18-member Irish women’s squad announced for the upcoming Women’s Champions Challenge 1
Ireland announced the 18-member women’s squad for the upcoming FIH Women’s Champions Challenge 1, sponsored by ESB, which is going to be played in Dublin, Ireland. The tournament will kick-off on June 18, at the National Hockey Stadium in University
College Dublin (UCD) and will conclude on June 26. The stadium will also host the UCD men’s four nation-cup during this upcoming summer in which Pakistan, China, France and Ireland will participate.
“Our team is very excited to be playing in a FIH tournament at home. We are honoured to be hosting so many high quality teams and we want to perform well. We are very lucky that our team is fit and playing well. These players will be eager to do well
at this tournament as there are Euro Hockey Nations tournament positions at stake”, Gene Muller, the coach of the Irish national women hockey team, stated her views regarding the importance of the tournament.
The Irish team just participated in the recently held Celtic Cup in Scotland and now the players are looking very determined to perform better than the previously played matches and for them it is of paramount important because just after two months
when the tournament starts, Ireland will have to performance and excellent display of hockey in the Euro Hockey Nations Championship, which is considered a prestigious tournament in Europe.
The Irish squad for the ESB Electric Ireland FIH Women’s Champions Challenge 1 includes the following players.
Alexandra Speers (Captain), Emma Clarke(Vice-Captain), Emma Gray (Goal-Keeper), Elizabeth Colvin, Audrey O’Flynn, Pamela Smithwick, Jean McDonnell, Michelle Harvey, Sinead McCarthy, Emma Smyth, Shirley McCay, Lisa Jacob, Aine Connery, Julia O’Halloran,
Nicola Symmons, Chloe Watkins, Nicola Davy and Cliodhna Sargent.
The Irish squad has an average age of near about 24 years. It seems a blend of youth and experience as some experienced players are also there, who have played round about 100 matches like Emma Clarke, Shirley McCay and Nicola Symmons.
Sally Ann Fanagan will be the team's manager, while the team will be coached by Gene Muller along with his assistant, Denis Pritchard. Sarah Canning will serve the team as a stand in manager and Dave Minnion will be the physiotherapist.
The other teams who are going to take part in the tournament are Japan, South Africa, United States, Scotland, Spain, India and Azerbaijan. The first four of the teams have been placed in group A while the remaining four are placed in group B. A total
of 24 matches, including the final, will be played between the rivals. Scottish team is looking in great touch as they just have won the Celtic Cup for the fifth consecutive year.
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