From August 20th to 23rd, Waterford will host the U17 Inline Hockey European Championships, with Inline Hockey Ireland & SETU Arena welcoming national teams from Slovenia, Italy, France, Czechia, Great Britain, Belgium, Slovakia, and Ireland.
Among those proudly representing Ireland will be local teenager Sam Cummins, who has once again earned selection to the national squad after competing in last year’s championships in Italy.
As a minority sport in Ireland, inline hockey receives limited funding, meaning the costs associated with competing at international level, including equipment, jerseys, travel, accommodation, and meals, are largely borne by players’ families. These expenses come on top of a demanding schedule of training and league fixtures throughout the year.
The challenges are even greater given that the only inline hockey rinks on the island of Ireland are located in Cork, Bangor, and Portadown. Sam currently plays club hockey with the ‘Flying Ducks’ in Dublin, travelling to the capital every weekend for training, and League matches in Cork and Northern Ireland.
Thankfully, two local businesses have stepped forward to support Sam on his journey to the European Championships.TC Tyres and Fran Grincell Properties have generously contributed towards the costs of the tournament. Both businesses have a long-standing tradition of supporting local clubs, community groups, and sporting organisations, and their backing will help ensure Sam can focus on representing his country on the international stage.
The support of local businesses and the wider community plays a vital role in helping young athletes like Sam pursue their sporting ambitions and proudly represent both their county and their country.
Sam’s Parents Mick & Michelle Cummins are so grateful to both Businesses for their support and encourage locals to come down to the SETU Arena on the weekend of August 20th to support Ireland, in what will be a fabulous showcase of European talent in a fast growing sport.
