A different ball game

Ireland’s U18 girls will be keen for success in other arenas to rub off when they get their Four Nations campaign underway at Garryduff in Cork tomorrow (6pm). Richie Malone’s side features three Irish underage soccer internationals — skipper Deirdre Duke, livewire forward Naomi Carroll and Galway girl Dora Gorman, who recently captained the Irish U17 soccer side to a European final. All will be key figures with a smaller ball this weekend — along with vice-captain Rebecca Barry, Katie Codyre and hometown girl Amy Kate Trevor — at a tournament also featuring England, Scotland and Wales.

Malone’s side have warmed up in style for the tournament with a comprehensive series defeat of Scotland, as well as a win and a draw against Belgium, and will hope to take that form into their clashes with England, Wales and the Scots. Meanwhile, two of the Irish U18 boys’ side will be keen to show their worth on familiar turf. Cork C of I duo Nick Burns and Ben Dobson are the local boys in a squad largely dominated by the successful Wesley and Banbridge school sides. The former — who claimed three schools titles this year — provide five of the 18 player panel while Bann have three panellists, though their contingent could have been more had Robin Smyrl not succumbed to injury. Glenanne’s top scorer from play last season, Shane O’Donoghue, dons the vice-captain duties along with Luke Chadwick. Irish Junior Cup winner Richard Sykes provides a corner threat, skipper Ian Sloan is the midfield general and Owen Magee — younger brother of decorated senior international Eugene — has followed his sibling’s lead as a top-quality goalscorer. U18 Four Nations, Garryduff, Cork Boys Tomorrow: England vs Wales, 12pm; Ireland vs Scotland, 2pm; Sunday: Scotland vs Wales, 12pm; Ireland vs England, 2pm; Monday: Scotland vs England, 9am; Ireland vs Wales, 1pm. IRELAND U18 Boys: R Fitzgerald (YMCA/Wesley), M Ingram (Railway Union/Oatlands College), M Bell (Banbridge/Banbridge Academy), N Burns (Cork C of I/Midleton), L Chadwick (YMCA/Wesley, vice-capt), B Dobson (Cork C of I/PBC), W Edgar (Annadale/Campbell), S Madeley (Wesley/TRR), O Magee (Banbridge/Banbridge Academy), D McCrea (TRR/Wesley), H McShane (Banbridge/Banbridge Academy), S O’Donoghue (Glenanne/High School, vice-capt), P Ritchie (Annadale/Regent House), T Samuel (TRR/Wesley), I Sloan (Cookstown/Cookstown HS, capt), R Sykes (Monkstown/St Andrew’s), A Williamson (Annadale/Campbell College), M Lecky (Raphoe/Royal and Prior).

Girls Tonight: England vs Wales, 8pm; Tomorrow: England vs Scotland, 4pm; Ireland vs Wales, 6pm  Sunday: Wales vs Scotland, 4pm; Ireland vs England, 6pm; Monday: Ireland vs Scotland, 11am. IRELAND U18 Girls: J Holmes (GK, Randalstown/Carrick Grammar), D Gorman (Greenfields/Taylors Hill) L McCarthy (Railway/Mount Anville), A Naughton (Corinthian/Mount Anville), D Duke (Hermes/Alexandra College, capt), N Gray (Old Alex/Alexandra College), AK Trevor (Cork C of I/Scoil Mhuire) N Laarhoven (Almeerse, NL), N Carroll (Catholic Inst/St Patricks Comp), R Barry (Catholic Inst/Laurel Hill, vice-capt), K McDonald (Lurgan Ladies/Banbridge Academy), K Codyre (Greenfields/Colaiste Iognaid), M Carey (Galway/Colaiste Iognaid), V Surgenor (Randalstown/Ballyclare HS), J Orr (Armagh/Royal School Armagh), L Ewart (Armagh/Royal School Armagh), E Beatty (Old Alex/Alexandra College, SJ Greer (GK, Ballymoney).