WOMEN'S HOCKEY:AFTER A rest period following August's European Championships the Ireland squad are back in training ahead of their trip to Argentina in December for two four-nations tournaments that will feature their hosts, India and South Africa.
Coach Gene Muller will have to plan without the experienced Julia O’Halloran (Railway Union), who withdrew from the panel. Loreto’s Louisa Healy returns to the set-up, after taking a break to focus on her career, and joins Emma Gray and Pamela Smithwick as the goalkeepers in the squad. Hermes’ Gillian Pinder and UCD’s Deirdre Duke and Leah Ewart, have also been called up as “probation” players, allowing Muller a chance to check their progress ahead of reducing his squad in December.
Between them, Hermes and Loreto contribute 11 of the 23 players on the panel.
Several of the squad will be in Irish Hockey League action for their clubs tomorrow, although the Hermes v UCD and Railway Union v UCC games have been postponed until next month due to the intervaristies taking place this weekend. Hermes and Railway will meet in the Leinster League.
In Pool A, Old Alexandra, who lost their opening game to Hermes, host Pegasus at Milltown and Munster champions Catholic Institute, beaten by Pegasus in the first round, travel to Armagh. In Pool B, Loreto (home to Lurgan) and Ballymoney (away to Cork Harlequins) will look to make it two wins out of two.
IRISH SQUAD:A Connery, M Crowley, L Jacob, S McCarthy, E Gray, A O'Flynn (all Hermes), E Smyth, A Speers, N Evans (all Railway Union), L Colvin, N Daly, N Small, N Symmons, L Healy (all Loreto), N Atcheler, A O'Flanagan, C Watkins (all UCD), P Smithwick, S McCay (both Old Alexandra), H Bowe (Slough), E Clarke (Leicester), M Harvey (Pegasus), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins). Probation players: D Duke, L Ewart (both UCD), G Pinder (Hermes).
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday – Irish Hockey League – Pool A: Old Alexandra v Pegasus, Milltown, 3.30; Armagh v Catholic Institute, Ardmore, 1pm. Pool B: Cork Harlequins v Ballymoney, Farmers Cross, 1pm; Loreto v Lurgan, Beaufort, 4.30. Leinster League – Division One: Hermes v Railway Union, Booterstown, noon.
