Kilkenny’s Jeremy Duncan set to win his 100th Test hockey cap

A local man is set to win his 100th Test cap in Ireland's opening hockey match of the upcoming FIH (Fédération Internationale de Hockey) Olympic Qualifier in Valencia, against Ukraine on January 14.

The match will mark the 100th Test cap for Kilkenny's Jeremy Duncan, nine years since his first against England in Reading. A past pupil of Kilkenny College (Class of 2012),he grew up on the Ballyfoyle Road just outside the city. He is the first for a male student of the College to get capped at senior level.

If playing both hockey and rugby in Kilkenny College wasn't enough, he joined Railway Union Hockey Club in Dublin after a successful stint on the Leinster u-16s, and went on to selection for Ireland u-16s then u-18s in the following seasons.

He made his first appearance on the Railway Union Men’s 1st X1 as a Transition Year student and played his first Irish Senior Cup Final when in 6th year. His efforts earned him an invitation to UCD's Elite Ad Astra program in 2013, where he studied a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy), while representing both UCD Men’s Hockey Club and Ireland u-21s, before his first call up to the Senior panel during 2014 season. 

Four seasons in the Ad Astra program and consistent good form in the Irish National League saw him recalled to the national panel in 2017, as well as taking the opportunity to play as a professionally as a contracted player in the Belgian League, one of the world's top competitions.

He enjoyed two successful seasons at Royal Herakles, Antwerp, helping the club to an European Hockey League Final fourth  place in 2018, then moved to Royal Oree, Brussels for the 2020 season, one that was unfortunately cut short by Covid . Returning to Ireland, Jeremy resumed his work as a Chartered Physiotherapist, while joining his current club, Monkstown Hockey Club in Dublin.

He won the Hamburg Masters trophy with Ireland in 2017, beating hosts Germany in the Final, then helped Ireland gain a place at the 2018 World Cup by beating New Zealand in a thriller in the World league semi-final in Johannesburg in 2017. He travelled to India for the World Cup in 2018 only to suffer a serious training injury. In 2019 Ireland saw more heartbreak, this time in the form of a sudden death shootout loss to Canada at the final step to qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

An impressive silver medal performance in the inaugural FIH Nations Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa 12 months ago saw Ireland gain promotion to the 2023/24 FIH Pro League, the world's elite international league. The team will play the first of eight scheduled games in India in February against the  world’s number one side, Holland. In the meantime, however, all eyes turn to the tournament in Valencia which provides the Green Machine-and Jeremy Duncan, with a final chance to realise that so-far elusive Olympic dream.

Everyone in Kilkenny College wish Jeremy continued success and no doubt his parents Val and Tony will be pitch side for these upcoming games while sister Emma will be cheering on from Australia.