MUMBAI: Perhaps no other nationality has been more stereotyped than the Irish. The kings of ‘good craic’ are more famous for their beer and boybands in this part of the world. But David and Conor Harte are keen to prove that they can prove a handful at hockey too.
“Playing in a country where the sport is so big, so popular, it is fantastic to be here,” says David, elder of the twins by eight minutes, who plays in goal for the Hockey India League’s Dabang Mumbai. He was one of the brighter sparks for the now defunct Mumbai Magicians, who finished at the bottom of the table last season. But the new city franchise, Dabang Mumbai, not only retained him but also added his brother, Conor, a defender, to the roster.
“We really appreciate it and know lucky we are to do so,” adds David, who usually plies his trade for Dutch club SV Kampong while Conor plays professionally in Belgium.
Standing tall at 6’5, they are a massive presence in the back of the field.
Hailing from a sporting family — their uncle was a footballer while their father played Gaelic football — in the harbour town of Kinsale, Cork, the Hartes began playing hockey at the age of 13.
“At school we could play rugby or hockey, so we played both. And we just enjoyed it…,” says David, while Conor, as most twins would, finishes his sentence. “..and eventually ended up choosing, and started to be quite good at hockey, made it out main sport.”
Even though Ireland is not quite as easily associated with hockey, the country has played a significant role in the history of the sport. The first ever documented hockey international was played between Ireland and Wales. Ireland also competed when hockey was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1908 London Games and won the silver. The Irish Senior Cup is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world.
But between their traditional games like Gaelic football and hurling — also a stick sport — and modern sports like football and rugby, hockey lost some of its standing.
The Hartes, who made their debut on the same day in August 2006 against France, say things are looking up.
“Ireland was 21st in the world ranking when we started,” says Conor. “Now we have moved up to 14th, the highest we have been in the men’s ranking. So, it’s slowly getting bigger but it struggles because there’s so many other bigger sports, there is a lot of money behind that. We have to pay to be on the national team. Hopefully we can help it put on the map.”
Ireland had come heartbreakingly close to making the cut at the 2012 Olympics. In the final of the Olympic qualifier tournament in Dublin, they lost with two seconds to go against South Korea.
The twins have since been harbouring dreams of making it to the Olympics and the hockey World Cup with Ireland. That’s their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.