Ireland feeling the heat ahead of Europeans

IRELAND’S senior men’s hockey team will travel to the European Nations Championships in Rome several days ahead of schedule to acclimatise properly ahead of the tournament, which begins on Sunday, September 11.

Having played two matches against Italy at the Tre Fontane stadium last weekend, coach Dave Passmore said the heat and humidity had acted against his players in the second game and he felt a little more time to get used to the conditions would boost the Irish.

“We will now be travelling next Wednesday, earlier than originally planned. The extra couple of days in Rome should be plenty for us to get used to the conditions there,” he said.