WOMEN'S HOCKEY:After his squad's nine-day training camp in Valencia, where they played three friendly internationals against Spain, losing two and winning one, Ireland coach Darren Smith has named his 18 players for the World League II later this month.
In all, there are three changes from the squad that won bronze at last September’s Champions Challenge in Dublin, Cliodhna Sargent, Nicci Daly and Nikki Evans returning to the fold in place of Brenda Flannery, Niamh Small and Miriam Crowley, the latter unavailable because of study commitments.
Sargent’s return, having been unavailable for the Challenge, adds plenty of experience to the squad, the Cork Harlequins player one of four in the panel – along with Nikki Symmons, captain Alex Speers and Lisa Jacob — to have earned over 100 caps for her country.
Ireland play the Czech Republic, Belarus, Spain and Italy, between February 25th and March 3rd, in their World League pool matches.
Back home, UCC and Ards meet in their rescheduled Irish Senior Cup quarter-final, the winners drawn against Railway Union in the last four.
IRELAND (SQUAD): N Atcheler, N Evans, K Mullan, A O’Flanagan, N Gray, C Watkins (all UCD), E Gray, L Jacob, S McCarthy, A O’Flynn (all Hermes), E Smyth, A Speers (Railway Union), N Daly (Loreto/Holcombe), N Symmons (Loreto), M Harvey (Pegasus), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), P Smithwick (Old Alexandra), A Connery (Corinthian).
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: Irish Senior Cup, quarter-final – UCC v Ards, The Mardyke, 12.30. Leinster League, Division One – Pembroke Wanderers v Loreto, Serpentine Avenue, 11am; Trinity v Corinthian, Wesley College, 1.30pm; Glenanne v North Kildare, St Mark’s, 3pm; Hermes v Old Alexandra, St Andrew’s, 3.30pm; UCD v Railway Union, Belfield, 4.15.
