Four Munster starlets to wear U16 green

In a positive reinforcement for the development of hockey outside the main centres of Dublin, Cork and Belfast, Ireland U16 boys coach Paul Cooke has named a 24-strong squad drawn from all corners of the island. This group will tackle their Belgian counterparts in a three-game series at UCD from April 7-9, with four Munster-based players included. Bandon duo Scott Sullivan and Darren Sweetnam, C of I’s Nick Burns and Limerick goalkeeper Dylan Murphy have all made the cut, and they will be joined by players from clubs such as Raphoe, Kilkenny and Fingal.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s senior men produced the Hyde to Tuesday night’s Jekyll as they went down 1-0 to France in a poor encounter at Serpentine Avenue on Wednesday night. Mathieu Durchon’s superb waist-high volley, coming in the 60th minute after Nicolas Martin Brisac had skinned Tim Lewis down the right, was all that separated the sides. Revington will have learned little from this lethargic effort, bar that Andy McConnell is worth keeping around after an assured midfield performance. Despite the result, it was a night to remember for McConnell’s Three Rock Rovers club-mate Michael Maguire, who earned his first cap as a late replacement for Mitch Darling, who was struck down by illness. Meanwhile, Ireland’s A women had a disappointing end to their three-game series against Germany U21, going down 4-1. Munster’s Audrey O’Flynn, Miriam Crowley and Mel Ryan have both been involved, though it is understood an abrasive pitch has left a number of the Irish girls walking wounded. It was nonetheless a fruitful trip for Hermes’ Anna O’Flanagan, who scored her second goal in as many matches. Ireland U16 squad: Matthew Bell (Banbridge), Robert Burke (Corinthian), Nick Burns (Cork C of I), Ross Canning (TRR), David Cole (Monkstown), Jeremy Duncan (Kilkenny), Mark Ingram (GK) (Railway Union), Matthew Lecky (Raphoe), Shane Madeley (TRR), Owen Magee (Banbridge), Fiachra Maher (Railway Union), David McCrea (TRR), Ben McMillan (Mossley), Josh Moffett (Banbridge), Dylan Murphy (GK) (Limerick), Stephen Nolan (Monkstown), Paul Ritchie (North Down), Mark Ryan (Fingal), Ian Sloan (Cookstown), Tom Samuel (TRR), Robin Smyrl (Banbridge), Jeffrey Spillane (Railway Union), Scott Sullivan (Bandon), Darren Sweetnam (Bandon). Reserves: Neil Gilmore (Banbridge), Matthew Rollins (Cookstown), Kirk Shimmins (TRR), Conor Montgomery (Belfast Harlequins) Coach: Paul Cooke Manager: Fraser Mills Asst Coach: Coen Van Putten Support/video: Tim Weir