The Irish Olympic hockey team know all about hard work.
The Ireland team knows what it is like to beat the odds, and to beat the system.
In 2012 a controversial last-gasp goal by Korea ruined the men’s chances of qualifying for the London Games.
But that heartbreak has been eased somewhat by the men’s team securing their place at this summer’s games in Rio, and becoming the first Irish team to secure their place at an Olympics since 1948.
But the hard road to gold medals is only beginning, and they need the Irish people’s help.
This afternoon a fundraising campaign was launched in order to help raise almost a quarter of a million which is needed to help Ireland have the best possible chance of success this summer.
The team need to raise an additional €225,000 to complete their build- up programme for their historic involvement in the Rio Games, which will cover the shortfall in funding from the Irish Sports Council.
The money is going to be used as part of an intensive three-month training campaign that will see the Irish men’s side face some of the best teams in the world, including three matches in Cork in July against reigning World Champions, the Netherlands.
Hockey Ireland receives 350k annually, but by the end of May, all this money will have been spent.
The funding pales in comparison to the money that it is claimed the Great Britain team has received in the last three years, which is estimated at upwards of €20million.
In order to raise the money, Hockey Ireland has set up a pledge sports crowd funding page with an inspiring video on the offer and sacrifice that has gone into getting an Irish team to Rio already.
Hockey Ireland #OBSESSED from AtomicWIP on Vimeo.
On 26 May there is a Hockey Ireland dinner, with Joe Schmidt as the special guest while the day after the association is organising a Golf fundraiser at Carton House.
If you can donate anything, or want to help in anyway, then head on to the pledge homepage here, where you will find all the details.
