Senior Men Belgium Series

Courtesy of www.hockey.ie

The Irish Men's hockey team have agreed two International games against Belgium to be staged in Dublin in March. These are revised dates for Belgium's visit to Ireland which have been changed to accommodate their late invitation to the Champions Challenge in Egypt at the start of April. Belgium are currently ranked 14th in the World and they narrowly missed out on Athens Olympic Qualification to South Africa on penalty strokes. The last time the two sides played in major competition was at the Europeans Nations cup in Barcelona 2003 when Belgium equalised in the last minute for a 3-3 draw ensuring they qualified for the 5th to 8th playoffs at Ireland's expense. The games will be played at Three Rock Rovers, Grange Road, Rathfarnham on the following dates:

Wednesday 2 March 20.30 start
Wednesday 9 March 20.30 start

Ireland Head Coach David Passmore has announced the following two squads for the Belgium games which will enable him to see the players in International competition for the first time as Head Coach. He has also spoken to various club coaches regarding potential issues relating to the proximity of the Irish Senior Cup Semi Finals scheduled for Saturday 12 March. A further game in Dublin on Monday 21st March has been agreed with Belgium against an Ireland Development squad and squad details will be released over next few weeks.

Passmore said 'these matches give me an early look at most of the players in the squad. I will be using the tests to look at different player combinations and positions in addition to experimenting with systems of play. Belgium provide ideal opposition, especially as they have been away in Australia preparing'

He added 'the players have been working hard both physically and technically and I am keen to see how this impacts in these matches. The club coaches have been very accommodating in releasing players for the second match. We are hoping for a further one off match against Belgium but at this stage this is not confirmed'

Match 1 Squad (Wed 2 March) v BELGIUM

1. Wesley Bateman (GK-Cork Harlequins)26 caps, 0 goals
2. Jason Black (Cork Harlequins) 65 caps, 3 goals
3. Mark Black (Cork Harlequins) 30 caps, 2 goals
4. Paddy Brown (Instonians) 69 caps, 3 goals
5. Stephen Butler (Dragons) 65 caps, 27 goals
6. Timothy Cockram (Lisnagarvey) 4 caps, 0 goals
7. Gordon Elliott (Pembroke Wanderers) 43 caps, 18 goals
8. Ronan Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers) 1 caps, 0 goals
9. Charlie Henderson (GK-Corinthian) 2 caps, 0 goals
10. David Hobbs (Cork C of I) 31 caps, 0 goals
11. Mark Irwin (Instonians) 56 caps, 22 goals
12. Iain Lewers (Annadale) 5 caps, 0 goals
13. Sean Nicholson (Cork Harlequins) 9 caps, 0 goals
14. Mark Raphael (Lisnagarvey) 61 caps, 8 goals
15. Graham Shaw (Annadale) 43 caps, 3 goals
16. Brian Waring (Lisnagarvey) 12 caps, 1 goals
17. Justin Sherriff (Dragons) 54 caps, 34 goals

Reserve: Mark Gleghorne (Loughborough Uni) 4 caps, 1 goals

Gordon Elliott is currently injured and will have a fitness test closer to the time.

Match 2 Squad (Wed 9 March) v BELGIUM

1 - Andy Barbour (Cookstown) 23 caps, 1 goal
2 - Wesley Bateman (GK-Cork Harlequins) 26 caps, 0 goals
3 - Karl Burns (Cork C of I) 20 caps, 0 goals
4 - Stephen Butler (Dragons) 65 caps, 27 goals
5 - Charlie Henderson (GK-Corinthian) 2 caps, 0 goals
6 - Timothy Cockram (Lisnagarvey) 4 caps, 0 goals
7 - David Bane (Aer Lingus) 0 caps, 0 goals
8 - Dave Eakins (Cork Harlequins) 13 caps, 0 goals
9 - Gordon Elliott (Pembroke Wanderers) 43 caps, 18 goals
10 - David Hobbs (Cork C of I) 31 caps, 0 goals
11 - Jason Black (Cork Harlequins) 65 caps, 3 goals
12 - Mark Black (Cork Harlequins) 30 caps, 2 goals
13 - Phelie Maguire (Dublin Uni) 0 caps, 0 goals
14 - Sean Nicholson (Cork Harlequins)9 caps, 0 goals
15 - Paddy Brown (Instonians) 69 caps, 3 goals
16 - Graham Shaw (Annadale) 43 caps, 3 goals
17 - Justin Sherriff (Dragons) 54 caps, 34 goals

Reserve: Eugene Magee (Banbridge) 0 caps, 0 goals

Management From
Steven Hiles Squad Manager
Dave Passmore Head Coach
Dennis Pritchard Asst. Coach
David Scott Asst. Coach
Andy Smyth Asst. Coach
Turloch O'Siochan Asst. Coach
Kathy Hickman Squad Physio