Hockeyroos await as WCQ forces domestic schedule changes

Story updated: Wednesday December 1

Ireland’s senior women will have to overcome world number five Australia if they are to qualify for the BDO 2010 World Cup.

Yesterday’s draw for the qualification tournaments – which will force a change of schedule for the women’s IHL and ISC competitions – sees Ireland heading to Santiago, Chile next April, where they will face the Hockeyroos, Malaysia, Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago and the host country.

The fifth-place finish by Gene Muller’s side in the European championships has put Ireland in the pot of second seeds, but Australia’s surprise loss to New Zealand on penalty strokes left a world hockey giant in the draw for the qualifiers.

With just one team set to progress to the 2010 showpiece in Argentina, world number 15s Ireland will have their work cut out, particularly given recent results against the Scots and Malaysians have proven there is little to choose between the sides.

The Irish Hockey Association has confirmed a number of date changes for the women’s national competitions due to clashes with the competition.

Following consultations with the four Irish Senior Cup semi-finalists, January 16 has been agreed as the date for the last four ties, which have been brought forward four months, scrapping the notion of a ‘finals weekend’.

Round four of the IHL will now be played on February 27/28 and the vital fifth series on Sunday, March 14.

Explaining the date changes, a notice on the IHA website said “On Wednesday, November 25, we were advised of the date and venue for the Women’s World Cup Qualifier scheduled for Chile from Saturday 24th April to Sunday 3rd May

“These dates were not expected as we had originally been advised the WCQ would be held between early March and mid April. The new dates has an obvious impact on the original dates for the Semi-Final (24th April) and Final (25th April) of the ESB Irish Senior Cup and Round 4 (17th /18th April) and Round 5 of the ESB Irish Hockey league (1st May).

“Therefore in consultation with the National Coach Gene Muller, Chair of IHA Competitions Committee John Smyth and the Chair of the IHL Committee Inez Cooper the revised scheduled have been agreed.”

The ESB Irish Senior Cup final and the IHL finals weekends will remain on their allotted dates.