Pembroke Wanderers will stage the EuroHockey Men's Trophy over the Easter weekend, from April 10-13 2009.
The tournament, introduced last season for the first time, acts as the second tier of European competition for men below the EuroHockey League and provides qualifying points for the main event.
Last season, Glenanne won a thrilling competition in Paris, 5-4 against CA Montrouge in the final, to gain not only the title but a maximum 12 points for Irish clubs in the quest to gain an extra space in the EHL.
Playing on home turf will hopefully provide Pembroke with a huge advantage when they compete - as Irish Senior Cup holders.
Three Rock will find out later this week if they are to host a round of the EHL following an inspection of both Grange Road and UCD last week.
Elsewhere, it would appear that Pembroke's match with Monkstown in the first round of the Neville Cup will go ahead as scheduled despite Pembroke's application for a postponement back in June.
Pembroke had been invited a prestigious tournament by Surbiton in England but the application for a refixed Neville Cup match did not meet Leinster Branch criteria and so an agreement with Monkstown needed to be reached.
The 'Town, however, were not in a position to rearrange the match and so, as it stands this morning, the fixture will be played without Pembroke's main players taking part.
It adds to the club's frustrations in the competition last year when they reached the final only to have just three first team players available for the St Stephen's Day game due to international commitments, holidays and injury.
The match will tip off now at 1.30pm in Rathdown.
10 comments:
Fantastic news for Pembroke and Irish hockey to be awarded this event.
I'm sure Pembroke will run a great tournament and generate more exposure for hockey. As mentioned it's a great chance to emulate Glenanne and win the EuroTrophy. If Three Rock Rovers can also progress from 1st Round EHL then Ireland might just get enough points to have two teams qualify for EHL next year!
Best of Luck.
Wouldn't you think they would have been allowed to rearrange the match so that Irish hockey could once again compete internationally and gain more exposure!! Bad decision I think.
Pembroke only asked for the postponement at the start of this week, not back in june
Game is not going ahead...unlucky Monkstown!
pembroke did in fact ask for the postponement back in June,get your facts right anonymous.
Great news for Irish Hockey and Pemboke.
Lets hope they turn up
yeh coz we all know that if they do theyll walk it
Monkstown got the walk over..."unlucky" Pembroke!
nothing trophy,nobody cares
Who wants to play on Stephens day anyway?
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