Ireland

By Graham Hamilton


IRELAND will know by this weekend whether they have a realistic chance of making the top six in September's European Nations Cup or not.

John Clarke's lads are in Vienna at the moment for a Four Nations tournament involving hosts Austria, Switzerland and Russia.

And the outcome of these three games will be a strong indicator as to whether we can regain a foothold among Europe's best or remain on the fringe.

The Irish, of course, have lost their last five games ... all to old rivals England who are expected to be among the medals when the finals start in Barcelona.

But the Austrians, Swiss and Russians are more along our standard, and if we can produce positive results against them, then we'll go to Spain in September in optimistic mood.

The Austrians just missed out on reaching the finals but the Swiss are in the other group while the Russians are in our group ... and the game against them will be crucial as we aim for the fifth to eight play-offs.

Seven Ulstermen are in Clarke's 18-strong panel, including Instonian Patrick Brown who will become the latest to cross the 50 caps milestone if he plays in all three games.



PROGRAMME: Austria v Ireland (tonight); Switzerland v Ireland (tomorrow); Russia v Ireland (Saturday).

IRELAND: Nigel Henderson (Pembroke Wanderers), Wesley Bateman (Cork Harlequins), Paddy Brown (Instonians), Jason Black (Cork Harlequins), David Smyth (Annadale), Errol Lutton (Lisnagarvey), Gordon Elliott (Pembroke Wanderers), Stephen Butler (Glenanne), Karl Burns (Cork C of I), Mark Irwin (Instonians), Mark Raphael (Lisnagarvey), Chris Jackson (Annadale), Justin Sherriff (Pembroke Wanderers), Graham Shaw (Glenanne), David Hobbs (Cork C of I), Andy Barbour (Cookstown), Nigel Buttimer (Cork C of I), John Jermyn (Cork C of I).

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