Irish opportunity knocks for Crowley in Germany

MIRIAM CROWLEY has been handed a chance to prove her international credentials at the highest level, after she was the bolter named in Gene Muller’s squad for the EuroHockey Nations Championships in Moenchengladbach, Germany later this month.

The 23-year-old UCC schemer joins Loreto’s Niamh Small in returning to the fold as Muller makes two changes from the 18 that recorded a series of encouraging results at the Champions Challenge II in Dublin in June.

Jean McDonnell and Nicci Daly are the two to lose out, with Muller deciding that Crowley — who will be playing in her first major international tournament — and Small will add a greater physical presence to the side.

“Up front was the toughest decision. We have a lot of players who are very close in standard,” said Muller.

“Both those players [Crowley and Small] are more conservative than the alternates we didn’t pick [McDonnell and Daly] but are more able to play against physical types of defenders.

“Games will be tighter and more tactical than the Champions Challenge. Mistakes will be magnified at the Europeans where we could get away with more and afford to pick players with more flair and creativity.”

Olympic qualification for London 2012 is on the line at the Europeans, which will be the first high-stakes examination of Muller’s charges, ranked 14th in the world, since they were centralised to Dublin last October.

World top four sides Germany and England, plus Champions Challenge II winners Belgium, stand in Ireland’s way in Pool B, where they must finish in the top two to make the semi-finals, a feat never achieved by the girls in green.

Reaching the final would guarantee an Olympic berth, though third place would be enough should England reach the decider, given Great Britain have already qualified as hosts.

Meanwhile, Ireland senior men’s coach Paul Revington has given 10 players the chance to duel it out for the remaining two spots in his EuroHockey Nations Championships squad this weekend, as his side meet Argentina in two Dublin friendlies.

The men’s side are on something of a roll this summer; a first International Hockey Federation (FIH) crown came with the Champions Challenge II, in between retaining the Celtic Cup and ousting world top 12 outfits Australia, Korea and Argentina to win the INSEP Five Nations in Paris last week.

16 of the 18 players from the latter victory are on the plane to Germany, including 17-year-old rookie Ian Sloan, who only made his international bow in June.

Chris Cargo and Bruce McCandless are the two who will fight for their places this weekend, alongside a motley crew that includes centurion Phelie Maguire, fit-again hitman Alan Sothern and a team who have impressed at the Celtic Cup and CCII.

The men also face top world top four sides in their pool — England and the Netherlands — as well as perennial rivals France, but their Olympic qualification task is slightly easier; a top three placing will do, or top four if England nab an automatic spot.

UCC handed tough cup opener

UCC’s men have been handed a baptism of fire as they return to the Irish Senior Cup with a first-round trip to play Lisnagarvey in an October 8 glamour tie.

The students are back at the top level by virtue of their run to last season’s Irish Trophy final, but must again hit the road after completing most of that campaign away from home.

Bandon are at home to UCD, while fellow Munster sides Cork Harlequins and Cork C of I were among those, including holders Cookstown, to receive a bye.

UCD’s women are also coming to Cork to play Harlequins, while UCC’s ladies have been drawn away to Armagh. Catholic Institute have been given a bye to round two, while 2011 champions Pegasus are away to Bray.