Michael Darling (field hockey)

Michael Darling (born 3 July 1988), also referred to as Mitch Darling, is a former Ireland men's field hockey international and Rio 2016 Olympian. Between 2006 and 2018 Darling made 183 appearances and scored 51 goals for Ireland. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. At club level, Darling has won the Irish Senior Cup with Three Rock Rovers. He also played for Rovers in the Euro Hockey League.

Michael Darling
Personal information
Full name Michael R. Darling
Born (1988-07-03) 3 July 1988
Dublin, Ireland
Height 170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 65 kg (143 lb)
Playing position Forward
Youth career
199x–2000 Rathgar Junior School
1996–2005 Three Rock Rovers
200x–200x Wesley College
Senior career
Years Team
2005–2009 Three Rock Rovers
2009–2010 KHC Leuven
2010–2011 HC Den Bosch
2011–2012 SCHC
2012–2015 Three Rock Rovers
2015–2016 HC Rotterdam
2016– Three Rock Rovers
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2018 Ireland 183 (51)
Medal record
Representing  Ireland
EuroHockey Championships
Bronze medal – third place2015 London

Early years, family and education

Darling is from Sandyford in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.[1] He is the son of Dr. Michael Darling and his wife, Fiona. He has three siblings – two brothers, Jonny and Chris, and a sister, Katie. Darling is married to Erika.[2][3] He was educated at Rathgar Junior School, where in 2000 he captained the boys field hockey team,[4] and at Wesley College.[5][6] Between 2006 and 2009 he attended University College Dublin where he became a Bachelor of Civil Law. Between 2011 and 2012 he attended Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam where he completed his Masters in International Business Law. Between 2013 and 2015 he completed his legal studies with the Law Society of Ireland.[7]

Domestic teams

Wesley College

In 2005 Darling scored the only goal in a 1–0 win as Wesley College defeated a St. Andrew's College team featuring Alan Sothern and David Fitzgerald in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final.[8][9] He also helped Wesley win the All Ireland Schoolboys Hockey Championship.[10][11] After becoming an Ireland international, Darling returned to Wesley as a coach.[12]

Three Rock Rovers

Darling began playing for Three Rock Rovers at under-8 level.[13] Together with Kyle Good, Darling was a member of the Rovers team that won the 2008 All-Ireland Club Championship and played in the 2008–09 Euro Hockey League.[10][14][15] Darling was also a member of the Rovers teams that won the Irish Senior Cup in 2013–14, 2017–18 and 2018–19.[16][17][18][19][20] Between 2017 and 2019 he also helped Rovers win the EY Champions Trophy on three successive occasions.[21][22][23][24][25] He also played for Rovers in the 2017–18 and 2018–19 Euro Hockey Leagues.[26][27][28]

KHC Leuven

During the 2008–09 Euro Hockey League, Darling played for Three Rock Rovers against KHC Leuven. The 2009–10 season subsequently saw him invited to play for the Men's Belgian Hockey League team.[10][29][30][31]

Hoofdklasse

Darling has also played for HC Den Bosch, SCHC and HC Rotterdam in the Hoofdklasse.[7][10][13][32][33][34] His teammates at HC Den Bosch included Alan Sothern.[29]

Ireland international

Between 2006 and 2018 Darling made 183 senior appearances and scored 51 goals for Ireland.[1][3][32][33][35][36] He made his senior international debut in July 2006 against England at the age of 18.[3][10][34] He had previously represented Ireland at Under-18 level.[37] Darling was a member of the Ireland team that won the 2009 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy.[38] He also helped Ireland win Men's FIH Hockey World League tournaments in 2012[39] and 2015.[40] Darling made his 150th senior Ireland appearance at the 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals.[41] He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. He made his last senior appearance for Ireland at the World Cup against England.[1][3][32][33][35][36]

Tournaments Place
2009 Men's EuroHockey Nations Trophy[38]1st
2009 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II[42]2nd
2009 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers[30][31]3rd
2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship[43][44][45]5th
2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier[46][47][48]2nd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 1[39]1st
2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I[49]3rd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2[50][51]2nd
2013 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship[52][53][54]6th
2014 Men's Hockey Investec Cup[55]2nd
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 2[40]1st
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals[41][56]5th
2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship[57]3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
2016 Summer Olympics[6][13][58][59]10th
2018 Men's Hockey World Cup[60]14th

Source:[61]

Solicitor

Between 2013 and 2018 Darling worked as a trainee solicitor/solicitor with A&L Goodbody. His colleagues at A&L Goodbody included Cecelia Joyce. Since 2018 he has worked for Allied Irish Banks as part of their corporate legal team.[7][62]

Honours
Ireland
Three Rock Rovers
Wesley College

References
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  2. "Dr Michael Darling RIP". www.hockey.ie. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. "183 caps later, Ireland's Darling announces retirement from international hockey". www.the42.ie. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  4. "Congratulations to Anna O'Flanagan – World Cup Silver for RJS Hero". www.rathgarjuniorschool.ie. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  5. "Past Pupils". www.wesleycollege.ie. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  6. "Wesley trio in for Rio". dublingazette.com. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  7. "Mitch Darling". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
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  9. "Darling's delight". www.independent.ie. 10 March 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
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