# Ireland men's national field hockey team

The Ireland men's national field hockey team is organised by Hockey Ireland and represents both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in international men's field hockey competitions, including the Men's Hockey World Cup and the EuroHockey Nations Championship. They have previously competed in the Men's Intercontinental Cup, the Hockey Champions Challenge, the Men's FIH Hockey World League and the FIH Hockey Series. The team also competes at the Summer Olympics, though it officially only represents the Republic of Ireland then (using the Republic's flag and national anthem), while still selecting players from the entire island. On 26 January 1895 Ireland played in the first ever international field hockey match when they defeated Wales 3–0 in Rhyl. Ireland were finalists and silver medallists at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Ireland were also bronze medallists at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship.

## Early years

The Irish Hockey Union was founded on 6 February 1893 and on 26 January 1895 Ireland played in the first ever international field hockey match when they defeated Wales 3–0 in Rhyl. In 1895 Ireland also played England for the first time. This was also England's first ever international field hockey match. England's first four international matches, in 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898, were all against Ireland. By the start of the First World War, Ireland had played 55 international matches, mostly against Wales, England or Scotland. This saw 605 individuals represent Ireland, at least 164 of whom were brothers. Amongst the most notable set of brothers were the Petersons, including Jack and Walter. In 1904 the Peterson brothers were members of the Ireland team that won the Triple Crown. Ireland won the title after defeating Wales 4–2 away and England 3–2 at home. As well as Jack and Walter, the team also included their brothers Nicholas, William and Cecil. Another brother, Herbert made two Ireland appearances between 1900 and 1902. In total the brothers won 66 caps between them.

## Tournament history
### Olympic Games

In 1908, with a team that included Jack and Walter Peterson, Ireland played in the very first Olympic field hockey tournament. After defeating Wales 3–1 in the semi-final, they lost 8–1 to England in the final. The Ireland team was part of the Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics team. Because of this, the silver medal won by Ireland is credited to Great Britain and not Ireland. Ireland would have to wait 108 years before competing in their next Olympic tournament. In 1980 Ireland were invited to enter the tournament after a number of teams dropped out following the boycott. However the offer was turned down by the Irish Hockey Union due to the short notice. Shortly after it was proposed that Ireland apply to enter in 1984. However following a meeting on 16 May 1980 it was rejected due to opposition from the Ulster Branch. Ireland have entered Olympic qualifying tournaments since 1992. After narrowly missing out on qualification in both 2008 and 2012, Ireland qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics after finishing fifth in the 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals. Australia's 3–2 victory over New Zealand in the 2015 Oceania Cup confirmed Ireland's qualification.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 1908 Summer Olympics | |
| 2016 Summer Olympics | 10th |
| 2024 Summer Olympics | 10th |
| Olympic Qualifiers | Place |
| 2008 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier | 4th |
| 2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier | |
| 2016 Summer Olympics | 10th |
| 2019 Men's FIH Olympic Qualifiers | — |
| 2024 Men's FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers | |

### World Cup

Ireland qualified for the 1978 Men's Hockey World Cup after finishing as runners-up at the 1977 Men's Intercontinental Cup. The Ireland squad at their first World Cup included Terry Gregg, David Judge and Tommy Allen. Ireland qualified for the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup after finishing fifth at the 1989 Men's Intercontinental Cup. The 1990 World Cup squad included Jimmy Kirkwood, Stephen Martin, Billy McConnell and Martin Sloan. Ireland qualified for the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup after finishing fifth in the 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 1978 Men's Hockey World Cup | 12th |
| 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup | 12th |
| 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup | 14th |
| World Cup Qualifiers | Place | Notes |
| 1997 Men's Intercontinental Cup (field hockey) | 12th | DNQ |
| 2006 Men's Intercontinental Cup (field hockey) | 8th | DNQ |
| 2009 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers | | DNQ |
| 2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals | 7th | DNQ |
| 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals | 5th | Qualified |
| 2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup – European Qualifier | 4th | DNQ |

