Provincial chiefs hoping to feel benefits of Eurohockey success

Munster Hockey bosses hope the success of the recent Eurohockey U18 Championships in Cork will help grow the profile of the sport in the province.

The Mardyke and Garryduff last week played host to elite international sides, with the two venues facilitating 40 games between them.

Munster Hockey’s Hilary Dring paid tribute to the huge volunteer effort.

“It was very well organised. The majority of people were volunteers, some gave up their time for the whole week.

"There weren’t any problems at all. I was a liaison officer for one of the teams and everyone was very well behaved, very friendly, and very appreciative of the time that the volunteers were giving.”

It was a challenging tournament, as the two Irish teams were pitted against continental powerhouses, such as Germany, Netherlands, England, and Belgium.

However, both teams avoided relegation, securing a place in the 2018 competition. The boys did just enough to qualify, with a big win over the Czech Republic and a draw against Italy.

The girls waited until the last minute to claim a 3-2 win over Russia before seeing off Poland 1-0 in their relegation clash.

Dring says the Irish teams’ performance, coupled with an Irish team contesting the Olympics, ensured a bright future for the sport here.

“It’s excellent that the men’s team are in the Olympics. It certainly raises the profile of hockey in Ireland and last week was great for not only Ireland but Cork as well.”