Wake-up call for Irish squad

Men's Hockey: Ireland's 4-0 defeat to England at Nottingham during the week should give the side plenty of food for thought. Having come off one of their most successful periods in some years, the step up in level coming off a domestic scene was clearly too big a challenge six months before they fly to China in the hope of qualifying for the World Cup.

That coach Dave Passmore was informed by one player during the trip that he had played only four matches since the Rome event in mid September once again suggests that the structure of domestic hockey in no way compliments what Ireland are trying to achieve in the international market. The gap between the two levels is simply vast.

"The performance was understandable, but I'm not surprised," said Passmore, who had to swallow the four-goal defeat at the hands of an old friend, who is now coaching England.

"We don't have any excuses and we see it as a wake-up call, a reminder. No doubt we have made big strides, but we have a long way to go.

"The problem is that our players have come out of domestic leagues and straight into a very, very high tempo game."

Ireland were 1-0 down at half-time in the Nottingham match, and as the coach experimented with personnel in the second half, two goals arrived in two minutes.

Ireland also did not have striker Justin Sheriff or Mark Raphael playing, both taking time out for work and other commitments. Still, it was quite a hammering, which this team is not used to experiencing.

"I hope the players have come out of it as positive as I have," added Passmore. "But we know there is work to be done and this is really as assessment phase. No one likes losing 4-0. Their coach is a friend of mine and I hated that, but we still had to do what is good for the team and Irish hockey."

Passmore will now look at a number of younger players and will take in the interprovincial tournament before announcing a World Cup squad.

A number of players have already retired, leaving several vacancies to be filled over a hugely intense period between now and April.

FIXTURES: Saturday: Leinster Senior League: Division Two: Clontarf v Weston, Mount Temple 1pm; Portrane v St James's Gate, DCU 2pm. Sunday: Leinster Senior Mills Cup: Avoca v TRR, Newpark 3pm; Pembroke Wanderers v Kilkenny, Serpentine Avenue 3pm.