Ireland men's coach David Passmore has reviewed his squad following the end of the domestic season and a lengthy period of work within the regional structure.
After warm-up games against Italy in Dublin on 25 and 26 May , Ireland play Italy and Canada in a tri-nations tournament in Cork from 27-29 May.
The objective of the matches against Italy (Dublin) and the Tri-nations (Cork) with Canada and Italy is to see as many players as possible before the squad moves into the final stages of the preparations for the team's crucial European Nations Trophy showdown in Rome in September, where they will be aiming for promotion to Grade A and qualification for the World Cup Qualifiers in spring 2006.
ÔÇ£I have generally been pleased with the attitude and commitment of the athletes to their regional conditioning and skills programs since January. After a short period of recuperation we need to get on with the task of preparing ourselves to compete in Rome,ÔÇØ Passmore said.
The national squad includes several changes with two additions from January. David Bane, 23 has been added after an impressive club season and the experienced David Smyth has returned after 18 months absence due to work and other commitments.
ÔÇ£David Smyth demonstrated his talent in Cork this weekend I am delighted he has returned the squad. He is technically very able and will give the Irish team different dimensions to our game in terms of how we can attack from the back line.
ÔÇ£David Bane has made significant progress over a short period of time. He is a robust player with unorthodox skills which other teams will find difficult to deal with. He has a lot to learn about international hockey but his attitude is excellent.ÔÇØ
Two of the younger athletes named previously are on agreed training breaks until after the European Nations Trophy.
ÔÇ£Richard Arnopp and Peter Blakeney both need time to mature and prepare themselves fully for the demands of senior international programs. They both have talent and I only hope now they use the breaks they have to develop in other ways,ÔÇØ Passmore said.
ÔÇ£We need to give all the athletes opportunity to impress against international opposition. I will be experimenting with different combinations and tactics over this period. Some players have a lot to prove and others need to convince me they are prepared to make the sacrifices required to give ourselves the best chance of fulfilling our ambitions.ÔÇØ
Ireland Men's Squad for Italy Series
David Bane (Aer Lingus)
Andy Barbour (Cookstown)
Joe Brennan (Glennane)
Paddy Brown (Instonians)
Karl Burns (Cork C of I)
Stephen Butler (Dragons, Belgium)
Stephen Butler (Dragons, Belgium)
Gordie Elliott (Pembroke Wanderers)
Mark Gleghorne (Loughborough Students, England)
Ronan Gormley (Pembroke Wanderers)
Charlie Henderson (GK-Corrinthians)
David Hobbs (Cork C of I)
Iain Lewers (Annadale)
Gareth Lennox (GK ÔÇô Banbridge)
Eugene Magee (Banbridge)
Phelie Maguire (Dublin University)
Johnny Moore (GK-Annadale)
Jonathan Quigley (Annadale)
Stephen Redpath (Annadale)
Gary Ringwood (Three Rock Rovers)
David Robb (Annadale)
Graham Shaw (Annadale)
Justin Sherriff (Dragons, Belgium)
Brian Waring (Lisnagarvey)
Gareth Watkins (Monkstown)
Wesley Bateman (GK-Cork Harlequins)
Jason Black (Cork Harlequins)
Mark Black (Cork Harlequins)
Paddy Brown (Instonians)
Karl Burns (Cork C of I)
Stephen Butler (Dragons, Belgium)
Timothy Cockram (Lisnagarvey)
Dave Eakins (Cork Harlequins)
Gordon Elliott (Pembroke Wanderers)
Charlie Henderson (GK-Corrinthians)
David Hobbs (Cork C of I)
Mark Irwin (Instonians)
Sean Nicholson (Cork Harlequins)
Mark Raphael (Lisnagarvey)
Graham Shaw (Annadale)
Justin Sherriff (Dragons, Belgium)
David Smyth (Annadale)
Brian Waring (Lisnagarvey)
