Upward curve to continue

HOCKEY News: Ireland's 4-1 mauling of the Belgians last week at Grange Road will have given coach Dave Passmore more than a little hope that this group of players can haul themselves out of the second stream grouping of European nations in September.

Ireland's target is to win the European competition in Rome and continue to compete at the highest level. By starting this campaign by beating the 14th-ranked nation in the world has made that a very achievable target.

With a change in personnel for tonight's game against the same opposition at Grange Road (8.30), Passmore is far from finding the strongest combination and a number of names that didn't figure in the first Test come in tonight including two debutants; Trinity's Phelie Maguire and 18-year-old Eugene Magee from Banbridge.

Goalkeeper Nigel Henderson and his Pembroke colleague Gordon Elliott have been ruled out with injury while Paddy Brown will undergo a late fitness test on a hamstring injury.

While the late flight over may not help Belgium's performance, Ireland can once again demonstrate this is a talented bunch of players with a back line and midfield that can comfortably hold possession as well as a few match-breaking individuals, notably Justin Sherriff.

The Irish Hockey Association are also making efforts and IHA chief executive Paul Varian has asked hockey fans to make a special effort to attend tonight's fixture. "Last week's match was the first home international we've run since my appointment and it was an opportunity to try some of the ideas I've been considering to improve the overall entertainment," commented Varian.

"The feedback from the spectators on these introductions was very good," continued Varian. "We intend to continue with these ideas and continue to improve and upgrade these events wherever possible."

The changes are part of an overall drive by the IHA to get regular audiences at high-level hockey fixtures, which Varian sees as the key to raising sponsorship and media profile.

"Media will be interested in covering what people are interested in and sponsors are interested in being where their customers are gathering," says Varian. "So if you can consistently get good crowds at your top games, it is more than likely that media and sponsors are going to start showing interest."

IRISH SQUAD (v Belgium): W Bateman, P Brown, J Black, D Bane, E Magee, S Butler, K Burns, T Cockram, P Maguire, S Nicholson, D Eakins, J Sherriff, G Shaw, D Hobbs, A Barbour, M Black. Coach: D Passmore. Manager: S Hiles.