News Archive

European Hockey Comes to Galway!!!

15 May 2009

For the first time in the history of the sport in Connacht, Galway Hockey club have become the first club from the provence to host a major European competition. Having already had a taste of European action last year in Lousada, where the club narrowly missed out on a chance to secure a medal in their first ever European competition. The Galway side have return with a renewed vigor as they have been selected by the EHF competitions committee to host the 2010 European Indoor Club Challenge in Galway. The tournament dates have been confirmed from the 26th to the 28th of February next year, with also the competition also confirmed as Galway have been drawn in pool A where they will face SK Slavia Praha from the Czech Republic who will be tough opponents, as well Howardian LHC from Wales a team Galway defeated in last year's competition. The final opponent in the Group is FHC Akademik from Bulgaria, this is certainly a tough group for Galway especially if they have any hopes of trying to secure medal hopes this time around.

Commenting yesterday about the announcement Club President Donal Dempsey describe it as "Fantastic news, it's been an unbelievable couple of weeks if not the year as a whole in the club's history. With the national nomination for emerging club of the year and now to be selected to host a European competition its absolutely amazing". While head coach and club development officer Richard Malone was shell shocked by the news "If you had asked me before I started at Galway about us competing in European Hockey, I probably would of said no chance! But in the past two years it's been amazing what the players and club members have achieved! While playing for your country is without doubt the highest honor in hockey, the opportunity of representing your club in a European competition comes a close second."

The club will also be launching a new micro-site similar to one used for last year's competition, as the club now has to set about organising and running a major European event.

Women’s Challenge - Galway (IRL) - 26-28 February 2010

Pool A Pool B

SK Slavia Praha (CZE) Valhalla LHC (SWE)

Galway HC (IRL) Cankaya Bld SC (TUR)

Howardian LHC (WAL) HK Bask (SRB)

FHC Akademik (BUL) HK Zrinjevac (CRO)