Three of Munster’s star Irish internationals are winging their way to Dublin clubs, it was confirmed today, as Gene Muller’s central preparation programme (CPP) panel was unveiled.
The 24 players involved in the scheme, which will sees Dublin become a sole base for an intensive, 10-month training regime, were named yesterday at the launch of the programme.
Muller wants his elite players at his disposal in the run-up to the 2011 European Championships, knowing that a top-four place would secure automatic Olympic qualification.
Ireland's Julia O'Halloran, Nikki Evans and Nicci Daly at the launch of the central preparation programme at ESB HQ in Dublin yesterday. icture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
While just five players will be uprooting to be part of the 24-strong squad, Dublin’s leading lights Hermes and Railway Union have been the busiest in snapping up their services.
Long-time UCC club-mates Audrey O’Flynn and Julia O’Halloran now find themselves on opposite sides, with O’Flynn joining Hermes and O’Halloran adding to Railway’s attacking options.
The duo faced off for the first time during a pre-season friendly in Limerick on Sunday – in which Railway came from two down to win 3-2 – and both found the net for their respective new sides.
O’Flynn will have a familar face alongside her at Hermes in Sinead McCarthy, the English-born centre-back who moves after a very successful year with Cork Harlequins, as well as former College girl Aine Connery, who moved last year.
Despite taking a few months to make the breakthrough at international level, McCarthy’s sterling performances at the interpros and on IHL finals weekend ensured she couldn’t be ignored by Muller,and she has been rewarded with a place in the CPP.
The other Munster representatives in the panel are Irish skipper Eimear Cregan, of Catholic Institute, Cliodhna Sargent – who has opted to stay with Cork Harlequins – and UCC schemer Miriam Crowley, a relative newcomer who impressed and got on the scoresheet during the series against Belgium.
Cregan, Sargent and Crowley will commute to Dublin for the majority of the training sessions, along with Michelle Harvey of Pegasus and Ballymoney’s Bridget Cleland.
Goalkeepers Mary Goode and Louisa Healy were the most established women’s internationals to be omitted from the panel as both take a break from international hockey.
That gives Pamela Smithwick of Old Alex and Emma Gray of Hermes a chance to lay claim to the Irish goalie’s smock.
Louisa Healy: Loreto keeper is one of two Irish netminders, along with Mary Goode, to have taken a break from international hockey. Picture: Ondine Roche
In other transfers involving CPP players, Hermes have been the most active club. Lisa Jacob returns having won an Irish Senior Cup while at UCD in 2009, with Chloe Watkins and Niamh Atcheler heading in the opposite direction as they begin university life.
National champions Railway have brought their international quotient up to five with Alex Speers moving to Dublin from Belgium to join a squad that already includes sharp-shooters Nikki Evans, Jean McDonnell and Emma Smyth and now, O’Halloran.
Shirley McCay also comes back to these shores after a year with Dragons in Antwerp, linking up with Old Alex.
Speaking about the new set-up, Gene Muller was excited by the direction his panel was taking: “The start of the Central Preparation Program (CPP) signals a new direction for the Irish women’s programme.
“The CPP will auger a period of intensive and focused training in a central location with the aim of qualifying the team for the 2012 Olympic games in the short term, and improve our chances of World Cup and Olympic success in the future.
“We are indebted to the dedication and commitment of the players that are undertaking this step to improve the national team. It reflects the ambition and desire of our national squad.”
The CPP sees the majority of the team to train together on a regular basis in one location for a ten month period, starting from October 18. Additional athletes may be invited into the programme by Muller throughout the year.
Squad: Niamh Atcheler (UCD); Emma Clarke (Leicester); Bridget Cleland (Ballymoney); Lizzie Colvin (Holland- Club TBA); Miriam Crowley (UCC); Eimear Cregan (Catholic Institute); Nicci Daly (Loreto); Nicola Evans (Railway Union); Emma Gray (Hermes); Michelle Harvey (Pegasus); Lisa Jacob (Hermes); Sinead McCarthy (Hermes); Shirley McCay (Old Alex); Jean McDonnell (Railway Union); Anna O’ Flanagan (Hermes); Audrey O’Flynn (Hermes); Julia O’Halloran (Railway Union); Cliodhna Sargent (Cork Harlequins); Niamh Small (Loreto); Emma Smyth (Railway Union); Alex Speers (Railway Union); Nikki Symmons (Loreto); Pam Smithwick (Old Alex) Chloe Watkins (UCD)
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alangood
7 Replies to “Munster trio Dublin-bound as CPP launched”
I must say that Gene Muller’s plan is really fantastic for ladies hockey in Dublin. Keep up the good work Gene!
Be interesting to see how this skews the IHL & ISC this season…
With regard to Gene Muller, was in Garryduff last Sunday & his sessions were very good. In particular, his breakdown of the drag flick was excellent… he’s received a lot of flak on this blog due to the results but I found him very good…
It was important to try something new – definition of insanity is to keep trying the same things & expecting a different result – so worth a shot considering we can’t go full-time..
