Ireland’s U17 girs will stride into battle tomorrow morning in what captain Leah Ewert and vice-captain Roisin Upton believe will be the toughest of their encounters at the World Youth Olympics in Singapore against the Netherlands (9am Irish time). The Munster contingent in the squad has swelled to four, after Amy Kate Trevor received a late call-up.
Ireland senior women’s coach Gene Muller was effusive in his praise for his young guns – including UCC’s Miriam Crowley, above, who bagged her first international goal – as they helped record a three-game series whitewash of Belgium at Belfield.
Ireland’s U18 boys and girls sit on the cusp of a remarkable double triumph, after both put themselves in the driving seat to annex their respective Four Nations titles at Garryduff in Cork today. Both Irish sides chalked up rare victories over England, meaning a draw will therefore be enough for both outfits to claim overall honours on home turf tomorrow; the girls are first up against Scotland (10.30am), while the boys take on Wales two hours later.
Ireland’s U18 boys and girls made heavy weather of their opening Four Nations fixtures at Garryduff in Cork earlier today, but ultimately both outfits can be happy with winning starts to their campaigns. The boys beat Scotland 4-2, while the girls saw off Wales 2-0.
The Irish U16 girls management team have this morning strongly refuted Dutch accusations of “physical violence” in yesterday’s EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships semi-finals in Barcelona – as well as outlining what they believe to be a lack of respect from a dominant Netherlands side.
Ireland’s U18 girls will be keen for success in other arenas to rub off when they get their Four Nations campaign underway at Garryduff in Cork tomorrow (6pm).