Young and old in line for German test

Irish senior women’s coach Gene Muller will continue his recent policy of blending youth and experience when his side travel to Nurnburg to take on world number three Germany in a two-game series to celebrate the German Hockey Federation’s 100th anniversary on May 9 and 10. Chelmsford stalwart Ciara O’Brien returns to the fold having missed the Easter series against England, while Railway Union’s Emma Smyth gets another chance after impressing in those games. But there is no place for Cliodhna Sargent, who was in impressive goalscoring form as Quins claimed the Munster title with a 3-2 win over UCC at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Ireland U-18 coach Mary Logue has named an 18-strong squad for two-day series against Scotland at Bellahouston in Glasgow on May 8 and 9. Catholic Institute’s Naomi Carroll is the role Munster representative in a squad dominated by players from Leinster and Connacht. Elsewhere, Julia O’Halloran and Aine Connery will be among ten recepients of the UCC Sports Star Awards tomorrow night in a ceremony at Jury’s Hotel – which is to be re-named The Cork Hotel in the coming days – on Western Road. The  duo, both Irish internationals, will be recognised for their contribution to a superb sporting year for the college – its best since the annual awards began in 1983. While College failed to bring home a third Chilean Cup intervarsity title – losing the final 1-0 to UCD last October – they nonetheless had a stand-out season, bringing the Munster Senior Cup back to The Mardyke for the first time since 1995. They also annexed the Examiner Cup and qualified for the Irish Hockey League for the first time, but last weekend’s playoff defeat to a resurgent Quins denied them a league title. Both Connery and O’Halloran are winning this award for the second time. The college is also honouring Carmel O’Connor with the Kieran Dowd Perpetual Award, in recognition of her years of service to UCC LHC. A former ladies branch president, she currently manages the students’ second team. Ireland senior women’s squad to play Germany: L Barr, (Ballymoney), B Cleland, (Ballymoney), E Clarke, (Ulster Elks), E Cregan (Capt), (Cork Harlequins), R Flinn, (UCD), E Gray, (Hermes), M Harvey, (Pegasus), L Healy, (Loreto), L Jacob, (UCD), C McKean, (Loreto), R Mulligan, (Armagh), C O’Brien, (Chelmsford), E Smyth, (Railway Union), E Stewart, (Armagh), N Small, (Loreto), N Symmons, (Loreto). Match Schedule: Saturday, May 9: Germany v Ireland, 2pm;  Sunday: May 10: Germany v Ireland, 11am.

Irish U18 girls squad to play Scotland in Glasgow, May 8 & 9): N Atcheler (Hermes), N Carroll (Catholic Institute), D Duke (Hermes), B Flannery (Greenfields), O Fox (Pembroke Wanderers), D Gorman (Greenfields), I Gorman (Trinity), S Greene (Hermes), SJ Greer (GK, Ballymoney), J Kyle (Pegasus), H Matthews (Loreto), A Meeke (Loreto), T Melvin (Galway), E Molloy (GK, Galway), AM Morton (Armagh), G Pinder (Hermes), L Trainor (Galway), C Watkins (Hermes).