Irish clubs face anxious wait over EHL participation

Ireland may not have a representative in next season’s EuroHockey League after Cork Harlequins’ European adventure turned into a nightmare in Vienna.

Quins had hoped to make the final of the EuroHockey club Champions Trophy — which they won in 2007 — and collect enough ranking points to perhaps earn back a second EHL place which was lost to Scotland last year.

But three successive narrow losses, coupled with good performances from Welsh representatives Cardiff, could mean Ireland will have no spot in the much-vaunted EHL — which would be gutting for Monkstown in particular as the top-ranked Irish side for 2013/14. The rankings will be confirm by EuroHockey next month.

Quins must win their seventh-place playoff against Swiss side Rotweiss Wettingen this morning (7.30am Irish time) and hope Cardiff lose in the final to keep alive hopes of keeping Ireland’s EHL place.

The Cork club were in the tougher pool but never recovered from a 4-3 defeat against HC Bra on Friday. Much improved performances followed against the hosts SV Arminen on Saturday, with a Darren Beamish reverse and a Dave Eakins drag-flick putting Quins in command at 2-1, but Arminen recovered and won it 3-2 with a heartbreaking last-minute goal.

On Sunday, Cardiff & UWIC hit an early double salvo to lead 2-0 after only 10 minutes. Both goals came from short corners.

There was better news for Railway Union and UCD. Railway will contest the bronze medal match of the women’s Club Champions Trophy after smashing Victoriya Smolevichi 5-0 in Antwerp while UCD are into the final of the Club Champions Challenge I in Catania after winning all three of their group games.