Cregan poised to make hockey history

LIMERICK’S Eimear Cregan is poised to become Ireland’s most-capped women’s hockey player. The 28-year-old Castletroy woman has been selected in the international squad for two tournaments, later this month, by Irish team coach Gene Muller.
Cregan is currently captain of the Irish senior women’s hockey side and all going according to plan she will create her own piece of history in a four nations invitational tournament which is set to take place in Germany from June 25-27.
The Limerick woman currently has played 165 times for Ireland and is just one appearance shy of Rachael Kohler, who retired in 2003 after winning 166 caps.
Cregan, who is a niece of Limerick’s 1973 All-Ireland hurling winner Eamonn Cregan, made her international senior debut at the age of 19 in 2001 against Wales.
The Catholic Institute club player had amassed 50 caps by 2004 and reached the landmark 100 caps in 2007.
In the spring of 2008 Cregan was elevated to the role of Irish captain after the retirement of Linda Caulfield.
Cregan and her Irish colleagues have a busy few weeks ahead of them as the level of matches and training revs up for the summer months.
The Germany tournament will give Ireland a great opportunity to compete against some of the top sides in the world, Australia, India and hosts Germany.
Just three days later, starting on June 30, Ireland will take on Australia in a triple header at UCD, Dublin.
“We are delighted to have secured these fixtures and our players are excited at the prospect of competing against this calibre of opposition.
“Australia and Germany are traditional powerhouses in women’s hockey and will be a stern test for us. India are the Commonwealth games hosts and are gearing up for the World Cup later this year,” said Irish coach Gene Muller of the forthcoming fixtures.
Elsewhere Irish girls hockey has received a major boost with the news that Ireland has secured a place for its under-17 girls hockey squad at the first ever World Youth Olympic Games which are being held in Singapore in August.
The Limerick-based Dave Passmore will coach the Irish side and a number of local teenagers are expected to be in the shake-up for squad places.
“This is the perfect opportunity to develop a group of talented young athletes, many of whom have been through Irish Hockeys talent ID system.
“Whilst the tournament will be a challenging one in difficult climatic conditions it is the best way to test our young stars against the world’s best nations,” explained David Passmore.

Jerome O’Connell