David Harte says Ireland can do something special

David Harte says the Olympic qualifying process for men’s hockey gives “perceived lower ranked teams” more of an opportunity of making it to Rio De Janeiro.

Last week, Canada – a team Ireland beat well in March in San Diego – beat seventh ranked New Zealand at their World League Round 3 event in Buenos Aires to pretty much assure themselves of a place at the Games

And the Cork native sees this as a decent form guide indicating Ireland can do something equally special this week in Antwerp at the second WL3 tournament, featuring ten teams over two weeks.

Ireland start their campaign against Great Britain (fifth in the world) today before a crucial pair of games against China (31) and Malaysia on Thursday and Friday. They close out the group against Belgium, the world number four side.

In the same vein as the recently completed women’s tournament, a top-four place will earn a quarter-final berth which will act as a de facto Olympic qualifier. Officially, the top three places automatically qualify but a top five finish would more than likely also be good enough.

And Harte says the Canadian example shows what can be done by underdogs in this tournament format.

“Absolutely, what Canada did in Argentina was really encouraging to see. Given the new rules and competition layout, perceived lower-ranked teams have an opportunity.

“Going on ranking, we are seen as the fourth-ranked side in our group but we’ll be very much going for a top-three finish.”

Harte is one of 11 players in the 18-man panel that has been in the Olympic mix before, agonisingly missing out in 2012 in the final of the London qualifier. Ireland led world number-seven side Korea with seven seconds to go before a video referral saw the Asian side crush Irish dreams. This is a hugely-experienced Irish side, with Ronan Gormley and Eugene Magee the two most capped players with over 200 appearances each.

There is just one change from the World League Round 2 selection with Kyle Good coming in for the injured Bruce McCandless after he sustained a foot injury in the Irish Senior Cup final.

They meet GB first up who have three players who previously played in green with Cookstown’s David Ames most recently joining Mark Gleghorne and Iain Lewers in the squad after a three-year naturalisation process to become eligible.

They meet at 11am, Irish time.

Men’s World League 3 (Antwerp, June 20th to July 5th):

J Bell (Lisnagarvey), D Carlisle (Banbridge), P Caruth (Monkstown), C Cargo (Racing Club de Bruxelles), M Darling (Three Rock Rovers), S Dowds (Banbridge), D Fitzgerald (Monkstown), P Gleghorne (Lisnagarvey), K Good (Dragons), R Gormley (Krefeld), C Harte (Racing Club de Bruxelles), D Harte (Kampong), J Jackson (Reading), E Magee (Banbridge), S O’Donoghue (Dragons), K Shimmins (UCD), A Sothern (Racing Club de Bruxelles), M Watt (Surbiton) Match Schedule (All times listed are Belgian local time) Today: Ireland vs Great Britain, 11am June 25: Ireland vs Malaysia, 1pm June 26: Ireland vs China, 1pm June 28: Ireland vs Belgium, 5pm