Cregan to lead green machine over Easter

Eimear Cregan looks set to follow up her return to the club scene with as swift a comeback in the green jersey, after Irish coach Gene Muller selected her in his 16-strong panel to play England over Easter weekend. Cregan scored on her comeback for Cork Harlequins as they saw off C of I to put themselves in the driving seat to claim their 14th straight league title at the weekend, and she will reassume the Irish captaincy when England come to town for a two-test series. Club-mate Cliodhna Sargent is the only other Munster player included, though with the likes of Alex Speers, Michelle Harvey and Niamh Small unavailable, Railway Union’s Emma Smyth looks set to get a well-deserved first full cap, presumably after impressing for the A squad in Germany last week.

Smyth celebrated her call-up by scoring a goal that was quite a bit special – see video below –  in Railway’s 2-1 win over UCD last night, a victory that has secured their first Leinster league title. Though Loreto can still draw level on points in the unlikely event of Railway losing their final three games, Mick McKinnon’s side have already won due to a greater number of victories accrued. Two other Irish squads were announced today, and both have Munster interest. Mary Logue’s girls U18 panel for matches against Belgium in Nivelles – also the venue for the U18 Europeans – on April 16 and 17 once again features Catholic Institute’s Naomi Carroll. There is further evidence of some sterling work being done at underage level at Rosbrien in Una McCarthy’s U16 panel. Rebecca Barry and Roisin Upton will both grace the Belfield turf on April 7-9 for a three game series, also against the Belgians, with C of I’s Amy Kate Trevor also included. Ireland senior women’s squad: Lauren Barr (Ballymoney), Bridget Cleland (Ballymoney), Emma Clarke (Ulster Elks), Eimear Cregan (Cork Harlequins, capt), Lizzie Colvin (Loreto), Roisin Flinn (UCD), Megan Frazer (Ballymoney), Mary Goode (GK, Bray), Louisa Healy (GK, Loreto), Lisa Jacob (UCD), Shirley McCay (Ulster Elks), Cathy McKean (Loreto), Cliodhna Sargent (Cork Harlequins), Emma Smyth (Railway Union), Emma Stewart (Armagh), Nikki Symmons (Loreto). Ireland U18 girls squad: Niamh Atcheler (Hermes), Natalie Barr (Lurgan), Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute), Katie Codyre (Greenfields), Brenda Flannery (Greenfields), Orla Fox (Pembroke), Dora Gorman (Greenfields), Sarah Greene (Hermes), Sammy Jo Greer (Ballymoney), Hannah Matthews (Loreto), Ali Meeke (Loreto), Lynsey Trainor (Galway), Emile Molloy (Galway), Gillian Pinder (Hermes), Vanessa Surgeoner (Randalstown), Chloe Watkins (Hermes). Ireland U16 girls squad: Rebecca Barry (Catholic Institute), Emily Beatty (Old Alex), Chloe Brown (North Down), Michelle Carey (Galway), Amy Cooke (Ballyclare), Leah Ewart (Armagh), Lauren Johnston (Lurgan), Anna Jones (Lisnagarvey), Juliette King-Hall (Hermes), Lisa McCarthy (Railway Union), Kerri McDonald (Dromore), Lucy McKee (Armagh), Louise Murray (Lurgan), Aisling Naughton (Corinthian), Joanne Orr (Armagh), Freddie Timmins (Galway), Amy-Kate Trevor (Cork C of I), Roisin Upton (Catholic Institute).