Six Bann players get Ireland call-up

It is a remarkable achievement for the club to have Bann members making up one third of the current squad. Congratulations to each of them on their selection and everyone at Banbridge Hockey Club would like to wish them all the best for the forthcoming tournament.

The Irish team will depart for Malaysia on Thursday and compete against New Zealand, Poland and Japan in their pool while Spain, France, Korea, Malaysia and Canada make up Pool B.

The squad has been announced off the back of two tests against England, which took place on Thursday and Friday.

Commenting on his first international tournament as Coach, Fulton said: “It is exciting to select some new faces and have some of the senior Internationals back for Champions Challenge I. It will be a good challenge to test ourselves against higher ranked opposition with New Zealand, Japan and Poland in our Pool. The obvious objective is to finish as high as possible as world ranking points are on offer.”

Fulton has selected one uncapped player with Maurice Elliott from Pembroke Wanderers also being called into the squad.

Ireland Squad

1.David Harte GK (Kampong)

2. David Fitzgerald GK (Monkstown)

3.John Jackson (Captain) (Reading)

4.Paul Gleghorne (Instonians)

5.Johnny Bell (Lisnagarvey)

6.Richard Shaw (Glenanne)

7.Mathew Bell (Banbridge)

8. Bruce McCandless (Banbridge)

9.Eugene Magee (Banbridge)

10.Drew Carlisle (Banbridge)

11. Michael Robson (Annadale)

12.Peter Brown (UCD)

13.Chris Cargo (Reading)

14.Alan Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers)

15.Steven Dowds (Banbridge)

16. Kirk Shimmins (UCD)

17.Philip Brown (Banbridge)

18. Maurice Elliot (Pembroke Wanderers)

Coach: Craig Fulton

Manager: Peter Jackson

Ass Coach: Jonny Caren

Ass Coach/Conditioning :Steven Barry

Video : Jens Hillmann

Physio : Stephen Haslam

Doctor: Dr McCandless

Non Travelling Reserves:

Stuart Loughrey

Nicholas Burns

Jason Lynch

Jeremy Duncan

Stephen West

Fixtures Saturday 26th April/Sunday 4th May – Men Hockey Champions Challenge Kuantan, Malaysia (all local times)

26th Ireland v New Zealand 15.00

27th Ireland v Poland 17.00

29th Ireland v Japan 17.00

1st May QF

3rd May 5/8 or Semi-Finals

4 May Final Classification