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Passmore still bullish on Ireland future as reign ends

HOCKEY: DAVE PASSMORE'S reign as Ireland coach came to an end yesterday with a spirited, 2-2 draw against Argentina at Serpentine…

Fri Oct 31 2008 - 00:00

HOCKEY:DAVE PASSMORE'S reign as Ireland coach came to an end yesterday with a spirited, 2-2 draw against Argentina at Serpentine Avenue.

Alan Sothern's goal in the first half was cancelled out by two Diego Tanuscio efforts, but John Jermyn roofed a drag-flick to give Passmore a rousing send-off.

It brings to an end a four-year tenure for Passmore in which the national side has undergone a huge overhaul in terms of professionalism, to the point where the country is knocking on the door of qualification to top competitions.

He steps down from the top job to focus solely on the role of high-performance director. The announcement of a new coach is due in the next week.

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Passmore admitted he will miss the day-to-day running of the team and that the day was "a bit emotional".

But, looking to the future, Passmore believes the new coach will need to instill a greater confidence in his side if they are to step up to the world arena. "We have to lose the small-island mentality. I think it's a lack of confidence in our own ability. We have ability, that's why teams like Argentina are coming to play us. We need to get a better belief inside us, we are good and we can compete.

"It has taken a long while to get to where we are. But we have got to get more expressive and dynamic in our attack. We've a good defensive base and are hard to beat, so that has to be the main focus."

Elsewhere, a busy weekend sees Three Rock Rovers take on Europe's finest with one of the toughest draws in the Euro Hockey League (EHL). They face Belgian champions KHC Leuven and Spanish league leaders Ono Atletic Terrassa in Lille.

Rovers, who need to finish in the top two of their three-team group to progress, will need to produce a major upset against teams who have invested heavily in top international players.

The money on offer from the EHL has raised the stakes for club hockey on the Continent, as evidenced by the fact the entire Argentinian squad that faced Ireland this week is European-based.

Terrassa - Rovers' opponents today - have made one of the most eye-catching signings, bringing in German Olympic gold-medallist Matthias Witthaus from Crefelder.

Turloch O'Siochain's side is without international Andy McConnell due to a hand injury, while Michael Maguire should recover in time from a calf strain.

Domestically, Pembroke face Glenanne in the perennial grudge match. Coaches Craig Fulton and Arul Anthoni know each other well from working together in South Africa, but find themselves on opposite sides for the first time since the 1997 World Cup qualifiers. Anthoni scored the winner in a 4-3 victory for Malaysia over South Africa.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Today - Euro Hockey League Group H (Lille): Three Rock Rovers v Ono Atletic Terrassa (3.30pm). Saturday: Euro Hockey League Group H (Lille): Three Rock Rovers v KHC Leuven (11:30am). Sunday: Euro Hockey League Group H (Lille): Ono Atletic Terrassa vs KHC Leuven (11.30am). Leinster League - Division One: Corinthians v Kilkenny, Whitechurch, 2.15pm; Monkstown v Railway Union, Rathdown, 1pm; Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne, Serpentine Ave, 2pm; UCD v Fingal, Belfield, 1pm.