Rugby:St Mary's hooker Paula Fitzpatrick will make her first start for Ireland in Friday's Six Nations clash with Scotland at Ashbourne RFC (7.30pm).
The Leinster forward replaces Gillian Bourke of UL Bohemians in the only change to the women’s team ahead of their fourth game.
The experienced Shannon Houston has also been recalled to the squad and is named on the replacements bench.
Ireland are third in the table after a 40-10 win over Italy and the 36-0 drubbing of Wales, having opened with an 8-7 defeat to France. The ran in six tries against the Welsh last time out and coach Philip Doyle feels his side are still in good shape behind leaders England and France, who have won three out of three.
“The win over Wales was fantastic and we enjoyed it but next day the focus switched to Scotland,” coach Philip Doyle said today. “We have put ourselves in a good position and the girls are playing some great rugby.
“This week has been about fine tuning things and again the commitment in training has been excellent”.
Ireland women (v Scotland):Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster); Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster), Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield/Connacht); Lynne Cantwell (Exile), Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Sophie Spence (Exile), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Replacements:Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster), Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC/Ulster), Shannon Houston (Blackrock College/Leinster), Jennifer Murphy (Exile)
Scotland women (v Ireland):Stephanie Johnston (RHC Cougars); Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle), Sarah Dixon (Stirling County); Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars); Tracy Balmer (Worcester), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers); Anna Swan (RHC Cougars), Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill); Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Susie Brown (Richmond) (captain)
Replacements:Alison Macdonald (RHC Cougars), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Katherine Muir (Richmond), Charlotte Veale (London Wasps), Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lauren Harris (Melrose)
