U-18 hockey players going for gold in Poland

Barry Coughlan

The tournament, for the best of boys and girls, begins in Siemainowice Slaskie this morning, where the Irish boys take on England.

According to spokesperson Joan Morgan, it was bound to be a difficult assignment but this tournament has provided opportunity for past teams.

In 2002 the boys won gold, and took silver the following year. There was no tournament last season.

The boys play Scotland tomorrow and Spain on Thursday, hoping to participate in the knockout stages at the weekend.

The Irish girls will be captained by Munster’s Julia O’Halloran and they face England this afternoon (5pm) before clashing with Germany tomorrow and the hosts on Thursday.

The Irish girls have not enjoyed the same success as the boys in past tournaments but hopes are high for a better finish than the fifth place achieved in 2002.

IRELAND U-18 (girls): E Lucey, J Deacon, A Connery, L Jacob, E O’Donoghue, M Ryan, K Daly, A O’Connor, J O’Halloran (capt), R Dallas, K Saunderson, S McKay, G Watters, A Speers, L Barr, J Chambers, H Stevenson .

Pool A: Netherlands, Spain, Ukraine,

Belgium;

Pool B: Germany, England, Ireland, Poland.

Today: Netherlands v Belgium, 1pm; Spain

v Ukraine, 3pm; England v Ireland, 5pm;

Germany v Poland, 7pm.

Tomorrow: Ukraine v Netherlands, 1pm;

Belgium v Spain, 3pm; Ireland v Germany, 5pm; Poland v England, 7pm.

Thursday: Ukraine v Belgium, 1pm; Spain

v Netherlands, 3pm; Poland v Ireland, 5pm; Germany v England, 7pm.

IRELAND U-18 (boys): A Sothern (St Andrews College, Pembroke Wanderers), A Haughton (St Andrews College, TRR HC), D Walker (Wesley College, YMCA), I Walker (Wesley College, YMCA), M Darling (Wesley College, TRR HC), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), F Mills (Glengormey, High Mossley HC), P Gleghorne (RBAI, Instonians HC), C Boyce (Banbridge Academy, Banbridge HC), M Watt (RBAI, Instonians HC), A Coulter (RBAI, Mossley HC), S Todd (Antrim Grammar, Mossley HC), D Harte (Bandon, Cork Harlequins), J Bruton (Ashton, Cork C of I), C Crowley, (Bandon), J Lynch (Bandon, Cork C of I), A Pritchard (Bandon, Cork C of I), C Harte (Bandon, Cork Harlequins).

Coach: Stephen Watt; Manager: Stephrn Cuddy; Assistant coaches: John Hobbs/Mark Evans.

Pool A: Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Belgium.

Pool B: Ireland, England, Spain, Scotland.

Today: Ireland v England, 10am; Spain v Scotland, 12pm; Poland v Netherlands, 5pm; Belgium v Germany, 7pm.

Tomorrow: Ireland v Scotland, 10am; England v Spain, 12pm; Germany v Netherlands, 5pm; Poland v Belgium, 7pm.

Thursday: Ireland v Spain, 10am; England v Scotland, 12pm; Belgium v Netherlands, 5pm; Poland v Germany, 7pm.