Hope this works out for the girls, would be great for the sport to make the Olympics….
It’ll cause us problems in Munster but would ask people to get behind it for the couple of years before the qualifiers – we can assess it’s merits properly after we’ve seen it in action & whether it was worthwhile…
I agree with Spectator – the Hooked Conference was excellent, as were the presenters. I doubt whether there were many of the ‘Munster Knockers’ at the conference which is a shame. The three Irish Hockey presenters showed why they were in the positions they are in. The presentations were very professional, motivating and covered an interesting array of topics. Well done Gene, Revs and Dave – keep up the good work. I didn’t hear a bad word said about any of them which was refreshing.
How was the conference any different to the one run by Munster in previous years, was that any less professional?
Easy to be professional if your paid 70K a year, its your job!
great to see that the anon negative comments have stopped!! long may it continue!! above comments are a breath of fresh air!
@Anon – Sept 15th
Were you even in Garryduff at the Hooked conference?
I think anyone who saw the breakdown of the drag flick by Gene & how to train young players to develop it would have found it very valuable… similarly with the other sessions..
Negative comments are one thing when they’re deserved, if teams aren’t performing… you’re totally off the mark on this one…
As was mentioned on the day, in what other sport would the National team coaches come to Munster to give a coaching forum to pass on their knowledge.. the people there on the day were just soaking it up… very positive day for all involved..
To Anon (15/9/10): No one is comparing the IHA’s conference to the one the Munster Branch ran, I attended both and both were excellent. The one in Harlequins addressed some key issues around underage hockey with good presenters and was very well run.
Hooked was also run very well and it was nice to see our national coaches on the ground and I think everyone got a good impression of them, not just as schemers based in Dublin out to ruin Munster hockey, as they are often portrayed by negative commentators down here.
As for the CPP, it is disappointing to hear people say it will ruin hockey in Munster. We have lost three players from the province, three players that were likely to leave the province anyway (see Audrey O’Flynn’s comments from the CPP launch). To say that three players leaving will ruin the women’s game down here is ridiculous and disrespectful to those who will be playing in the league.
Why should we complain when the players want to improve by being in a national programme?
Best of luck to the girls in the CPP and to those who will be flying the flag for Munster in the IHL and national cups.
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I must say that Gene Muller’s plan is really fantastic for ladies hockey in Dublin. Keep up the good work Gene!
Be interesting to see how this skews the IHL & ISC this season…
With regard to Gene Muller, was in Garryduff last Sunday & his sessions were very good. In particular, his breakdown of the drag flick was excellent… he’s received a lot of flak on this blog due to the results but I found him very good…
It was important to try something new – definition of insanity is to keep trying the same things & expecting a different result – so worth a shot considering we can’t go full-time..
Hope this works out for the girls, would be great for the sport to make the Olympics….
It’ll cause us problems in Munster but would ask people to get behind it for the couple of years before the qualifiers – we can assess it’s merits properly after we’ve seen it in action & whether it was worthwhile…
I agree with Spectator – the Hooked Conference was excellent, as were the presenters. I doubt whether there were many of the ‘Munster Knockers’ at the conference which is a shame. The three Irish Hockey presenters showed why they were in the positions they are in. The presentations were very professional, motivating and covered an interesting array of topics. Well done Gene, Revs and Dave – keep up the good work. I didn’t hear a bad word said about any of them which was refreshing.
How was the conference any different to the one run by Munster in previous years, was that any less professional?
Easy to be professional if your paid 70K a year, its your job!
great to see that the anon negative comments have stopped!! long may it continue!! above comments are a breath of fresh air!
@Anon – Sept 15th
Were you even in Garryduff at the Hooked conference?
I think anyone who saw the breakdown of the drag flick by Gene & how to train young players to develop it would have found it very valuable… similarly with the other sessions..
Negative comments are one thing when they’re deserved, if teams aren’t performing… you’re totally off the mark on this one…
As was mentioned on the day, in what other sport would the National team coaches come to Munster to give a coaching forum to pass on their knowledge.. the people there on the day were just soaking it up… very positive day for all involved..
To Anon (15/9/10): No one is comparing the IHA’s conference to the one the Munster Branch ran, I attended both and both were excellent. The one in Harlequins addressed some key issues around underage hockey with good presenters and was very well run.
Hooked was also run very well and it was nice to see our national coaches on the ground and I think everyone got a good impression of them, not just as schemers based in Dublin out to ruin Munster hockey, as they are often portrayed by negative commentators down here.
As for the CPP, it is disappointing to hear people say it will ruin hockey in Munster. We have lost three players from the province, three players that were likely to leave the province anyway (see Audrey O’Flynn’s comments from the CPP launch). To say that three players leaving will ruin the women’s game down here is ridiculous and disrespectful to those who will be playing in the league.
Why should we complain when the players want to improve by being in a national programme?
Best of luck to the girls in the CPP and to those who will be flying the flag for Munster in the IHL and national cups.