Riet Kuper was as surprised as anyone in a capacity crowd at Upper Malone in Belfast on Saturday when Germany defied the odds to retain the gold medals after beating her Dutch fellowcountrywoman 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out after the European Junior Nations Cup hockey final had ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Irish National coach had divided loyalties and she took an equally keen interest in the first game of the day in which the hosts defeated Belarus 2-0 to avoid the ignominy of a last-place finish. After the contest, which was settled by two first-half goals from Jill Orbinson, Kuper revealed that she is to stay on in the post.
She had a series of discussions with Irish Ladies' Hockey Union officials during which she outlined her plans for the build-up to next year's senior European Nations Cup finals in Germany
"We need to have a better standard of opposition in order to prepare properly. Playing teams like Italy is not useful. So, I will be looking for matches against Germany and Holland. England and Scotland would be good preparation as well," he said. "I am keen to stay on but obviously with the financial implications of the programme I have outlined, everything will have to be discussed by the council before they reach any decision."
Kuper also gave a strong hint that at least three members of the under-21 squad will be elevated to the senior training panel which will reconvene in October; Orbinson, Catriona Carey and Anya Bowers are the prime candidates.
"I like players with pace. It's one of the first things I look for and we already have quite a bit in the current senior squad with girls like Kim Mills, Claire McMahon and Mary Logue," she added. Carey, in particular, had an excellent tournament and indeed, could be a ready-made replacement for Logue in midfield, whenever she decides to hang up her stick. Camogie's loss looks certain to be hockey's gain.
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