Munster players to backbone Irish Unis in Spain

There is a significant Munster flavour to the Irish Universities squads which will partake in the Torneo de Reyes in Barcelona next month. The tournament is hosted annually by the famed RC Polo de Barcelona club, and this year the men’s competition features the hosts, the Irish Unis, the University of British Columbia from Vancouver, the Gibraltar national side and club teams from RHC Leuven in Belgrium and Pedralbes. The women’s tournament also features Leuven as well as fellow Belgiasns Royal Pingoin – where Corkman John Jermyn is currently starring for the men’s side – as well as Russian side St Petersburg.

The task facing the two Irish Unis squads from January 3-7 is therefore a significant step up from their tours of recent seasons, which took in games against the Scottish and French Unis. 10 of the men’s 16-strong panel, selected following the intervarsities and a trial in Dublin last weekend, are from Munster, beginning with player/coach Andy Gray. He is joined by UCC colleagues Stuart O’Grady, Andrew Scannell, Peter Catchpole, Adam O’Callaghan and Fionn O’Leary. A trio of Cork men exiled in Dublin – UCD’s Ben Dobson, Nick Burns and Patrick Shanahan – are also included, as is Trevor Gray of UL. Varsities top scorer Jordan Robinson also travels and his UU colleagues Ben McMillan, Andy Williamson and Andrew Chisholm are included too, with Niall Noonan the sole Trinity representative. The Gray family link continues with Sarah coaching the girls side, which is drawn from a wider base. Aine Curran, Antonia McGrath and Amy-Kate Trevor provide a strong UCC representation, with Irish Senior Cup holders UCD supply goalkeeper Tiffany Ellis, Hannah De Burgh Whyte and Caroline Hill to the panel. A strong Belfast crew sees Queens trio Claire Allison, Katie Morris and Hannah McMillan joined by Ulster Elks Kirby O’Donnell and Kirstie Lammey, while Steph Peters returns to give UL representation. Former underage international Freddie Timmins flies the flag for NUIG with Zita McAllister and Rachel Moorhead coming from RCSI. Irish Universities panels for Torneo de Reyes, RC Polo de Barcelona, January 3-7: Women: Tiffaney Ellis (GK, UCD), Aine Curran (UCC), Antonia McGrath (UCC), Amy-Kate Trevor (UCC), Caroline Hill (UCD), Hannah De Burgh Whyte (UCD),  Hannah McMillan (QUB), Katie Morris (QUB), Claire Allison (QUB), Steph Peters (UL), Zita McAllister (RCSI), Rachel Moorhead (RCSI),  Kirby O’Donnell (UU), Kirstie Lammey (UU), Freddie Timmins (NUIG). Coach: Sarah Gray. Men: Ben McMillan (GK, UU), Stuart O’Grady (UCC), Andrew Gray (UCC, player/coach),  Andrew Scannell (UCC), Peter Catchpole (UCC), Adam O’Callaghan (UCC), Fionn O’Leary (UCC), Ben Dobson (UCD), Patrick Shanahan (UCD), Nick Burns (UCD), Niall Noonan (TCD), Jordan Robinson (UU), Andy Williamson (UU), Andrew Chisholm (UU), Trevor Gray (UL). Manager: Chris Blaney.