Malone hails Galway's success ahead of European tournament

WOMEN'S HOCKEY NEWS:WHILE HIS ultimate ambition is for several of the current crop of young Connacht players to go on and play senior hockey for Ireland, Galway coach Richard Malone views his club's involvement in this weekend's European Indoor Club Champions Challenge in Portugal as a major landmark in the development of the sport in his province.

“It’s pretty momentous from every perspective,” he said, “it’s the first time a Connacht club has ever played in a European tournament at this level, so it’s a fantastic achievement for the players and everyone who supported them.”

Galway qualified for the tournament by beating Trinity, Glenanne and, in the final, Railway Union in last year’s Indoor Cup in Dublin, and, ever since, the club has been working towards making the team’s participation in the European event possible. “You wouldn’t believe the cost of it all,” said Malone, “but the fundraising efforts at the club have been amazing. They even went out and spent €7,000 on proper indoor equipment from Germany.”

Over a year ago Malone coached the Connacht under-16s to the province’s first interprovincial title at underage level and seven of that group are in the Galway squad. “That was a huge breakthrough, a real culmination of all the hard work done in Connacht the previous five years or so.”

Former Ireland goalkeeper Tara Browne captains the side this weekend, when their pool opponents will be Slagelse (Denmark), HK Bask (Serbia) and Ukimerioni Kutaisi (Georgia). “Tara has done everything in the game, played for Ireland countless times and won everything with Hermes,” said Malone, “but this tournament is as important to her as anything she’s done in the game before. Going there with Galway means everything to her.”

Back home, the 12 clubs unable to play their second round Irish Senior Cup ties a fortnight ago will hope the weather is kinder this time around. Four of the ties are in Dublin, with the other two in Ulster – Lurgan meet Armagh and Ballymoney play the sole remaining Munster side in the competition, Church of Ireland.

ESB Irish Senior Cup – Second round – Tomorrow: Loreto v UCD, Beaufort, 2.45; Railway Union v Old Alexandra, Park Avenue, 2.30; Corinthian v Glenanne, Whitechurch, 3pm; Lurgan v Armagh, Brownlow, 2.30; Ballymoney v Church of Ireland, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Belfast Harlequins, Serpentine Avenue, 3.30.

Leinster League – Division One – Tomorrow: Bray v Hermes, Loreto Bray, 2.30. Sunday: Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 4.15.