Shaw appointed Ireland U18 coach

Graham Shaw has been appointed the Irish U18 boys coach as he aims to impart some of the top-level knowledge garnered in more than 150 international caps.

Since retiring from the national side, he has taken up a full-time coaching position at Rathdown school while he is also co-coach with both Glenanne and Loreto’s first teams.

With the latter, he won the 2010 Irish Senior Cup on the same day he claimed the men’s cup with Glenanne while he worked with Ireland A at the Celtic Cup in 2010 and was head coach for the senior men when they played Egypt last summer.

He is joined by Lisnagarvey’s Mark Murray, the current captain of the Irish Masters team, as the U18 manager.

Speaking about Shaw’s appointment, the Irish Hockey Association’s high performance director said: “He is an excellent appointment.

“He will bring a natural enthusiasm and passion to the role that the players will feed off and playing experience that will help these young players develop a full understanding of what it takes to play at this level.”

The Ireland U18 squad for 2012 has yet to be finalised, though a first trial was held before Christmas under the guidance of Turloch Ó Siocháin, with five Munster players involved.