Impressive Kilkenny Storm players shine on the international stage
A number of young Kilkenny athletes represented Team Ireland at major inline hockey tournaments
The European Inline Hockey Championships were held at the SETU Arena in Waterford in August, where Team Ireland took on some of the strongest teams from across Europe.
Representing Kilkenny Storm on the Team Ireland under-17 squad were Callum Robinson and Aidan Sweeney. Callum was given the great honor of being selected as captain of the Irish side. Both players put in impressive performances throughout the tournament, contributing with goals and showing the skill, determination and teamwork that they have developed through their time with Kilkenny Storm.
The championships were also a fantastic showcase for inline hockey in Ireland. With no dedicated international inline hockey arena currently available in Ireland, the Kilkenny Storm rink was transported and installed inside the SETU Arena in Waterford, allowing the championships to take place on home soil.
Following the European Championships, attention turned to an historic first for Kilkenny Storm and Irish inline hockey.
Five Storm players – Aoife Sheridan, Annaleigh Ward, Diana Bruncikova and Fiona Sheridan – were selected to represent the Team Ireland Women’s team in Cittadella, Italy.
This was a landmark moment for the sport, as there had never previously been an Irish under-14 women’s international team. The girls travelled to Italy to take part in a three-day tournament, joining players from clubs across Ireland and coming together as a brand new international squad.
The tournament presented an enormous challenge, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees and above. The extreme heat made conditions incredibly difficult for the players, with Team Ireland’s coaching and support staff working tirelessly throughout the tournament to keep the girls cool and hydrated. Ice packs, cold towels, water and plenty of support were constantly on hand as the players battled through the demanding conditions.
Despite the heat, the young Irish players showed incredible determination and gave everything on the rink.
There were also some very special individual moments. Aoife Sheridan scored her first international goal on her 13th birthday, making an already memorable day even more special.
There was further success for Kilkenny Storm when nine-year-old Fiona Sheridan was selected as Goalie MVP for the tournament, a fantastic achievement at such a young age.
The girls quickly developed a strong bond and showed great team spirit, supporting one another both on and off the rink.
Kilkenny Storm’s Lia Butler was also selected to represent Team Ireland at under-19 level and was given the huge honour of being named captain.
The tournament carried extra emotion for Lia, as it marked her final appearance for Team Ireland at under-19 level, having now aged out of the category.
It has been an incredibly busy and successful period for Kilkenny Storm, with players representing their country across different age groups and demonstrating the growing talent within the club. Adding to this, Kilkenny Storm head coach Paul Cummins also travelled to America as head coach of the Irish men’s ice hockey team. The team performed strongly in the tournament, another achievement that highlights the quality of coaching and experience within the Kilkenny Storm setup.
Behind every one of these achievements is a huge amount of work from coaches, team staff, volunteers and parents. Their commitment and support help create opportunities for young players to develop, compete and experience the excitement of representing their country.
For Kilkenny Storm, seeing so many of its players pull on the green jersey is a hugely proud achievement, and the future of Irish inline hockey looks very bright.
Inline hockey is a fast-paced, exciting sport that offers fantastic opportunities for players of all ages. To find out more, visit kilkennystorm.ie