MEN'S HOCKEY:GLENANNE AND Pembroke Wanderers will hope to break new ground this afternoon, both bidding to become the first Irish club to reach the quarter-finals of the EuroHockey League.
Their exploits in the group stages last October were enough to give Ireland two last-16 places in Amsterdam for the first time but they enter a whole new level of competition this time round.
The Glens face 2008 finalists HGC but will be buoyed by the Dutch club’s poor domestic league form and player-coach Graham Shaw admits it was the draw he had hoped for.
Nonetheless, he is well aware of the task ahead: “If I’m honest, this would be one of the slightly friendlier draws.
“But they still have the experience of Kenny Pereira, Rob Short (who surpassed the Canadian national caps record against Ireland in midweek) and Rodrigo Garza who has played in three World Cups and won a bronze medal.
“On form, it’s not a bad draw but when you look at their players, you’ve got to respect that experience.”
Shaw has just one injury worry, that of combative defender David Keogh.
Pembroke’s task is tougher still as they play recently-crowned Spanish cup winners Club de Campo from Madrid, featuring in their number former Wanderer and current Irish captain Ronan Gormley. Gormley left for Spain at the end of last season.
Goalkeeper David Williamson is ineligible as he only moved to the club in mid-season meaning Simon Thornton is the number one.
FIXTURE – EuroHockey League (Last 16, Bloemendaal, Netherlands) – Today (Irish time): Pembroke Wanderers v Club de Campo (Spain), 11am; HGC (Netherlands) v Glenanne, 1.30pm.
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