As the final stages of the current FIH Hockey Pro League season approach (starting from 13 June), let us hear from the participating teams. Today, Gareth Grundie, coach of the Irish women’s national team, shares his thoughts.
1) How happy are you with how this season has gone so far?
I’m very pleased with how our Pro League season has gone so far. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the world, and I think we’ve shown real progress as a group. It’s particularly encouraging that we’ve picked up points against teams ranked in the world’s top six, something we haven’t achieved in competition in recent years.
Hosting the opening block in Dublin was another highlight. Playing in front of a sell-out crowd and seeing the support for the team was a special experience for everyone involved.
As a side newly promoted to the league, we’ve put ourselves in a good position heading into the second half of the season. We know there’s still a lot of work to do, but we’ve given ourselves a real opportunity to remain at this level and continue competing against the world’s best teams.
2) What FIHPL moment to date sticks out as a really memorable one for you?
The shootout win at home against England stands out. It earned us our first points of the campaign and was a special moment for the team and our supporters.
3) What are your key focuses going into these final blocks?
Our focus is on continuing to improve and making small gains each game. We’ve worked hard to build depth within the squad, so it’s exciting to see new players pushing for opportunities. That competition for places helps raise standards as we build towards the World Cup.
4) How important are these next two FIH Hockey Pro League stages for the Irish Women’s Team?
They’re hugely important. We want to keep developing, keep challenging ourselves, and continue learning against top-level opposition. These matches are effectively our final preparation games before the World Cup, so they provide a valuable opportunity to fine-tune our performance.
5) Another series of world class opposition awaits, some of which you have faced recently, while others you haven’t faced in a number of years. Are there any particular teams you are really looking forward to getting to face?
I’m looking forward to every game. Each team presents a different challenge and offers another opportunity for us to test ourselves, continue developing, and see where we stand against some of the world’s best sides.
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