Passmore aims for top 12 Men's Hockey

With contracts signed yesterday, the new Irish coach, Dave Passmore, is aiming to take Ireland into the top 12 position in world rankings.

The Limerick coach will not take up the position on a full-time basis until March, but he will have the Irish squad members working hard until then with a short-term goal of winning Ireland a place in the A division of European hockey.

The team were relegated to the B division last year at the European Championships in Barcelona, and must come in the top two next summer in Rome to win promotion.

Passmore believes Ireland have enough talent to earn a place in the next World Cup.

A place in the top two in Rome would guarantee a place in a World Cup qualifying event, after which a detailed programme for World Cup qualification would be set out.

His view is that Ireland has the talent, on show this weekend at Grange Road at the Interprovincial Championship, to deliver.

"Without doubt Ireland are a top-eight side (in Europe) but did not produce it when they needed to in Barcelona," said Passmore.

"I first saw the team playing in Manchester where they won their first match 3-1.

"Immediately I saw some quality players and decent flair in the side. There were a lot of good signs.

"I think Ireland can get up into the top 12 in the world, but it will take a lot of hard work.

"The team needs to start to play more tournaments, and that is something which develops experience.

"International sport is hard and hockey is not particularly well financed in Ireland, but I also believe that sacrifices make you a stronger team."

Passmore, who has seven-year-old twin daughters, Emily and Kate, and three-year-old twin sons, Erin and Ronan, with a six-year-old son, Liam, in between, currently lives in Limerick.

His intention is to get coaches around the country to work together to try to create a formulated structure to the game.

The hope is that with Paul Varian, the new chief executive officer, attracting sponsorship and Passmore structuring a coaching system, Ireland will at least have some of the resources that other countries, of a similar level, have at their disposal.

Belgium have overtaken Ireland, while France, who are currently bidding for the Olympic Games to go to Paris after Beijing, are channelling money into sport and hockey, being an Olympic sport, is benefiting.

"It is important that players realise that these things are achievable," he said.

INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT (at Grange Road) - Tonight: Leinster v Munster 8.0. Saturday: Leinster v Ulster 5.0. Sunday: Munster v Ulster noon.