Ireland land European championships

HOCKEY officials are expecting an upsurge in the popularity of the sport when Dublin hosts the Women’s European Championships in Belfield next year.

Ireland beat off a number of bids, including one from Scotland, for the prestigious eight-nation tournament which will be played next July or August. Now they aim to utilise that home advantage in their bid to improve on a sixth place finish in last year’s tournament in Barcelona.

But the expectation does not end there. IHA chiefs are also hoping to reap the rewards of increased exposure on a number of levels, both playing and financial, according to Irish Hockey Association vice president Grace Redmond.