Cregan returns to international fold

Ireland skipper Eimear Cregan returns to the international fold next month as Gene Muller’s side depart to Spain for a week-long warm weather training camp. The Cork Harlequins forward has been sidelined for most of this season with a foot injury, but has been named in Muller’s 23-strong squad for the camp at the University of Alicante from February 1-6. There are few new faces in the squad, hardly surprising given few fringe players distinguished themselves in last week’s five-game series against Canada in Dublin. However, 18-year-old Megan Frazer of Ballymoney and fellow teenagers Michelle Harvey, Lizzie Colvin, Rachel Mulligan and Lauren Barr do make the cut. Muller insists the warm weather camp is an important landmark as the side begin their preparations for August’s European Championships. “Our dream is to have 18 Irish women’s hockey players at the London Olympics,” he said. “For us to achieve this we need to maintain our training and improvements. Events like the European Championships are opportunities for us to gauge our progress.” Ireland women’s squad for Spanish training camp (February 1-6): L Barr (Ballymoney), E Clarke (Ulster Elks), L Colvin (Loreto), E Cregan (Cork Harlequins), R Flinn (UCD), M Frazer (Ballymoney), M Goode (GK, Bray), E Gray (GK, Hermes), M Harvey (Pegasus), L Healy (GK, Loreto), L Jacob (UCD), S McCay (Ulster Elks), C McKean (Loreto), B McKeever (Ballymoney), H Moffett (UCC), R Mulligan (Armagh), C O’Brien (Chelmsford), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), A Speers (Pegasus), N Small (Loreto), E Stewart (Armagh), N Symmons (Loreto). Unavailable for selection: J McDonough (Belfast Harlequins).