Hobbs returns to Irish senior side

Cork Church of Ireland midfielder David Hobbs is set to make his first senior international appearances in a year after he was called up for this weekend’s Celtic Cup at Lisnagarvey. Hobbs, who has over 120 caps, has been a sporadic member of the international panel in recent years, with a late call-up to last summer’s Celtic Cup panel his first Irish appearance since October 2009.

But he is one of six Munster men in the squad announced by Paul Revington, along with current club-mates John Jermyn and Jason Lynch, Dutch-based duo Conor and David Harte and YMCA’s Jonny Bruton. Twelve of the panel that travelled to Spain for a three-game series remain in situ while Philip Brown, Davy Carson and Stephen Dowds are included from last weekend’s Junior Celtic Cup selection. It could be a special weekend for drag-flicker Jermyn, who is just three goals off Stephen Butler’s all-time goalscorer record. Ireland take on familiar opponents in Wales and Scotland, with Olympic-bound South Africa – who include former Corinthians sweeper Andrew Cronje in their squad – replacing regular entrants France, who pulled out of all this year’s Celtic Cups. The green machine will be hopeful of repeating the success of the U21 sides, who both won their tournaments in Wrexham, Wales last weekend. The men recorded a pair of 2-0 wins over Scotland and Wales with Davy Carson scoring in both games while Philip Brown got the clincher against Wales and Owen Magee coolly reversed home a rebound to open the scoring against a tough Scots side. There was a Munster tinge to the U21 girls’ 2-0 win over Wales with Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute) and Olivia Roycroft (UCC) getting the goals, while Leah Ewart and Brenda Flannery scored in a 2-1 win over the Scots that clinched the title. Carroll, Roycroft and the latter’s fellow College girl Aine Curran have all been named in a provisional 21-strong side for next month’s Europeans, which will be cut to 18 plus three reserves later this week. IRELAND senior men’s squad for Celtic Cup, Lisnagarvey: J Bell (Lisnagarvey), P Brown (Banbridge), J Bruton (YMCA), C Cargo (Reading), K Carroll (Railway Union), D Carson (Corinthian), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), S Dowds (Banbridge), C Harte (SCHC), D Harte (GK, SCHC), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), I Hughes (GK, Cookstown), J Jackson (Braxgata), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), J Lynch (Cork C of I), E Magee (Dragons), B McCandless (Banbridge), M Watt (Santander). Thursday, June 28: Ireland v South Africa (men), pitch one, 8pm Friday, June 29: Wales v Scotland (men), pitch two, 5pm; Ireland v Scotland (women), pitch one, 6.30pm Saturday, June 30: Wales v Scotland (women), pitch two, 1pm; South Africa v Wales, pitch one (men), 2pm; Ireland v Scotland (men), pitch one, 4pm Sunday, July 1: Wales v Ireland (women), pitch one, 12pm; South Africa v Scotland (men), pitch two, 12pm; Ireland v Wales (men), pitch one, 2pm