### EuroHockey Championship

Ireland have played regularly in the EuroHockey Nations Championship. With a team that included Harry Cahill and David Judge, Ireland competed in the inaugural 1970 tournament. Ireland hosted the 1995 tournament. After finishing ninth in 2003, Ireland were relegated to the 2005 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy. After winning this tournament, Ireland were promoted to the 2007 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. After finishing seventh in 2007 Ireland were again relegated. However after winning the 2009 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy, they were promoted to the 2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. Ireland's best performance in the tournament came in 2015 when they won the bronze medal after beating the hosts, England, 4–2 in the third place play-off with goals from Shane O'Donoghue, Alan Sothern and Eugene Magee.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 1970 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 9th |
| 1974 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 11th |
| 1978 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 8th |
| 1983 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 10th |
| 1987 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 6th |
| 1991 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 7th |
| 1995 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 5th |
| 1999 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 11th |
| 2003 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 9th |
| 2005 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy | |
| 2007 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 7th |
| 2009 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy | |
| 2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 5th |
| 2013 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 6th |
| 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | |
| 2017 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 6th |
| 2019 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship | 8th |
| 2021 Men's EuroHockey Championship II | |
| 2023 Men's EuroHockey Championship II | |
| EuroHockey Championship Qualifiers | Notes |
| 2003 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship qualification | Qualified for 2003 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship |
| 2025 Men's EuroHockey Championship Qualifiers | Qualified for 2023 Men's EuroHockey Championship II |
| 2025 Men's EuroHockey Championship Qualifiers | Qualified for 2025 EuroHockey Championship II |

### Men's Intercontinental Cup

Between 1977 and 2006 Ireland played regularly in the Men's Intercontinental Cup. Ireland qualified for the 1978 Men's Hockey World Cup after finishing as runners-up at the 1977 Men's Intercontinental Cup. With a team that included Jimmy Kirkwood, Stephen Martin, Billy McConnell and Martin Sloan, Ireland qualified for the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup after finishing fifth at the 1989 Men's Intercontinental Cup. After finishing ninth in the 1993 Men's Intercontinental Cup, Ireland were relegated to the 1996 Inter Nations Cup. After finishing fourth in this tournament they qualified for the 1997 Men's Intercontinental Cup.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 1977 Men's Intercontinental Cup | |
| 1981 Men's Intercontinental Cup | 4th |
| 1985 Men's Intercontinental Cup | 6th |
| 1989 Men's Intercontinental Cup | 5th |
| 1993 Men's Intercontinental Cup | 9th |
| 1996 Inter Nations Cup | 4th |
| 1997 Men's Intercontinental Cup | 12th |
| 2006 Men's Intercontinental Cup | 8th |

### Hockey Champions Challenge

Between 2009 and 2014 Ireland competed in the Hockey Champions Challenge. They initially played in the second level tournament. However after winning the 2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II they were promoted to the 2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I.

#### Hockey Champions Challenge I

| Tournaments | Place |
| 2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I | |
| 2014 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I | 4th |

#### Hockey Champions Challenge II

| Tournaments | Place |
| 2009 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II | |
| 2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II | |

### Men's FIH Hockey World League

Between 2012 and 2017 Ireland played in the Men's FIH Hockey World League. Ireland won World League tournaments in 2012, 2015 and 2017. Ireland qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics after finishing fifth in the 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals. Ireland also qualified for the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup after finishing fifth in the 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League | 14th |
| → 2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 1 | |
| → 2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 | |
| → 2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals | 7th |
| 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League | 9th |
| → 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 | 1st |
| → 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals | 5th |
| 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League | 11th |
| → 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 | |
| → 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals | 5th |

### FIH Hockey Series

During 2019, Ireland played in the FIH Hockey Series.
| Tournaments | Place |
| 2018–19 Men's FIH Series Finals | |

### FIH Hockey Nations Cup

| Tournaments | Place |
| 2022 Men's FIH Hockey Nations Cup | |

### FIH Pro League

| Tournaments | Place |
| 2023–24 Men's FIH Pro League | 9th |

### Invitational tournaments

| Tournament | Place |
| 2014 Men's Hockey Investec Cup | |
| 2017 Hamburg Masters | |
| 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup | 6th |
| 2018 Men's Four Nations Cup | 4th |

