Seven UCD players have been named in the preliminary Irish U-21 panel as their European preparations will get underway in earnest in February when Mossley hosts a four-nations tournament.
Ireland will go head to head with Germany, Scotland and England from Tuesday, February 11 to Saturday, February 15 in Newtownabbey.
The students involvement is the biggest contingent from any club, a clear sign of the talent they can now attract to Belfield with the increased commitment from college to scholarships.
Kirk Shimmins is one of seven UCD players in the Irish U-21 squad Pic: Adrian Boehm
Full internationals Kirk Shimmins and Peter Brown are joined by David Watkins, Jeremy Duncan, Ross Canning, Nick Burns and Ravin Nair in the panel. Monkstown’s David Cole is the other senior Irish cap in the panel.
The training squad will come together in January for a training weekend. The squad has been selected on the basis of performances on last year’s U-21 interpros and club matches. The final selection for the team will be made post the 2014 U-21 Interpros taking place over February 8 and 9.
Ireland’s U-21 coach Jonny Caren was very excited about the upcoming event: “I am extremely delighted to have this opportunity to have a four nations tournament against some of Europe’s top teams being hosted here in Belfast, in preparation for our European B Division tournament in Portugal this summer.
“This current squad of players has huge potential over the coming years and I am personally excited to be working with the Under-21 programme in preparing them both for competition and hopefully a future on the senior international hockey stage working towards Rio in 2016.”
Funding for the tournament has been secured by Irish and Ulster Hockey from both Sport Northern Ireland and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
Commenting on the announcement, Irish Hockey CEO Mike Heskin said: “This tournament would not be taking place without the funding received by both Sport Northern Ireland and Newtownabbey Borough Council and for that we are grateful for their support.
“Both Ulster Hockey and ourselves are delighted that we can bring this quality of competition to the fine grounds of Mossley Hockey Club and showcase some of our young stars while providing them with top quality opposition.”
Preliminary squad: Ben Cosgrove (Grove Menzieshill, Scotland), Ben McMillan (Mossley), David Cole (Monkstown), David Watkins (UCD), Gary Wilkinson (UCC), Gavin Adams (Beeston, England), Harry Spain (Pembroke), James Cox (Annadale), Jeremy Duncan (UCD), Johnny McKee (Banbridge), Josh Moffett (Banbridge), Kirk Shimmins (UCD), Lee Cole (Monkstown), Mark Ingram (Pembroke), Mark Loughrey (Pembroke), Mark Willis (Leeds), Matthew Bell (Banbridge), Matthew Rollins (Cookstown), Michael Robson (Annadale), Neal Glassy (Mossley), Neil Gilmour (Portadown), Nick Burns (UCD), Owen Magee (Banbridge), Peter Brown (UCD), Ravin Nair (UCD), Ross Canning (UCD), Shane Madeley (Three Rock Rovers)