Thursday, August 13, 2009

Ireland avoid direct EHL and WCQ clash

The likelihood of both Glenanne and Pembroke's international players being available for the EuroHockey League's opening rounds was given a huge boost as both were confirmed to play in the first of the two weekends of group stages.


Both clubs will play in Barcelona on the weekend of October 9 to 11, giving at least some breathing space for sides with large Irish representation ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers.

It means there is a minimum of 20 days between the end of their EHL involvement and the first of three World Cup Qualifying tournaments in Lille on October 31.

A worst case scenario would have seen Ireland play in this competition a week after EHL group games in Lille and would likely see club players pulled out in favour of playing for Ireland.

Should Ireland be drawn in one of the later WCQ events, the issue becomes less of a problem. The draw for the WCQs will take place once the current continental competitions have been completed with Invercargill, New Zealand (November 7-15) and Quilmes, Argentina (November 14-22) the other two possible destination.

KHC Leuven and their Irish pair Phelie Maguire and Mitch Darling, however, could face a tug-o-war for the player services as the Belgian club has been drawn in the second set of group matches.

* At the time of writing, The Hook has been informed that while the draw for the EHL group stages has been made, a couple of issues remain to be ironed out and so final details will not be released for a couple of days.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is there implications for the likes of Pembroke and the Glens forthe leinster league campaign as a result of upcoming internationals and EHL? Will there be scenario's where the international players won't be available for the league matches?

Anonymous said...

That would be an absolute disaster for the quality of the leinster league. We need our top players playing in the provincial league to keep a high standard of play.

Anonymous said...

think if Ireland make it to the world cup could be a few problems. heading off to india mid-season would create some headaches.

in rugby circles, players regularly miss out on playing for their club side but the ehl race and ihl places make it imperative that domestic league is not completely written off.

Queso said...

Did the Leinster Branch ever issue definitive rules on the grounds for granting of postponements due to player unavailability??

I remember in the past with international / interprovincial call-ups there was the "difference of 2" guideline.

Anonymous said...

who would your squad of 16/18 be in you were picking it for WCQ's?

Anonymous said...

Queso, Come on. You did not have your grammar check turned on. You used the words "Leinster Branch" and "Guideline" in the one sentence. Next you will be talking of commonsense and greater good and good liasing with the IHA. Then before you know where you are you have "consultation" and "fixture construction". I think your cheese is melting.

Anonymous said...

Harte

Harte
Gormley
Lewis
Jackson

Jermyn
Butler
Hobbs

Magee
Sothern
Watt

Walker
McConnell
Darling
Lee
Brennan
Maguire
Watkins

Anonymous said...

Any word on which of the clubs in Barca will be hosting?

Anonymous said...

Time for another discussion.

Talented U16 and U18 players should play club hockey instead of school hockey.
They cannot do both because of the '5 unit' rule.

What's better for their development?

Anonymous said...

EHL is in Polo. pembroke will progress, cant see the glens making it, they lack the depth of squad needed for ehl.

Anonymous said...

6:34 laughable. no shaw?? you seen any intl games lately? no idea...you see the ihl final?? you even watch hockey??

Anonymous said...

Who is Lee?

Anonymous said...

No Shaw. What are you talking about. Nonsense.

Anonymous said...

thats clearly a monstown coment.

Anonymous said...

If you talk to any of the Irish players, they will tell you that Shaw is massive part of their team. He can be very different to our other midfielders. What a lot of people dont talk about is his ability to see a big pass. Probably the best in the country at that. I do think Maguire should be brought back for WCQ. And obviously Watt when returns from injury. Why do people come on this site pushing players like Lee when he would end up being the least experience player in the squad going to major qualifiers. I Think you Monkstown fans should think twice before putting a comment forward.

Anonymous said...

4.31pm

Am not sure that the "5 units" is actually a rule, i think they are guidlines.

There was no mention of it in the girls schools rules or ladies branch rules last year.

Anonymous said...

To 4.31pm, we do have a very interesting situation, especially on the schoolgirl's side.

There are some exceptional talents coming through who are being saddled with even more school's matches this year with the increased premier league. This type of player is very much the exception and not the rule for school's teams but they do need to be playing at the higher level of hockey if they are to continue their development.

As such, they should have more of their training time with national clubs and coaches and have their school's coaching reduced to a more managable level. At the moment, it seems that players are made to put schools first and play league matches against lesser opposition ahead of a high quality training which seems wrong to me if we are aiming to produce elite athletes. To avoid burnout, the talented ones need to have more focussed, higher quality training and match time and less 'walks in the park'.

On the boy's side, there are more guys ready for top level hockey but less school's fixtures to fulfill providing a different dynamic.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

3.23 comment written either by an adult that doesn't care or a young player that doesn't know better -- The 5 unit rule is a critical part of looking after underage kids who can be pressurised to play for school club province and national levels all in close proximity--only time will tell whether any of those kids will be affected by being overplayed --hopefully not. The most talented kids could easily be playing /training 7 days a week with each coach wanting their piece without full regard for the players overall wellbeing .

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Forgot Shaw....bit of an oversight on my part.

He would obviously make the squad.

Ex UCD Player.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

That 5 units in absolutely non-sense.....None of the young players abide by it, look at the likes of ... they played all season for school club provnce and country.....playing more than five times hardly hindered there development!

Reposted from 3:23

Anonymous said...

TO: That 5 units in absolutely non-sense.....None of the young players abide by it, look at the likes of ... they played all season for school club provnce and country.....playing more than five times hardly hindered there development
---------------------------
I hope to god your a ignorant young player and not a coach. That is possibly the most rediculous statement made on The Hook!!
Maybe you should attend the IHA Code of Ethics conference.

That 5 unit GUIDELINE is there to PROTECT young tallent otherwise you WOULD have clubs and schools playing school boys playing 8 or 9 times a week (training included)

Clubs and Schools should communicate MORE and instead of this SCHOOL has priority let the player decide where he/she wants to play.

End of the day its his/her decision NOT the coaches or the school.

Reposted from 11:34

Stephen Findlater said...

I've reposted a couple of slightly edited and deleted some comments from earlier this afternoon and evening due to code of conduct issues.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Anonymous said...

EHL is in Polo. pembroke will progress, cant see the glens making it, they lack the depth of squad needed for ehl.
--------------------------------

wasnt this said last year for IHL? obviously EHL is a huge step up but why are people so quick to write glenanne off?
Its as shame that we cant just support both teams in a big year for irish hockey..

Queso said...

I will definitely be supporting both teams in EHL, as they are representing Irish Hockey.

I am sure Pembroke and Glenanne supporters will also be cheering each other on and there could be a fantastic "Irish" contingent over for the weekend and great banter!!

Anonymous said...

Most definetly will be cheering both teams on during the weekend.

Why on earth would anyone begrudge the other team in such an event is beyond me. Now I just need to dig out something purple...aha! [holds up old Barney the dinosaur toy]