning on January 20th. That should make for a high tempo start as the Dutch are ranked third in the world behind Australia and the Germans.
The Netherlands have already secured their place in London 2012.
The Irish side then travels to Bisham Abbey, which has been the traditional bolt hole for the British team. There Ireland will reacquaint themselves with former team-mate Ian Lewers, who jumped ship to England some years ago. Ireland go into a two-match series at Bisham Abbey.
Following a week’s break the team heads back to Spain, where they play against the Spanish side before facing Belgium four times between February 8th and 13th.
The warm-up series concludes with a Test against Spain on February 14th. Spain are ranked fifth in the world and Belgium 11th. Britain, who come together for the Olympics, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth Games, don’t have a world ranking but England, where most of the players come from, have a ranking of four. Ireland’s ranking stands at 16.
FIXTURES – Saturday: Leinster Senior League: Division one– Glenanne v YMCA, Glenanne Park, 3pm. Division Two– Rathgar v Suttonians, High School Rathgar, 2pm ; Weston v Mullingar, Griffeen Valley, 2pm.
Olympic Qualifier warm-up schedule:Jan 16th-25th: warm-weather training camp, Spain; Jan 20th: Ireland v Netherlands, Alicante, 3pm; Jan 22nd: Ireland v Netherlands, Alicante, 3pm; Jan 24th: Ireland v Netherlands, Alicante, 2pm; Jan 26th: Ireland v Britain, Bisham Abbey; Jan 27th: Ireland v Britain, Bisham Abbey; Feb 3rd-14th: warm-weather training camp, Spain; Feb 6th: Ireland v Spain, Valencia; Feb 8th: Ireland v Belgium, Valencia; Feb 9th: Ireland v Belgium, Valencia; Feb 11th: Ireland v Belgium, Valencia; Feb 13th: Ireland v Belgium, Valencia; Feb 14th: Ireland v Spain, Valencia.
