Carroll sole Munster representative in U18 training squad

Ireland U18 girls coach Mary Logue has announced a 25-strong training panel as she begins her year-long preparations for next July’s EuroHockey Youth Nations Tournament in Belgium. The squad is backboned by the Connacht U16 squad that gave the western province its first interprovincial success last season, and there is room for just one Munster player, Catholic Institute’s Naomi Carroll. The 16-year-old St Patrick’s Comprehensive Shannon student has had a productive summer that saw her top-score for Ireland at the U16 Euros, before repeating the feat for the U18s, after she was brought into that squad for the Four Nations Tournament in Cardiff. Armagh’s Amy Stewart, who is still recovering from an ankle injury that has sidelined her since the Club Championships in May, is included, as is 16-year-old Hermes prodigy Chloe Watkins.

Loreto’s Hannah Matthews, daughter of former Irish rugby international Philip, and Irish Schools soccer international Deirdre Duke of Three Rock have also made the grade, while Sammy Jo Greer gets her first opportunity at U18 level, having nailed down the senior goalkeeper’s shirt at Ballymoney last term. Ireland U18 girls training panel for 2009 EuroHockey Youth Nations Championsips: N Atcheler (St Andrews College/Hermes), N Barr (Lurgan College/Lurgan), N Carroll (St Patricks Comprenhensive/Catholic Institute), H Clarke (Belfast Royal Academy/Pegasus), K Coydre (Colaiste Iognaid/Greenfields), D Duke (Alexandra College/Three Rock), B Flannery (Colaiste Iognaid/Greenfields), O Fox (Mount Sackville/Pembroke Wanderers), D Gorman (Taylors Hill/Greenfields), I Gorman (Taylors Hill/Greenfields), SJ Greer (Coleraine HS/Ballymoney), J Kyle (Belfast Royal Academy/Pegasus), H Matthews (Loreto Beaufort/Loreto), J McMickan (The Bower/Galway), A Meeke (The High School/Corinthian), T Melvin (Colaiste Iognaid/Galway), R Millar (Grosvenor Grammar/Belfast Harlequins), E Molloy (Colaiste Iognaid/Galway), AM Morton (Royal School Armagh/Armagh), G Pinder (St Andrews College/Hermes), A Stewart (Royal School Armagh/Armagh), V Surgeoner (Ballyclare High/Randalstown), C Warnock (Royal School Armagh/Armagh), C Watkins (St Andrews College/Hermes), J Watt (Victoria College/Belfast Harlequins).