Big guns rested for Welsh double-header

Ireland have chosen to rest their big guns for a men’s and women’s double-header against Wales in Cardiff next month. Men’s coach Dave Passmore has named an experimental squad for the games on September 6/7, with Cookstown’s David Ames and Keith Black likely to make their international debuts. Passmore has recalled a number of players who have been in the international wilderness in recent years, including Glenanne’s Joe Brennan and Steven Redpath of Annadale. Mercurial striker Peter Blakeney, who is back with Three Rock Rovers after a season with Freemantle in Australia, is also included in a squad captained by Glenanne’s Graham Shaw. Blakeney has had a tremendous season down under, with his club exploits earning a call-up to the Western Australia Thundersticks side, whom he helped to the Australian Hockey League title. Passmore, who has named just one goalkeeper, YM’s Iain Walker, in the panel, said the matches provided a chance for fringe players to impress ahead of the forthcoming season. “This squad has been selected for development and assessment, giving a broader group of players the opportunity to impress before a panel is chosen for next year’s important season, which included the European Trophy and World Cup qualification tournament,” he said. With the likes of Karl Burns, David Hobbs and John Jermyn rested for this series, there are no players from Munster clubs included. However, the southern province still has representation on the squad in the form of Cork-born players Jason Lynch and Conor Harte, now of Lisnagarvey and Pembroke Wanderers respectively.

Meanwhile, Guy Garrett’s Ireland A side will travel to Wales in place of their rested senior counterparts. Garrett has included talented Leinster teenagers Chloe Watkins and Zara Delany, as well as Trinity’s Ciara Murphy and Katie Saunderson of Sheffield University. However, he is without Armagh prodigies Amy Stewart and Stephanie Quinn, who are both still recovering from injuries picked up last season. Garrett, who last season coached the Loreto first XI, stressed the importance of fixtures against a senior side in the development of his players. “These competitions are very important for the development of our Ireland A players,” he said. “An opportunity to play a senior side is always welcome, and we have a strong squad to compete against Wales.” UCC’s Aine Connery, who has inexplicably been ignored at senior level in 2008, is Munster’s sole representative, and she will be looking to add to her tally of three goals in as many games at the Junior Celtic Cup earlier this summer. Ireland men’s squad to play Wales in Cardiff on September 6/7: I Walker (GK, YMCA); C Harte (Pembroke Wanderers), T Lewis (Pembroke Wanderers), K Black (Cookstown), J Brennan (Glenanne), J Jackson (Loughborough, vice-captain), G Shaw (Glenanne, capt), A McConnell (Three Rock Rovers), D Ames (Cookstown), S Redpath (Annadale), J Quigley (Annadale), G McCabe (Banbridge), A Sothern (Pembroke Wanderers), J Lynch (Lisnagarvey), M Watt (Grange), M Darling (Three Rock Rovers), P Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers). Fixtures Saturday September 6: Ireland vs Wales (4pm). Sunday September 7: Ireland vs Wales (3pm). Ireland A women’s squad to play Wales in Cardiff on September 6/7: A Connery (UCC), C Watkins (Hermes), C Murphy (Trinity), E Lucey (Railway Union), H Stevenson (Belfast Harlequins), K McConnell (Pegasus), K Elkin (Randalstown), L Colvin (Armagh), M Frazer (Ballymoney), M Harvey (Victorians), N Small (Loreto), R Mulligan (Armagh), R Dallas (Randalstown), V Green (Victorians), Z Delany (Loreto). Fixtures Saturday September 6: Ireland A vs Wales (2pm). Sunday September 7: Ireland A vs Wales (1pm).