14 Munster girls in Irish squads

Three Munster girls will get their first taste of international hockey at U18 level, after they were named in an experienced 38-strong training panel with an eye on next summer’s Europeans in Utrecht.

Nicola Kerr of Cork C of I, Emily O’Leary of Cork Harlequins and Belvedere’s Aly Moore have both been rewarded for superlative performances at the U18 interpros with places in the squad, where they will now focus on attempting to convince the management they are worth considering for tournament selection. There were four other Munster girls named in the panel, but all were expected inclusions having been involved in either the U18 Home Nations success, the U17 Olympics or both. They are Catholic Institute’s Roisin Upton and Rebecca Barry, Cork Harlequins defender Antonia McGrath and Cork C of I’s Amy Kate Trevor. The U16 squad has also been announced, with seven Munster players named among the 37 included. Munster U16 captain Acacia Taylor of Cork Harlequins is the best-known of these, though C of I right-back Alex O’Grady is quickly making a name for herself in the top tier, as is Ashton’s Kate Harvey. They are joined by Laura Buttimer of Bandon, Edel Nyland of Ursulines Thurles and Catholic Institute pair Clodagh Moloney and Emer Ryan, who join up with their first representative international squad. For the full Ireland U18 squad click here and for the full Ireland U16 squad click here.