Giles seals surprise call-up to Ireland squad

PEMBROKE WANDERERS captain Alan Giles has earned a surprise call-up to the Irish senior men’s squad for next month’s EuroHockey Nations Trophy in Wrexham.

The 28-year-old made his senior Irish debut as an under-strength side claimed the Celtic Cup in June, and will replace Three Rock’s Andy McConnell, who misses out due to exam commitments, this time around.

The selection of Giles, who guided Pembroke to four trophies last season, is further proof of coach Paul Revington’s willingness to pick on form, and bucks the trend of recent years of only introducing players U24 to international hockey.

Revington said Giles “will bring a strong drive to the team as a result of the multiple successes he has enjoyed over the past club season and more recently at the Celtic Cup.”

Annadale’s Peter Caruth is another set to make a ranking-tournament debut, taking the place of the injured Mikey Watt. Caruth showed up well against France earlier this year, but Ireland will surely miss the Belgian Dragons-bound Watt, who was the only man in green to score from play at the recent Champions Challenge II tournament.

The rest of the squad remains intact from that tournament, at which Ireland went down on penalty strokes to Poland in the final. Ireland go into this competition as clear favourites.

They are bidding to regain the A division status lost in 2007, while a number of personal milestones will also be made at the tournament.

Two more caps will see Stephen Butler surpass Paddy Brown’s all-time record of 151, while John Jermyn is approaching his century and Tim Lewis and Geoff McCabe are heading for their 50th caps.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s U16 girls went down 1-0 to England in the second match of their Four Nations Tournament in Largs, Scotland, with Emily Court’s strike doing the damage.

It was also a losing day for the U16 boys, who went down 3-1 to their English counterparts. Brendan Creed gave England a ninth-minute lead before his side missed a penalty flick as they dominated the opening exchanges.

Tom Samuel’s reverse hauled Ireland level on 14 minutes, but further strikes from Joe Sharpe in the 29th minute and George Lilley 10 minutes from time rubber-stamped the win. Both Irish sides take on Wales today.