## Players
### Current squad

Current Squad Listed on the Hockey Ireland Website
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club |
| 1 | GK | David Harte | (1988-04-03)3 April 1988 (aged 36) | Kampong |
| 2 | GK | Jaime Carr | (1996-06-13)13 June 1996 (aged 28) | Rarh Bengal Tigers |
| 3 | DF | Charlie Rowe | | Banbridge |
| 4 | DF | Luke Whiterow | | Banbridge |
| 6 | DF | Luke Madeley | (1996-02-28)28 February 1996 (aged 29) | Gantoise |
| 7 | MF | Tim Cross | (1991-01-26)26 January 1991 (aged 34) | Rarh Bengal Tigers |
| 8 | FW | John McKee | (1996-12-22)22 December 1996 (aged 28) | Banbridge |
| 9 | FW | Matthew Nelson | (1998-04-14)14 April 1998 (aged 26) | Lisnagarvey |
| 10 | MF | Daragh Walsh | (1997-08-27)27 August 1997 (aged 27) | Braxgata |
| 12 | MF | Kevin O'Dea | (2002-05-03)3 May 2002 (aged 22) | UCD |
| 15 | MF | Kyle Marshall | (1998-07-10)10 July 1998 (aged 26) | Old Georgians |
| 17 | MF | Sean Murray | (1997-05-05)5 May 1997 (aged 27) | Gantoise |
| 19 | DF | Peter McKibbon | (1997-03-19)19 March 1997 (aged 27) | Lisnagarvey |
| 20 | FW | Jeremy Duncan | (1994-08-02)2 August 1994 (aged 30) | Monkstown |
| 21 | GK | James Milliken | | Lisnagarvey |
| 22 | MF | Michael Robson | (1995-04-18)18 April 1995 (aged 29) | Annadale |
| 24 | MF | Benjamin Walker | (1999-07-13)13 July 1999 (aged 25) | Gantoise |
| 25 | | Jonathan Lynch | (2001-05-04)4 May 2001 (aged 23) | Lisnagarvey |
| 26 | MF | Peter Brown | (1994-07-07)7 July 1994 (aged 30) | Banbridge |
| 29 | DF | Lee Cole | (1995-02-21)21 February 1995 (aged 30) | Monkstown |
| 35 | MF | Conor Empey | (1998-08-07)7 August 1998 (aged 26) | SCHC |
| 36 | MF | Sam Hyland | (1998-12-23)23 December 1998 (aged 26) | YMCA |
| 40 | FW | Ben Johnson | (2000-08-01)1 August 2000 (aged 24) | Three Rock Rovers |
| 45 | DF | Nick Page | (1997-05-28)28 May 1997 (aged 27) | Oxted |
| 35 | MF | Alistair Empey | (2000-12-11)11 December 2000 (aged 24) | SCHC |

### Olympians
#### London 1908

| Edward Allman-Smith Henry Brown Walter Campbell William Graham | Richard Gregg Edward Holmes Robert Kennedy Henry Murphy | Jack Peterson Walter Peterson Charles Power Frank Robinson |
Source:

#### Rio 2016

| Jonathan Bell Chris Cargo Peter Caruth Michael Darling Paul Gleghorne Kyle Good | Ronan Gormley Conor Harte David Harte John Jackson John Jermyn | Eugene Magee Shane O'Donoghue Kirk Shimmins Alan Sothern Michael Watt |
Source:

#### Great Britain

The following Ireland internationals have also represented Great Britain at the Summer Olympics.
| Steven Johnson – 1956 Harry Cahill – 1960, 1964, 1968 David Judge – 1964 Terry Gregg – 1972 Stephen Martin – 1984, 1988, 1992 Billy McConnell – 1984 | Jimmy Kirkwood – 1988 Iain Lewers – 2012, 2016 David Ames – 2016 Mark Gleghorne – 2016 Ian Sloan – 2016 |
Source:

## Coaches

| Years | |
| c.1981 | Joey O'Meara |
| c.1989–1990 | Cees Kopelaar |
| 2005–2008 | David Passmore |
| 2008–2012 | Paul Revington |
| 2012–2013 | Andrew Meredith |
| 2014–2018 | Craig Fulton |
| 2018–2019 | Alexander Cox |
| 2019–present | Mark Tumilty |

## Honours
### Major Tournaments

* Summer Olympics
** Runners Up: 1908: 1
* FIH Nations Cup
** Runners Up: 2022: 1
* Men's FIH Series Finals
** Runners up: 2019: 1

### Others

* Men's EuroHockey Championship II
** Winners: 2005, 2009, 2023
* Hamburg Masters
** Winners: 2017
* Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 1
** Winners: 2012 Cardiff
* Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2
** Winners: 2015 San Diego, 2017 Belfast
** Runners up: 2013 New Delhi
* Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II
** Winners: 2011
** Runners up: 2009
* Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier
** Runners up: 2012
* Men's Hockey Investec Cup
** Runners up: 2014
* Men's Intercontinental Cup
** Runners Up: 1977