Irish team ready to turn the tide

The Irish men’s hockey team are quietly confident they can regain their status among Europ’s elite at this week’s European nations Cup in Rome. Ace goalscorer Stephen Butler tells Declan Colley why.

WHEN Ireland fell into Europe’s ‘B’ ranked hockey nations after a dismal display at the ‘A’ grade championships in Barcelona two years ago, a cloud of introspection fell over the game here.

Ireland were downgraded and, despite having one of our strongest ever squads, few saw a way back unless drastic steps were taken. Radical changes within the Irish Hockey Association (IHA) in the wake of that defeat, and the appointment of Dave Passmore as the men’s team coach and high performance director for the sport as a whole, have given the game new impetus.