Euro T20 Slam must go ahead: Stirling
ON the eve of Ireland’s T20 World Cup qualifying semi-final against Netherlands in Dubai today (10.10am GMT), Paul Stirling has stressed the importance of the Euro T20 Slam going ahead next summer.
The inaugural Slam, due to be held this year, was postponed at the last minute, depriving the Irish, Dutch and Scottish players the opportunity of playing alongside the world’s best in a threeweek tournament.
“It is really important for us,” said Stirling.
“You have seen the improvement in other teams who have their own T20 tournament, like Canada (who defeated Ireland last week).
“We certainly didn’t underestimate them after playing in their own, so if we can get the Euro Slam to go ahead ( just two months before the T20 World HAVING made an inauspicious start to her international career against Canada in 2007, the wheel has turned full circle for Ireland defender Shirley McCay.
The Pegasus player will win her 300 th cap in the first leg of the Olympic qualifying double-header also against Canada at Prestigia Park in Donnybrook tomorrow night (7pm).
Ireland are bidding to make it to an Olympics for the first time and go at least part of the way to soothe the lingering pain that surrounds the men’s failure to make it to Tokyo in controversial circumstances last Sunday in Vancouver.
McCay, who works as a talent coach with Ulster Hockey, laughs when she recalls her debut against Canada at a tournament in South Africa all those years ago.
“My first touch of the ball didn’t actually materialise, it hit my foot after I saw this lovely first-time pass down the line and I totally missed it,” she smiled.
Fast for ward 12 years and McCay will be hoping to play a more influential role in the Canada games this weekend when she achieves her own personal milestone.
“It’s fairly surreal and pretty special, but while I am not one for the spotlight, I am really proud and I think it’s come as a result of a lot of hard work and Cup) it will really help Scotland, Holland and ourselves, so fingers crossed it goes ahead.”
All three European teams have qualified for Australia 2020 with just the order of placings to be finalised, which decides which group they will be in for the early stages of the World Cup.
Although it has been Ireland’s objective to win the qualifying tournament, Stirling believes the pressure is off and it should allow the players to perform at their best over the final two days.
“The Dutch are one of the strongest teams, a really good T20 team, and having played against a lot of their players in England we know how strong they are,” he said.
“But it will be a bit of a relief playing each other with the pressure to get into the World Cup dedication — that’s the thing I am most proud about,” she said.
McCay, who hails from Drumquin in Co Tyrone, hopes she has become something of a role model, especially after helping Ireland lift the silver medals at last year’s World Cup in London.
“When you’re younger and you’re playing, you don’t really see yourself in that way, but when you get older, and especially in my line of work, it is noticeable that people maybe look up not there anymore, so it might lead to higher scores and, playing in a relaxed atmosphere, show what you can do as a side.”
Stirling is on course to be the top run scorer in the tournament — after three half centuries in the six group games — as he continues his prolific form which has already yielded a record 1,462 runs this year.
“I came into the tournament in good form and managed to keep it going,” he added.
“You are never quite sure when you come to the big games whether it will continue, so I am delighted to get a few runs, contribute to a few wins and hopefully it continues with the final two games of the international calendar.”
It won’t be the last international action for Ireland’s star to you,” she added. “That’s something really special and a legacy that we can leave behind in that we are inspiring young girls and boys to take up the sport and aspire to playing international hockey.”
McCay will be attempting to banish the bitter memories of three previous failures to qualify for an Olympics, dating back to 2008 when a shock defeat by Italy ended the dream of a place in Beijing. batsman. After a 10-day break, he will be returning to the UAE for the T10 League, which he describes as “probably my favourite tournament outside of playing for Ireland”.
“You play for an hour-and-ahalf and have fun after that,” he said.
Stirling also spoke for the first time since missing out on a place at next year’s new English franchise competition, The Hundred.
“As an overseas player (having declared for Ireland), I was always going to be favourite to lose out, there were room for only three per team and the players chosen are at a different level,” he said.
Meanwhile, Scotland beat Oman in yesterday’s only game by five wickets to finish the Qualifiers in fifth place.
A 4-1 loss to Belgium four years later, with London 2012 at stake, was followed by the heartache of Valencia in 2015 when a penalty shoot-out loss to China denied Ireland a place in Rio.
“My particular memory i s from the first one in Canada in 2008, to qualify for Beijing. I remember wondering what everyone was so upset and disappointed about,” recalled McCay.
“It didn’t really dawn on me until years later, that for a lot
Hot streak: Paul Stirling is delighted with his recent form
of those girls that was their last chance and they weren’t going to get that opportunity again.
“So a big learning curve for me was that you should never take those opportunities for granted.”
McCay’s silver medal that she collected at last year’s World Cup is her most prized possession, but that would be surpassed by a ticket to Tokyo for a first Olympics, which would signal the perfect climax to an outstanding international career.