Survival the primary target for Irish

Having watched their male counterparts blaze a trail of glory for the majority of the summer, Ireland’s senior women have a chance to keep the good vibes coming as they begin their EuroHockey Nations Championship campaign in Amsterdam tomorrow.

While the men have been cleaning up in second-tier competitions – winning three and losing the final of a fourth – Gene Muller says his women’s side will have different priorities in mind as they compete at the top level, namely retaining their A division status.

Automatic World Cup qualification is the carrot for the semi-finalists, but to achieve this Ireland would need to upset either Germany or Spain – third and seventh in the world respectively – in the pool stages.

Gene Muller will be hoping his Irish side can start finding the net more often at the forthcoming EuroHockey Nations Championships. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Their primary focus is likely to instead be to defeat Scotland, the lowest-ranked side in their pool, and do enough in the classification matches to avoid the demotion fate that befell the men in 2007.

Indeed, Muller has effectively set his stall out already by opting to take an extra defender – Cork Harlequins’ Cliodhna Sargent, who could win her 50th cap at the tournament – with Loreto playmaker Niamh Small losing out.

Converting chances and finding a sharper cutting edge continues to provide the biggest headache for Muller. However, there was a positive constant throughout the series against England, Spain and Germany earlier this year, as the Irish improved in the latter games once they had got the measure of their opponents, running them far closer. In addition, they beat the English 1-0 during a warm-up match earlier this week.

However, a baptism of fire awaits tomorrow at the Wagener Stadium against defending champions Germany (10.30am), before a match-up with the Scots on Sunday with the ever-improving Spain lying in wait on Tuesday.

The burden will once again fall on international veterans Eimear Cregan and Cathy McKean to supply the bullets up front, with the support cast featuring the likes of livewire UCD duo Roisin Flinn and Lisa Jacob, plus Ballymoney whizkid Megan Frazer.

Late bloomer Emma Smyth – who required stitches to a head injury this week but has been passed fit -  and the experienced Nikki Symmons will need to be at their creative best in midfield, while Bridget Cleland is the defensive lynchpin in the absence of the recently-retired Ciara O’Brien.

Despite the fact this is the most experienced Irish squad in memory in terms of cap averages, Muller believes his side will reach maturity in 2011.

Having failed to reach the final of the Champions Challenge II in Russia, where Ireland were the second-highest ranked outfit in the tournament, they will be determined to show they are still on track to peak in time to secure Olympic qualification.

Despite bringing the youngest squad to the tournament, with an average age of just 23, the players are confident they can confound expectations by gunning for a last four spot, with skipper Cregan and Sargent both waxing positive about Ireland’s chances.

Quins' Cliodhna Sargent (right) has been chosen ahead of Loreto's Niamh Small for Ireland's European mission. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

On the other side of the draw, world number ones the Netherlands should emerge comfortably from Pool A, with eighth-ranked England next in line. Azerbaijan are the dark horses, but Russia’s objectives will be merely to avoid the drop to the B division.

Elsewhere, Ireland’s two representatives in the coming season’s EuroHockey League have been handed tough draws for the pool stages, which will get underway in Barcelona on October 9.

Glenanne have drawn the shortest straw, having to play 2008 champions Uhlenhorst Hamburg and crack Polish outfit Grunwald Poznan within 24 hours, a scenario coach Arul Anthoni was desperately hoping to avoid for his side’s maiden EHL voyage.

Pembroke must tackle the might of Dutch giants Rotterdam in their pool, but will be glad to have Scottish champions Kelburne first up, knowing a win there will secure their passage to the last 16. They also have the benefit of a rest day between their games.

EuroHockey Nations Championship, Wagener Stadium, Amsterdam

Ireland squad (club/caps): L Barr (Ballymoney/13), E Clarke (Ulster Elks/76), B Cleland (Ballymoney/132), L Colvin (Loreto/17), E Cregan (Cork Harlequins/154, capt), R Flinn (UCD/59), M Frazer (Ballymoney/16), M Goode (Bray/57), E Gray (Hermes/11), M Harvey (Pegasus/18), L Jacob (UCD/54), S McCay (Ulster Elks/71), C McKean (Loreto/125), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins/46), A Speers (Pegasus/60), E Smyth (Railway Union/12), E Stewart (Armagh/77), N Symmons (Loreto/122)

Schedule (all Irish times)

Tomorrow: Ireland v Germany, 10.30am; Sunday: Ireland vs Scotland, 8.30am; Tuesday: Ireland vs Spain, 12.30pm; Thursday and Saturday: Classification matches/finals