Bann trio get Ireland’s call for WL3

By Gareth Hanna
Published 9th Jun 2015, 12:15 BST
Eugene Magee is one of three Banbridge players in the Ireland squad. Pic: Rowland White / Presseye.Eugene Magee is one of three Banbridge players in the Ireland squad. Pic: Rowland White / Presseye.
Eugene Magee is one of three Banbridge players in the Ireland squad. Pic: Rowland White / Presseye.
Banbridge Hockey Club’s Eugene Magee, Drew Carlisle and Stephen Dowds have all secured their spots in the Ireland squad for this month’s Olympic qualifiers.

Having played their parts in the warm-up games in France and Belgium, the trio clearly did enough to impress Ireland coach Craig Fulton, making the final 18 man squad for World League Three.

The tournament, in Belgium, begins for Ireland against Great Britain on Tuesday 23rd June and doubles up as an Olympic qualifying event.

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They will then take on Malaysia, China and Belgium in Pool B.

Ireland lost out 3-2 and 4-2 in two tight practice games against top seeds and hosts Belgium last weekend, star forward Shane O’Donaghue netting all of the Green Machine’s four goals.

Despite the defeats, Bann skipper Eugene Magee is hoping Ireland can use the games to help them to Olympic qualification.

“We didn’t play as well as we can at the weekend but we’re learning with every game,” he said.