Bann men desperate to make Olympics squad

Matthew Bell is one step away from a place at the Olympics. Pic: Presseye

Two Banbridge men are off to Spain today keen to impress the Irish hockey coach.

Matthew Bell and Eugene Magee both made it through to the latest cut of the Ireland squad.

But with one further chop to come to decide the final Olympic panel, the hard work is far from over.

Coach Craig Fulton named a 21 man squad to travel to Valencia for the Six Nations tournament, which begins on Monday, although missing out was fellow Banbridge HC man Drew Carlisle.

The 21 man squad will be further cut to 16 for the Rio Olympics on Sunday 10th July, with two travelling Reserves.

So how confident are the local lads of making it onto the plane to the Olympics?

“I don’t really know,” said Bell, Banbridge HC’s Supporters Player of the Year. “All I can do is play as well as I can and put everything into it, which I have and will be doing.

“It (the final selection) is in the back of everyone’s mind but when we’re together, everyone is focused on what we’re doing.

“It’s all about trying to stay injury free too. We have something like 13 or 14 matches before Rio so a lot can happen.”

For Carlisle, it’s disappointment as he comes up just short of a place in the squad.

“That’s sport unfortunately,” said Bell. “I don’t think any of us were particularly confident of making it through because you just never know what the coach is thinking. At least Drew is away on holidays now getting a break.”

Before the big summer tournament itself, Magee and Bell will have plenty of opportunities to impress the boss.

Those begin on Wednesday when they travel to Valencia for a Six Nations tournament, beginning on Monday, against Spain, Germany, India, New Zealand and Argentina.