Ireland masters ready for inaugural World Cup

Cork Church of Ireland will add a Munster flavour to the Ireland women’s squads who will compete at the inaugural Masters World Cup in Canterbury, England this weekend. There are four age groups for the men at this fully-sanctioned FIH tournament, and two age groups for women. Ireland have five teams competing, three men’s (O40, O45, O50) and two women’s (O40, O50).

Previously an avenue that only Leinster and some Ulster players went down, Munster interest has been piqued this year and sees three Cork C of I players join the women’s squads. Joan Dobson will line out in midfield for the O40s, a squad captained by Helen Johnston (Railway Union) and otherwise dominated by Leinster players that is an amalgamation of the O40 and O45 squads that participated in June’s Home Countries tournament. C of I’s ex-Irish international Cathy Walsh and club-mate Dymphna Hill join the O50s, who also boast more former Ireland senior players Orla Galvin (Old Alex) and Caroline Shankey (Randalstown) in their ranks. There is also increased Munster representation on the men’s side of things. Stuart Egner (Cork Harlequins) returns to the fray but is joined on the O50s by Catholic Institute’s Ollie O’Connor. John Wallace and Ivan Moore of Institute will line out on the O40s team alongside neighbour George Blackwell (Limerick), while Dara Crowe takes the Institute representation to four on the O45s alongside Ashton’s Mark Stockil. Galway goalkeeper Martin White, “adopted” by Munster for the successful masters interpros held at Lisnagarvey earlier this year, will also feature. All the sides will begin their campaigns on Sunday, completing their fixtures by Thursday with the likes of Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA providing the opposition. Masters World Cup, Canterbury, England (Irish squads and fixtures; more info on the tournament can be found at www.hockeymastersworldcup.org) IRELAND O40 WOMEN: Sinead Guilfoyle (GK, Pembroke), Ailish Langan (Genesis), Linda Jenkinson (Loreto), Noreen Dockery (Old Alex), Caroline Sharkey (Loreto), Alison Pigot (Pembroke Wanderers, capt), Annie Lawlor (Pembroke Wanderers), Mairead Lyons (Three Rock Ladies), Emma Meir (Avoca), Aisling Schutte (Pembroke Wanderers), Marion O’Brien (Swords), Jane Salter (Glenanne), Brenda Barrett (Alex), Angie Boran (Botanic), Joan Dobson (Cork C of I). Coach: Ben Epstein; Assistant Coach: Stu Malcolm; Manager: Ailish Langan. Schedule: Sunday, August 19: vs Wales, 10.25am; vs England, 6.30pm; Monday, August 20: vs Australia, 12.05pm; Tuesday, August 21: vs New Zealand, 10.10am; Wednesday, August 22: vs Scotland, 10.25am; Thursday, August 23: vs South Africa, 1.45pm. IRELAND O50 WOMEN: Helen Roche (GK, Railway Union), Janet Clarke (Mossley), Helen Johnston (Railway Union, capt), Maura O’Neill (Three Rock), Anne Kirwan (Genesis), Dymphna Hill (Cork C of I), Bernie Barry (Pembroke), Marguerite Hues (Suttonians), Cathy Walsh (Cork C of I), Pat Stewart (Grosvenor), Deirdre Mooney (Loreto), Carolyn Shankey (Randalstown), Orla Galvin (Alex), Julie Wilson (Mossley). Coach: Stu Malcolm; Assistant Coach: Ben Epstein; Manager: Deirdre Mooney. Schedule: Sunday, August 19: vs Wales, 12.05pm; Monday, August 20: vs England, 11.50am; Tuesday, August 21: vs Australia, 10.25am; Wednesday, August 22: vs New Zealand, 12.05pm? IRELAND O40 MEN: Davy Bolas (Lisnagarvey), George Blackwell (Limerick), Mark Brown (GK, Ballynahinch), Robert Carter (Three Rock Rovers), Paul Fitzpatrick(Capt, Glenanne), Leslie Harrison (Ballynahinch), Grant Hayes (Ballynahinch), Jason Hill (Mossley), Stephen Magee (North Down), Ross McMullen (Clontarf), Ivan Moore (Catholic Institute), Clinton Murphy (Glenanne), Matt O’Sullivan (Bournemouth), Michael Pobloth (Kilkeel), Jonathan Smyth (Clontarf), Gregg Sterrit (Annadale) Ian Stuart (Monkstown), John Wallace (Catholic Institute). Schedule: Sunday, August 19, 4.50pm: vs England; Monday, August 20 vs South Africa, 8.30am; vs Wales, 6.30pm; Tuesday, August 21: vs Australia, 5.05pm. IRELAND O45 MEN: Bruce Agnew (Lisnagarvey),Martin Collins (Old Georgians HC), Dara Crowe (Catholic Institute), Michael Millar (Cookstown), Mark Murray (Capt, Lisnagarvey), Neil Murray (Leicester), Andy Nye (Lisnagarvey), Lawrence Patterson (Ballynahinch), Nicholas Pheifer (Suttonians), Rupert Pinion (Lisnagarvey), Peter Priestly (Pembroke), William Quinn (Kilkeel), Ali Reilly (Antrim), Martin Rodgers (Kilkeel), Derek Squire (Three Rock Rovers), Mark Stockil (Ashton), Philip Thomas (Cambellians), Herbie Todd (Mossley), Martin White (GK, Galway); Manager/Coach: Jamie Millar (Lisnagarvey) Umpire: Jamie Aiken (Lisnagarvey). Schedule:  Sunday, August 19: vs USA, 10.10am; Monday, August 20 vs Spain, 10.25am; vs England, 5.05pm; Tuesday, August 21: vs Australia, 3.25pm. IRELAND O50 MEN: Tim Hogg (GK, Instonians), Crawford McKee (Chelmsford), David Woods (Chelmsford), Cedric Christie (Three Rock Rovers), Mervyn McCaigue (Newry), Gerry Hamill (Mossley), Sean Curran (Teddington), Stuart Egner (Cork Harlequins), Peter Chadwick, Kieran McGoldrick (Capt, Larne), Tim Myer, Andy Barlow (Bristol), Ollie O’Connor (Catholic Institute) John McCann, Fergus Stapleton (Reading). Schedule: Sunday, August 19: vs England, 8.30am; vs Australia, 6.45pm; Monday, August 20: vs Scotland, 6.45pm