Munster girls bid to close the gap

Munster’s underage girls teams will be hoping to show the benefits of an early start to their preparations as their interprovincial tournaments get underway at Three Rock Rovers tomorrow. Young, enthusiastic coaches and management teams have taken over the running of the boys and girls squads in recent years; for instance Mark Egner and Sarah Gray, in charge of the U18 and U16 girls respectively, are both the right side of 25.

Recognising the widening chasm in standards between Munster and the other provinces, both began their preparations for this tournament last spring in an attempt to bridge the gap. Egner – who took over the side from elder brother David, and is assisted by Darren Farrell – has moved 10 players up from last season’s U16 girls side, with a wealth of Division One and underage international experience among the girls panel. Abby Oakes (Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins) was the great success story of last season. Having missed out on Munster selection originally, she had big boots to fill when called up to replace injured captain Róisín Upton. But Oakes made such an impression that she went on to be selected for an Ireland U18 side that strolled to Celtic Cup glory in Edinburgh this summer, while Kate Harvey (St Angela’s/Ashton) was also involved in the Irish panel. Alongside them are the Catholic Institute trio of Clodagh Moloney (Crescent), Eimear Ryan (Laurel Hill Coláiste) and Edel Nyland (Ursulines Thurles) who all starred in green as Ireland finished fourth at the U16 Europeans in July. Under captain Shauna Fagan (Mount Mercy/Ashton), they’ll be hoping to stop Ulster from achieving a five-in-a-row as well as annexing a first title for Munster since 1999. One downside for the U18s is the absence of Acacia Taylor; the former Ireland U16 and long-time Cork Harlequins regular first-teamer opted out of the panel earlier this year to focus on athletics. Meanwhile, the majority of Gray’s U16 panel will be getting their first taste of interpro action but hers is nonetheless a relatively experienced outfit with many already established in senior club hockey.They are a true ‘Munster’ side given the panel draws players from 10 schools and 9 clubs. Michelle Barry is having a superb campaign in Ashton colours while the Catholic Institute production line continues to roll out a number of impressive talents, including captain Michelle Barrett, Becky Danaher – daughter of former Irish rugby international Philip – and Millie Passmore. Intriguingly, vice-captain Kate Crotty, a student of Ursulines Thurles, plays her club hockey in Leinster with Kilkenny. MUNSTER U18 GIRLS 2012: Angel Axson (GK, Midleton College/C of I); Edel Nyland (Ursulines Thurles/Catholic Institute); Megan Mawhinney (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Holly Redden (Villiers/Catholic Institute); Clodagh Moloney (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Sinead James (Midleton College/C of I); Laura Buttimer (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Nicole Power (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Eimear Ryan (Laurel Hill Coláiste/Catholic Institute); Niamh O’Donnell (Scoil Mhuire/Cork Harlequins); Alex O’Grady (Ashton/Cork Harlequins); Abby Oakes (Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins); Katie O’Neill (Scoil Mhuire/Cork Harlequins); Kate Harvey (St Angela’s/Ashton); Shauna Fagan (Mount Mercy/Ashton); Kate Healy (GK, Villiers/Limerick); Niamh O’Kelly (Scoil Mhuire/C of I); Cliona Sheehy (Ursulines Thurles/Cashel/New Inn). Coach: Mark Egner; Assistant Coach: Darren Farrell; Manager: Maria Twomey; Assistant Manager: AnneMarie Dooley; Video Analyst: David McGivern. U18 Girls Interprovincials, Grange Road, Dublin: Saturday: Connacht v Ulster, 9.30am; South East v Munster, 11am; Leinster v Connacht, 1pm; Ulster v Munster, 2.30pm; South East v Leinster, 4.30pm. Sunday: Munster v Leinster, 9.30am; Connacht v South East, 11am; Ulster v Leinster, 1pm; Connacht v Munster, 2.30pm; Ulster v South East, 4.30pm. MUNSTER U16 GIRLS 2012: Kathryn Buckley (GK, Loreto Fermoy/Fermoy); Rosie O’Dowd (GK, Colaiste na Toirbhirte/Bandon); Michelle Barrett (Crescent/Catholic Institute, captain); Michelle Barry (Ashton); Laurene Buckley (Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins); Ingrid Burns (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Jenny Buttimer (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Kate Crotty (Ursulines Thurles/Kilkenny, vice-captain); Becky Danaher (Ursulines Thurles/Catholic Institute); Louise Egan (Scoil Mhuire/Cork C of I); Rachel Foley (St Angela’s/Belvedere, vice-captain); Ciara Leahy (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Judy Mills (Regina Mundi/Cork Harlequins); Saoirse O’Leary (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Millie Passmore (Catholic Institute); Rachel Perdue (Ursulines Thurles/Cashel/New Inn); Emma Rumley (Ashton/Cork C of I); Niamh Sexton (Loreto Fermoy/Fermoy). Coach: Sarah Gray; Assistant Coaches: Malcolm Coombes, David Wolfe; GK Coach: John Dennis; Manager: Kay Gaffney. U16 Girls Interprovincials, Grange Road, Dublin: Saturday: South East v Munster, 9.30am; Leinster v Connacht, 11am; Ulster v Munster, 1pm; South East v Leinster, 2.30pm; Connacht v Ulster, 4.30pm. Sunday: Connacht v South East, 9.30am; Ulster v Leinster, 11am; Connacht v Munster, 1pm; Ulster v South East, 2.30pm; Munster v Leinster, 4.30pm. Munster Men’s Div 1 (Saturday): UCC v Cork Harlequins B, Mardyke, 11.30am.