Ireland bid to live up to favourites’ tag

AS RUNAWAY favourites for the EuroHockey Nations Trophy, Irish men’s coach Paul Revington will be dealing with the rare notion in Irish hockey of high expectations.

His debut ranking-tournament saw Ireland come within 20 seconds of a major title, denied by Poland’s last gasp equaliser in the Champion’s Challenge II final.

And anything but a top-two position this week will be viewed as a major disappointment as Ireland begin the tournament as runaway favourites.

Revington’s plans have been hampered by Mikey Watt’s broken thumb but Belarus, Italy and Russia’s varying styles should be dispatched in the group stages.

The Irish begin the tournament tomorrow morning against a rough and ready Belarussian side at 10am ranked the lowest of the tournament’s eight countries.

That match will mark the 151st Irish appearance of Glenanne’s Stephen Butler, levelling the record caps total currently held by Paddy Brown.

A quick turnaround sees Ireland in action again on Sunday at 3.30pm against Italy, with rising star Daniele Cioli leading the line, meaning Ireland could wrap up a semi-final place before the August Bank Holiday weekend is up.

With it would come the additional boon one of the five invitations available to November’s World Cup Qualifiers on offer from the continental campaign. That, however, will be the least of his worries as promotion to the European A division remains very much the primary goal.

Elsewhere, Cork Harlequins’ Cliodhna Sargent is the one player to come into Gene Muller’s EuroHockey Nations Championships panel from last month’s Champion’s Challenge II squad.

Having been surprisingly omitted from that panel which travelled to Russia, Sargent returns for next month’s tournament in Amsterdam in place of Niamh Small.