Ireland’s games at the Women’s EuroHockey Championships from the Netherlands will be screened live on RTÉ2 starting on Saturday 5th June against the host nation.
It is a repeat of 2018’s World Cup final with the Green Army hoping fresh legs and a full focus on this date will close the gap from that day when the Dutch ran out 6-0 winners in London.
The Dutch have lost just one fixture of any kind since that day, picking up the 2019 European title as well as the 2019 and 2020 Pro League crowns. Indeed, all told, they have not lost a European fixture in normal time since 2011.
Ireland’s last win over the Dutch dates back to 1963, giving something of a measure of the challenge ahead.
Ireland’s two further Pool A games v Scotland on Monday 7th June and Spain on Wednesday 9th June will also be live on RTÉ2.
The eight-team competition in Amsterdam is the first phase of a huge summer of hockey that culminates in the Tokyo Olympics, with the European Championships doubling up as a key preparation tournament for the Games while also providing the opportunity to secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup.
Should Ireland finish 1st or 2nd in Pool A, two additional matches will be live on RTÉ2, a semi-final on Friday 11th June and a medal match on Sunday 13th June, both times to be determined. If Ireland finish 3rd or 4th in Pool A, two additional Classification Matches will be live on RTÉ Player ONLY on Friday 11th June & Saturday 12th June, also with times to be determined.
That is a fair merit-based approach and one where success will lead to another major bonus for the team in terms of visibility and potential reward for sponsors.
Evanne Ní Chuillin will host the programmes with analysis from Gillian Pinder, Arlene Boyles and Kate Dillon and commentary from Hugh Cahill and Sarah Scott.
30 National Governing Bodies of Sport and over 100 of Ireland’s biggest sporting sponsors are among the 250+ members of the Sport for Business network of sporting and business organisations working together across a number of key areas.
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