Men's Hockey European TrophySo the Irish team line up on Sunday to face Belarus in their first match in the European Trophy. To the rest of Europe it is the European Championships Division Two, a place where Ireland do not want to be for too much longer.
Ireland are in this position after a number of years of wheeling out average international sides from a domestic system that remains stuck in a provincial base, one that condemns two sides in Munster, Cork Harlequins and Cork C of I, to a few tough matches between themselves interspersed with routine slaughterings of other clubs.
That coach Dave Passmore has taken players and moulded them into what looks like an effective unit laced with above-average talent deserves credit. However, that won't be put into his account until this side delivers on the promise to win their group and reach the final, then win that too.
So Ireland go into this tournament with a different dynamic operating. They arrive in Rome as the top ranked side and as one of the favourites to win the trophy. That carries the bonus of promotion into the elite group of eight in Europe as well as a place in next year's World Cup qualifying event in China.
But it is an unusual pressure to place on an Irish side for a tournament that will be decided on the narrowest of margins. Belarus arrive as an unknown package. Tradition suggests they will have a handful of good players, some bad players and one or two wizards but dreadfully lacking in funds to prepare properly. Their ranking (last updated in April) of 43 in the world is misleading but Ireland's opener is a match to be won with goal difference in mind.
Their second game is against Wales, on Monday. Wales, who play the same style of game as Ireland, are ranked six places below at 29th. Again tradition suggests Ireland have the upper hand, although a closer match is expected against a more structured team.
The Russians are Ireland's final group opponents before they go into the classification games. Ireland would expect to have the strength to defeat a side that in past years was composed of super-fit, full-time soldiers. Thankfully the Irish can compete physically at a higher level now and again Russia's ranking of 28 is five below the Irish.
Italy, ranked one place below Ireland, are favourites to win the other pool. Optimists believe Ireland meeting Italy in the final is a credible end to the week's play.
In recent warm-up matches Ireland drew and beat the Italians 4-4 and 4-3 on the Tre Fontane tournament pitch and in the 4-3 game came back from 3-0 down. The tendency to leak easy goals is probably the main threat to Ireland winning this competition.
Stephen Butler and Justin Sherriff's strike rate from play and set-pieces make Ireland dangerous at the scoring end but next week's success could come down to the team's ability to defend too.
IRELAND: W Bateman (GK, Cork Harlequins), A Barbour (Cookstown), M Black (Cork Harlequins), J Black (Cork Harlequins), P Brown (Instonians), K Burns (Cork C of I), S Butler (Glenanne), G Elliott (Pembroke), M Gleghorne (Loughborough), N Henderson (GK, Pembroke), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), M Irwin (Instonians), I Lewers (Annadale), M Raphael (Lisnagarvey), G Shaw (Annadale), J Sherriff (Pembroke), D Smyth (Annadale), B Waring (Lisnagarvey). Coach: D Passmore. Manager: S Hiles.
