Hockey European Under-21 ChampionshipsIt is just over 26 years now since Howard Walker led the Irish men's under-21 side to the final of the 1978 European Championships, where Ireland lost to the Netherlands on the immaculate grass of College Park.
While expectations this weekend, as the women's and men's national under-21 sides begin their respective European Championships on Sunday, may not be so high, the women at least will enjoy home support for their tournament at the National Hockey Stadium at Belfield.
Both teams compete in the A Division of their competitions, with the men's event being run simultaneously in Nivelles, Belgium.
The two sides face stiff competition in their groups with the women opening their tournament at 6.30 on Sunday evening against Spain.
They then have a potentially easier match on Tuesday against Scotland before their toughest match of Pool A against the Netherlands on Wednesday. The crossover matches that determine the final placings will run over the weekend.
Ireland is optimistically looking for second place in the group, hoping to catch Spain early and tough it out against Scotland.
Beating the Dutch is invariably a step too far but second place in the group would be quite an achievement and would easily hold the Division A status.
The men's side won't have the familiarity of Belfield but coach Denis Pritchard, going into the competition after three friendly victories over Canada, will eye up his team's first match against Scotland as one to win.
Ireland then face two potentially harder games against England on Monday and the Netherlands on Wednesday. Realistically Ireland will have to beat Scotland, get something from England and hold the Dutch.
Next weekend the senior team also get a chance to face one of the best sides in the world having accepted an invitation from India to travel to Germany to play a test match series at their training base, where they are preparing for the Olympic Games. The matches will be played from July 31st to August 3rd.
India are ranked sixth in the world and recently finished fourth in the Olympics Qualifier in Madrid behind the Netherlands, Spain and Pakistan.
India are synonymous with the Olympics, having won the hockey event eight times in their history, winning all six gold medals and 30 consecutive games from 1928 to 1956.
MEN'S UNDER-21 EUROPEAN C'SHIPS
A Division - Nivelles, Belgium
Sunday, July 25th: Ireland v Scotland, 12.0; Monday, July 26th: Ireland v England, 3.30; Wednesday, July 28th: Ireland v the Netherlands, 1.45; Friday, July 30th: crossovers; Saturday, July 31th: crossovers.
IRISH MEN'S UNDER-21: G Lennox (Banbridge), C Daunt (Cork Harlequins), E Butler (Cookstown), E Magee (Banbridge), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), R Gormley, (Club de Campo/Pembroke), M Gleghorn (Instonians), P Maguire (TCD), A Walker (YMCA), I Lewers (Annadale), N Lyons (YMCA), G Watkins (Monkstown), G McCabe (Banbridge), A McConnell (TRR), K Twomey (Cork C of I), M Robinson (Lisnagarvey), S Redpath (Instonians), A Mills (Dundee).
UNDER-21 WOMEN'S EUROPEAN C'SHIPS
A Division, Belfield, Dublin
Sunday, July 25th: Ireland v Spain, 6.30; Tuesday, July 27th: Ireland v Scotland, 6.30; Wednesday, July 28th: Ireland v the Netherlands, 6.30; Friday, July 30th: crossovers; Saturday, July 31st: crossovers.
IRISH WOMEN UNDER-21: S Connery (UCD), J Deacon (Waterford), S Frey (Old Alexandra), K Hales (C of I), E Harte (Bandon), N Keegan (Loreto), R Keegan (UCD), A Lappin (Randalstown), J Lynch (Loreto), S Martin (Pegasus), K McCollum (Pegasus), C McGowan (Corinthians), C Murphy (Galway), S Cooney (Loreto), C Quinlan (Hermes), K Simpson (Pegasus), C Sullivan (UCD), S Wilkinson (Pegasus).
SENIORS MEN'S TEST
July 31st to August 3rd: Ireland v India (To be played in Germany).
