The Ireland men’s hockey team have won the INSEP Challenge in Paris.
Ireland defeated Argentina 4-1, France 2-0 and Korea 5-1 claiming the title in the five-nations tournament, which also included world number one team Australia, who they lost to 4-2.
Ireland play Argentina next in a two-test series on Saturday and Sunday 6/7 August at the National Hockey Stadium with both games starting at 3pm.
This will be their final preparation before they leave for the Euro Hockey Nations in Germany from 20-28 August.
They have achieved some considerable momentum recently under head coach Paul Revington, and the fact that the majority of the players are playing their club hockey in European countries such as Holland, Spain, and Belgium. Its hoped that this recent form will manifest itself in the forthcoming European Championships, an Olympic qualifier, putting pressure on the top seeded teams in the Irish pool, Holland and England.
Men’s European Championship Match Schedule;
| Saturday | 20 | August 2011 | |||||
| 14.00 | A | Germany | v | Belgium | |||
| 20.00 | A | Spain | v | Russia | |||
| Sunday | 21 | August 2011 | |||||
| 10.00 | B | England | v | Ireland | |||
| 14.00 | B | Netherlands | v | France | |||
| Monday | 22 | August 2011 | |||||
| 13.00 | B | France | v | Ireland | |||
| 15.00 | A | Spain | v | Germany | |||
| 17.00 | A | Belgium | v | Russia | |||
| 19.00 | B | England | v | Netherlands | |||
| Wednesday | 24 | August 2011 | |||||
| 13.00 | B | France | v | England | |||
| 15.00 | A | Germany | v | Russia | |||
| 18.00 | B | Netherlands | v | Ireland | |||
| 20.00 | A | Belgium | v | Spain | |||
| Friday | 26 | August 2011 | |||||
| 14.00 | C | 4A | v | 3B | |||
| 16.00 | C | 3A | v | 4B | |||
| 18.30 | SF1 | 2A | v | 1B | |||
| 21.00 | SF2 | 1A | v | 2B | |||
| Sunday | 28 | August 2011 | |||||
| 09.00 | C | 4A | v | 4B | |||
| 11.00 | C | 3A | v | 3B | |||
| 13.30 | 3/4 | Loser SF1 | v | Loser SF2 | |||
| 16.00 | Final | Winner SF1 | v | Winner SF2 |
