A few new faces for Pritchard

Irish interim women’s coach Denis Pritchard yesterday named the first squad of his tenure as Ireland gear up for next month’s Investec London Cup, an Olympic warm-up tournament in Chiswick. The girls in green face a daunting task as they share a pool with world number ones the Netherlands and Commonwealth champions Australia.

Pritchard said he wishes to give pitch time to less experience players, namely Niamh Atcheler, Hannah Bowe and Anna O’Flanagan, who come in for Emma Smyth, Shirley McCay and Lisa Jacob. 55-ctimes-capped Niamh Small replaces Lizzie Colvin in the fourth change to the squad that contested March’s Olympic qualifiers. But aside from those changes he appears to have stuck with tried and tested players, though a handful are somewhat short on gametime. Nikki Evans and Michelle Harvey barely featured for Railway Union and Pegasus respectively during their IHL/ISC finals weekends while Pam Smithwick and Cliodhna Sargent haven’t played since the final IHL regular season weekend on April 21. Ireland meet Australia on June 6 before facing the world number one side, the Netherlands, a day later before potentially playing two classification matches on June 9 and 10 if they finish above third in their three-team pool. Great Britain, South Africa and Germany are on the other side of the draw. Commenting on the upcoming tournament Pritchard said that the tournament offers the right environment to begin the preparations for next September’s Champion’s Challenge I which is likely to be played in Sardinia. “This event presents us with an unique occasion to play with freedom, to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the world and to give valuable pitch time to some less experienced players. “Using well measured performance criteria we can enter every game with a focus for improvement. It’s going to very tough going but we will relish the challenge and embrace the opportunity.” IRELAND women’s squad for Investec London Cup 5-10): N Atcheler (UCD, 14), H Bowe (Slough, 24), E Clarke (St Albans, 126), A Connery (Hermes, 54), M Crowley (Hermes, 39), N Daly (Loreto, 39), N Evans (Railway Union, 28), E Gray (GK, Hermes, 49), M Harvey (Pegasus, 87), S McCarthy (Hermes, 51), A O’Flanagan (UCD, 16), A O’Flynn (Hermes, 64), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins, 115), N Small (Loreto, 55), P Smithwick (Old Alex, 14), A Speers (Railway Union, 120), N Symmons (Loreto, 175), C Watkins (UCD, 45).