Cork cousins go the distance to make Ireland World Cup squad

Sam Dale, captain Bandon Grammar School with possession in the So Hockey Munster Boys Senior A Cup final. Picture: Larry Cummins

For the past year, Cork cousins Sam Dale and Jamie Horgan had quietly dreamed of making the Ireland U21 hockey squad for the Junior World Cup.

Earlier this month, the possibility became reality when they were named in the 18-man squad for the tournament in India. They flew out last week. Ireland will play Canada on Friday, South Africa on Saturday and Germany on Monday in the pool stage.

“For me, as one of the younger lads on the team, it’s a surprise getting selected, with a good few older lads on the squad,” said Horgan, who is just 17. Selection was less of a surprise for 20-year-old Dale.

This is Dale’s fourth year involved with Ireland underage teams. He spent two years with the U18s and joined the U21s last year. Horgan played at U16 and U18 levels before also joining the U21s in 2024.

“It was tough,” Horgan said about the step up to the U21s. “It’s a completely different level to what I’ve been used to. With the under-18s and 16s, going straight up to the 21s, it’s like proper men’s hockey. It’s a lot quicker, and it’s hard to get used to. I feel like I’ve adapted pretty well over the course of nearly a year.” 

Dale hails from near Kinsale and plays for Cork Harlequins, while Horgan is from near Rochestown and plays for the Church of Ireland club. Both attended Bandon Grammar School, where Horgan is a fifth year student, and the pair played together for two years. In 2022, they were part of the school team that ended a 17-year wait for the All-Ireland Schoolboy title. Dale scored a superb late equaliser against Banbridge to take the game to extra-time and then finished the job in a shootout.

Jamie Horgan, Bandon Grammar School in action against Newtown School. Picture: Larry Cummins

That year was a momentous one for Horgan. He was also part of the Cork Schoolboy League team that won the Kennedy Cup, ending a 33-year drought. “At that point, I was in between both soccer and hockey, not knowing which one,” he said. “The year I was brought up to the 18s, hockey took over from there.” 

Outside of hockey and seeing each other at Christmas, the cousins were not particularly tight, but the sport has brought them closer recently. At least twice a week for the last year, they have travelled to training sessions in Dublin and Banbridge.

“There’s a midweek session on Wednesday, and then there’s a national session on a Sunday, either in Abbottstown in Dublin or in Banbridge in Ulster,” Dale explained.

“It’s a minimum of two times a week for the last year, anyway, for both of us. I suppose it’s probably close to three hours each way, so that’s six hours if we’re going to Dublin. Probably, what, 18 hours total (if we’re going to Banbridge). It’s a minimum of 12 hours a week.” 

Their parents have done the driving. “I think it means a lot to them,” said Dale about him and his cousin making the Ireland squad. “We can pay it back. It’s not easy for them. At least we didn’t waste their time!” 

This is the furthest most of the Ireland squad have travelled for a tournament. Previously, they’ve had trips to Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and England.

“The whole programme is self-funded,” Dale explained. “That’s one thing, every year, for every trip, we had to raise money ourselves. It was a challenge. Obviously, going to India is going to be a lot more expensive than going to Spain for two weeks.” 

Only the six pool winners and the top two ranked second-placed teams will progress to the quarter-finals. It will be a tough task for Ireland.

“I suppose Germany is probably the heavy favourite to get out first,” said Dale, “but then I suppose Canada and South Africa, the three of us are going to be looking to get points off each other.”