New faces, new roles for Ireland

Interim Ireland coach Denis Pritchard is making the most of the increasing unavailability of some of his senior players by calling up a raft of youngsters to take on Wales in a three-game series this weekend.

The Cork man, who is preparing the side for next month’s Champions Challenge I in Dublin, said: “This event will give a good indication of how the younger players will be able to perform over a series of senior games. “We will use these matches to experiment with new combinations, which we can then build on going into the Scotland series in early September. This group has exciting prospects and includes a healthy mix of experience and enthusiasm.” Among some of the newer faces are Catholic Institute frontwoman — and dual GAA star with Clare — Naomi Carroll, new UCD recruit Katie Mullan and her club-mates Leah Ewart, Sarah Greene and Nicola Gray, Railway Union’s Zara Delany and Ali Meeke of Loreto. Nikki Symmons —  who this week announced she will cease playing club hockey with Loreto to take up the coaching reins at Leinster rivals Glenanne — and Audrey O’Flynn are handed new vice-captaincy roles, understudying Alex Speers in Emma Clarke’s absence. IRELAND senior women’s squad for series vs Wales (UCD): E Gray (GK, Hermes), P Smithwick (GK, Old Alex), G O’Flanagan (GK, Railway Union), S-J Greer (GK, Leeds Met), N Atcheler (UCD), S McCarthy (Hermes), A O’Flynn (Hermes, vice-captain), M Harvey (Pegasus), S Greene (UCD), N Gray (UCD), C Watkins (UCD), N Symmons (Loreto, vice-capt), E Smyth (Railway Union), L Ewart (UCD), A Meeke (Loreto), A Speers (Railway Union, capt), A Connery (Hermes), K Mullan (UCD), L Jacob (Hermes), A O’Flanagan (UCD), M Crowley (UCC), N Small (Loreto), N Carroll (Catholic Institute), N Evans (Railway Union), Z Delany (Railway Union). Unavailable for selection: Brenda Flannery (injured), Lizzie Colvin (travelling), Nicci Daly (study in England), Emma Clarke, Shirley McCay (travelling), Cliodhna Sargent, Deirdre Duke (study in USA), Gillian Pinder (study in USA), Kerri McDonald (study in USA) Schedule Friday, August 24: Ireland v Wales, 7.30pm, Belfield Saturday, August 25: Ireland v Wales, 2.30pm, Belfield Sunday, August 26: Ireland v Wales, 12pm, Belfield Friday, September 7: Ireland v Scotland, 7pm, Scotland Saturday, September 8: Ireland v Scotland, 2pm, Scotland Sunday, September 9: Ireland v Scotland, 2pm, Scotland