Exams rule Crowley out but Sargent returns

Incoming Irish senior women’s coach Darren Smith has played it safe with his first squad selection after naming a 22-strong panel for next month’s training camp in Spain. The New Zealander, previously assistant coach to his native Blacksticks, arrives in Ireland on January 25 after his honeymoon and like his men’s counterpart Andrew Meredith, has chosen not to rock the boat until he sees more of the players available to him.

That means 17 of the 18 who claimed bronze at September’s Champions Challenge I are retained, with exam commitments ruling out UCC’s Miriam Crowley. Lizzie Colvin is also unavailable for this reason but Emma Clare, Nicci Daly, Cliodhna Sargent and Shirley McCay are all back after being unavailable for the CCI. Ireland are gearing up for round two of the World League, which also takes place in Valencia from February 25-March 3 and is the first step towards qualification for the 2014 World Cup. Smith will be joined on an interim basis for by assistant coach Mary Logue and strength and conditioning coach George Petrakos of UCD. “I’m looking forward to arriving in Ireland to start what will be an exciting period of mine and my new wife Beth’s lives,” said Smith. “I’ll get my first chance to see the girls in action at club hockey the day after arriving and then we will begin training in Dublin over that week. The Valencia camp will give us a good opportunity to work with a broad squad, prepare the team for World League II and together start creating the team environment we want to have going forward. “The team selected is, in my opinion, the best available to represent Ireland. This is after some consultation with coaches who have seen the players performing at club and international level and also reviewing video from recent campaigns. “This process has not been easy given that I have been unable to see the athletes in person and have had to select the team from New Zealand. The next team selected after the Valencia camp will be based on performance that I would have had the opportunity to see first-hand.” IRELAND senior women’s squad for Spain training camp (February 2-11): N Atcheler (UCD), E Clarke (Leicester, England), A Connery (Corinthian), N Daly (Holcombe HC, England), N Evans (UCD), B Flannery (UCD), E Gray (Hermes), N Gray (UCD), M Harvey (Pegasus), L Jacob (Hermes), S McCarthy (Hermes), S McCay (Old Alexandra), K Mullan (UCD), A O’Flanagan (UCD), A O’Flynn (Hermes), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), N Small (Loreto), P Smithwick (Old Alexandra), E Smyth (Railway Union), A Speers (Railway Union), N, Symmons (Loreto), C Watkins (UCD).