Cox keen for Irish to stay in gear ahead of World Cup

IRELAND have barely had time to recover after their five games in seven days at the Four Nations tournament in Valencia last week, but nonetheless they are off to Belgium this weekend for another training camp.

It’s all part of their build-up to the World Cup finals in India in three weeks’ time, and during their camp they will take on their World No.3 hosts on Saturday.

Last week was a hectic schedule — you never see football, rugby or Gaelic teams having to endure five games inside a week — but coach Alexander Cox believes that it is necessary to replicate tournament programmes to get his players fully prepared for what lies ahead.

Some wonder whether taking on a team of Belgium’s standard — they are one place higher on the world ladder than Netherlands, who inflicted 7-1 and 5-2 defeats on the Green Machine last week — is a good thing.

But Cox, as did his predecessor Craig Fulton, reckons the only way his players can improve against quality opposition is to face them on a more regular basis.

And, anyway, the Irish are going to have to face Australia, the top ranked side in the world, in their opening pool game in Bhubaneswar, so taking on nations like high-ranked Netherlands and Belgium in advance can only give them an insight into how to minimise the damage.

Eight Ulstermen are in the 20-strong squad that travel to Belgium — some already play their hockey there and at nearby Netherlands, so will join up with the party.

Apart from the two games against Netherlands, the Irish had encouraging results in Valencia, especially against England when influential Ulster duo Eugene Magee and Sean Murray scored in the 2-2 draw before the 4-3 shoot-out win on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the EY Irish Hockey League is curtailed once again due to those international commitments, with just two games pencilled in.

Cookstown host Pembroke hoping to get a positive result to climb clear of the trouble zone, while Annadale are off to Dublin to take on unbeaten Glenanne, last season’s IHL winners.

There’s virtually a full Kirk Cup pool programme in midweek, with Annadale’s trip to Mossley yesterday evening giving them invaluable match practice ahead of Saturday’s IHL trip to Dublin, while an under-strength Lisnagarvey squeeze in their pool

Key man: Lisnagarvey’s Sean Murray, now playing in Holland, has a habit of scoring crucial goals

game against Newry Olympic on Saturday.

There’s no IHL2 this week but instead a full Ulster Premier League programme, as well as Linden Cup pool games.

The pick of the Premier games would appear to be at The Glade on Saturday when Mossley and Instonians battle it out to maintain their unbeaten starts in the league.

Bangor’s trip to Queen’s won’t be easy, while Premier champions Kilkeel’s game against Portadown has been brought forward to tomorrow evening.

Intermediate League teams Ballynahinch and Portrush head across the border to take in Irish Hockey Challenge quarter-final ties.