Smith maps out Ireland Women's Schedule

19 Apr 2013

Ireland's Senior Women's Coach Darren Smith has mapped out the schedule for his Green Army as they prepare for the European Championships in Belgium in August and further out the Olympics in Rio in 2016. Smith has had a productive few weeks recently taking in the Electric Ireland Irish Senior Cup Final weekend and each round of the Irish Hockey League so far as he monitors and analyses the players available for the National Team. Smith has also utilised the games in the Irish Hockey League to meet with a number of IHL Club Coaches and to stress the close link between the IHL and the development of the Green Army Squad.

Smith will name a list of trialists following conclusion of this year's Irish Hockey League Finals for an International Trial that will take place from 24th - 26th May. Following this trial, a National Squad of approximately 24 players will be selected along with a group of athletes to train in a development squad in preparation for the European Championships in Belgium from 17th-25th August. The squad will warm up for the European Championships with test matches against South Africa, Scotland, Germany, Wales and Canada before they face Netherlands, Belgium & Belarus in Pool A at Boom in August.

Following the European Championships in mid-September, a 2013-2014 National & Development Squad will be named with the aim of allowing the National Coach to evaluate and move players in or out of both squad based on their analysed performances.

The Irish Senior Women's Ireland's Summer Test series prior to the European Championships is as follows:

  • 11th June 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Scotland (Edinburgh)
  • 12th June 2013: Irish Senior Women vs South Africa (Edinburgh)
  • 22nd June 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Canada (Dublin)
  • 23rd June 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Canada (Dublin)
  • 25th June 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Canada (Dublin)
  • 1st July 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Wales (Belfast)
  • 2nd July 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Scotland (Belfast)
  • 4th July 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Scotland (Belfast)
  • 5th July 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Scotland (Belfast)
  • 8th July 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Germany (Dusseldorf)
  • 9th July 2013: Irish Senior Women vs Germany (Dusseldorf)


Speaking to hockey.ie, Senior Women's Coach Darren Smith said "I've enjoyed watching the IHL over the past month. Seeing the top Ireland clubs matching up has seen some high quality hockey, I'm looking forward to seeing how it concludes because there is multiple potential winners. The other aspect which has been beneficial is creating a link with each IHL club, starting information sharing and talking hockey. I want this to continue"

Smith continued "I'm at Queens University in Belfast to take in the triple header on Saturday to get a chance to see Ballymoney, Lurgan and Pegasus against Quins, UCD and Loreto. This weekend's games are pivotal to the IHL so we will see a bit of pressure. This summer will be very important as we set our sights toward Rio 2016. Plenty of tests, training and time together".