For the first time since 1908, Ireland will be represented by a hockey team at the summer Olympics after the men's side booked their ticket for Rio next summer.
Australia’s win over New Zealand in the Oceania Cup last Sunday morning ensured that Craig Fulton’s side will be among the elite group of 12 that will battle for medals in Brazil next August.
Qualification capped off a brilliant 2015 for the ‘Green Machine’ that saw them win a bronze medal at the European Championships and finish a creditable fifth in the World League 3 event.
Not surprisingly, there will be much focus on the squad in the lead up to the Games, and team member Alan Sothern is hoping that the public will get behind the squad in the way the Irish cricketers were supported in recent World Cups.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "We can draw inspiration from what the cricket team did and all the publicity they got. I’ve heard from people who weren’t even aware that Ireland had a men’s side. We want people to get behind us now and back us all the way to the Olympics.”
As for explaining the upturn in Ireland’s fortunes, Sothern’s team-mate Peter Carruth paid tribute to coach Fulton.
“Craig came in and implemented new structures and brought in an impressive coaching team,” he said.
“Fitness wise, he built us up a lot more. I think we are lot fitter and stronger now than we've ever been and that definitely played a part. Playing better and higher-ranked opposition, as we did on our recent tours to South Africa, also gives you a chance.”
As to what we can expect from the Irish in Rio, the mood is certainly bullish, as Sothern outlined: “We are not going there just to participate. It's great that qualification has been achieved. We now have to put in the hard yards and do the work to ensure that we are pushing for medals so that we end up on the podium.”
Adding to that positivity, Carruth said: "We've have proved it this year in the World League events and the European Championships that we can mix it with the likes off Germany, Belgium and get results against them."
