What degree of skill is required to play for Ireland? John Clarke, the Irish coach, will be ready to examine the question at a National Coaching Committee seminar, open to all hockey enthusiasts, at the Montrose Hotel, Dublin, tonight (7.30).
Brendan Carr will chair a six-man panel made up of Ray O'Connor, Ian Steepe, David Judge, Trevor Watkins, Eddie O'Malley and Robin Madeley who will give their observations to Clarke on the World Cup finals in Utrecht last May which, by all accounts, were of a high technical ability. All were present and video recordings this evening will provide further opportunity for analysis and debate, as well as an inter-change of ideas of how the Ireland squad might attain the finest of skills for next September's European Championship - their first assignment under Clarke's direction.
Clarke, since his appointment as Cees Koppelaar's successor, has made a point of taking an open approach and seeing as many domestic matches as possible. Being in Dublin this weekend, he seems bound to attend the Leinster Senior League game at Grange Road tomorrow involving the meeting of the only two unbeaten sides, Three Rock Rovers and Pembroke Wanderers.
The pace of Leinster hockey has undoubtedly increased but what would really put the competition on the highest plane would be a greater ability to master reverse-stick techniques. How many leftflank reverse-stick crosses or reverse-stick shots on target will be made in Irish circles tomorrow? Only those who can readily execute this skill can have international credentials.
It is an irony that Robin Madeley, the Three Rock captain, will miss this weekend's summit match because of a broken wrist, leaving Angus Dunlop and Andrew Walker as the senior figures in a bid to contain Pembroke. With the visitors pretty close to full strength, they seem ready to produce a peak performance and stay at the top of the table.
A game of equal substance is scheduled for Garryduff, where Harlequins offer their first challenge of the season to Cork C of I in the Munster Premier Division. Indeed, with so many of the players involved here having made an impact in the interprovincial championship, Clarke might be tempted to take his leave from Dublin to observe the all-Cork clash.
