Barbour to return to Irish squad

Cookstown’s Andy Barbour is set to play in his first major competition after being selected in Ireland men’s squad for the European Nations Cup in September - just five months after making his international debut.

Barbour has played just four times since his maiden game against Belgium in Barcelona in February but he will return to the Spanish city in the autumn for his biggest test yet.

There are no real surprises in the 18-man party which coach John Clarke announced today and the squad will travel to Cardiff next month to compete in the Celtic Cup against Wales, Scotland and France before heading to Barcelona for a five-day training camp which will include two matches against Italy and one against Spain.

“The recent training camp at Old Loughtonians in England was extremely beneficial from a coaching and development perspective and there has been a conscious effort to name the final squad early, some six weeks before the tournament commences,” said Ireland manager Steven Hiles.

“The squad has a good blend of youth and experience with an average age of just over 25, and the match-intensive build-up over the past 18 months has enabled the players to gain valuable international experience before competing in a major hockey tournament.

“Prior to departing for Barcelona, Ireland should have six players with 50 caps or more with a squad average of 35 caps which reflects a significant difference in experience from the squad which last competed in Padova in 1999.”

Ireland face world champions Germany, Spain, Belgium, Russia and France in their pool at the European Nations Cup.

SQUAD: N Henderson (gk), G Henderson, J Sherriff (Pembroke Wanderers); W Bateman (gk), J Black (Cork Harlequins); P Brown, M Irwin (Instonians); D Smyth, C Jackson (Annadale); E Lutton, M Raphael (Lisnagarvey); S Butler, G Shaw (Glenanne); K Burns, D Hobbs, N Buttimer, J Jermyn (Cork C of I); A Barbour (Cookstown). Reserves: C Henderson (gk, Corinthians); D Eakins (Cork Harlequins); B Waring (Lisnagarvey); I Steen (Surbiton).