Legend Brown calls it a day

Hockey

Thursday, May 01, 2008

By Graham Hamilton

Ireland's most capped player, Patrick Brown, has called an end to his international career.

Patrick becomes the third player to announce his retirement from the Irish scene following the Olympic Qualifying series in Auckland in February when Dave Passmore's team came agonisingly close to making it to the Beijing showpiece.

Having worn the Irish shirt a record 151 times - 92 of them as captain - Patrick feels now is the right time to step down, especially as he is unlikely to make it through to the 2012 Olympic Games.

"I have always been motivated by the desire to play in an Olympic Games and it was very disappointing not to win the qualifying tournament in New Zealand," says the Instonians defender. "Having taken time to consider my position, I have decided that the time is right for me to step out of the international arena and dedicate more time to other areas of my life."

Patrick, who marries fiancee Susan in August, intends playing on at club level, and indeed lines out for Instonians this weekend at Lisnagarvey as they compete against Munster's Bandon and Leinster's Fingal for one of the two wild card entries into next season's new All-Ireland League.

Irish coach Dave Passmore heads the list of those paying tribute to Brown's outstanding contribution to hockey.

"He has improved with every tournament, culminating in his excellent performances in New Zealand," he says. "His leadership skills have been an inspiration to all and he has epitomised what international sport is about in his sportsmanship, fairness, honesty, hard work and commitment, combining a successful career off the pitch with his performances on it."

The main series at Garvey this weekend is the All-Ireland club championships, running from Saturday through to Monday, and Ulster champions Cookstown, runners-up Banbridge and third placed Garvey will be attempting to make it to the semi-finals and final in Dublin at the end of the month.

Last season Ulster clubs drew a blank, and certainly Cookstown and Garvey are in what looks the more difficult pool this time, making their task even harder.

They start against each other on Saturday and also have to face current All-Ireland champions Pembroke Wanderers as well as Munster champions Cork C of I.

Bann, who have several trying to shake off niggling injuries, start against Cork Harlequins and then face Leinster champions Three Rock and current Eurohockey League Division B champions Glenanne.

SATURDAY

All-Ireland club championships (at Lisnagarvey): Pool A: Cookstown v Lisnagarvey (11.30am); Pembroke v Cork C of I (4pm).

Pool B: Glenanne v Three Rock Rovers (12.30pm); Banbridge v Cork Harlequins (3pm).

All-Ireland League Wild Card play-offs: Instonians v Fingal (2pm).

SUNDAY

All-Ireland club championships (at Lisnagarvey): Pool A: Pembroke v Cookstown (11am); Lisnagarvey v Cork C of I (2pm).

Pool B: Three Rock Rovers v Cork Harlequins (12noon); Banbridge v Glenanne (3.30pm).

All-Ireland League Wild Card play-offs: Bandon v Fingal (1.30pm).

MONDAY

All-Ireland club championships (at Lisnagarvey): Pool A:Pembroke v Lisnagarvey (10.30pm); Cookstown v Cork C of I (2pm).

Pool B: Glenanne v Cork Harlequins (11.30pm); Three Rock Rovers v Banbridge (3pm).

All-Ireland League Wild Card play-offs: Instonians v Bandon (1pm).