Muller names Celtic Cup 18

Ireland’s senior women begin a hectic summer schedule in Scotland over the June Bank Holiday Weekend, as they bid to annex the Celtic Cup for the first time since 2006. It’s the beginning of a vital couple of months for Gene Muller’s side; some of the world’s best come to Dublin later in June for the Champions’ Challenge, while the European Championships loom large in August. The decision to centralise the senior panel in Dublin since last October has been offset by less competitive fixtures for the Irish side, a trade-off needed due to the costs of the former exercise.

It is hoped the change in approach will help yield qualification for the 2012 Olympics, though only a top-three finish in Europe — where Ireland have never placed higher than fifth — will ensure an automatic berth in London. Muller has named his first 18-player tournament panel for the Celtic Cup, which runs in Largs from June 3-6. France — whom Ireland beat 2-0 three times on the trot in friendlies during April — have pulled out of the tournament, leaving the Irish playing off against Scotland and Wales, with a second friendly against Scotland arranged for Bank Holiday Monday. Foreign-based trio Hannah Bowe (Slough) — sister of Irish international rugby star Tommy — Emma Clarke (Leicester) and Lizzie Colvin (HGC, Netherlands) all come into the selection having missed out on the French series with France. Unavailable are Loreto trio Nikki Symmons, Nicci Daly and Niamh Small, who will be in the midst of Loreto’s preparations for the EuroHockey Club Champions Challenge II, which get underway a week after this series. Nikki Evans’ comeback from a broken hand will not materialise at this stage while Anna O’Flanagan and Niamh Atcheler are the other two members of the central preparation programme (CPP) who sit out this tournament. Wales return to the competition after sitting out the 2010 edition in Nice while Ireland will be hoping to end Scotland’s reign. Last year, they missed out based on their head-to-head result with the Scots while in 2008, goal difference came into play to deny the Irish. Speaking about the selection, national coach Muller said of the Celtic Cup opponents: “We have not played against Wales in two years and Scotland has been a regular opponent for us. Both Celtic Cup matches will be very competitive and exactly what our team needs at this stage of our preparation for the ESB Electric Ireland Champions Challenge I. “Our players are excited to be playing these matches after a demanding preparation stage.” Women’s Celtic Cup, fixture schedule: Friday, June 3: Scotland vs Wales, 7pm; Saturday, June 4: Ireland vs Wales, 2pm; Sunday, June 5: Ireland vs Scotland, 2pm Challenge match, Monday, June 6: Ireland vs Scotland Ireland: Emma Gray (GK, Hermes), Hannah Bowe (Slough), Emma Clarke (Leicester), Lizzie Colvin (HGC), Aine Connery (Hermes), Miriam Crowley (UCC), Michelle Harvey (Pegasus), Lisa Jacob (Hermes), Sinead McCarthy (Hermes), Shirley McCay (Old Alex), Jean McDonnell (Railway Union), Audrey O’Flynn (Hermes), Julia O’Halloran (Railway Union), Cliodhna Sargent (Cork Harlequins), Pamela Smithwick (Old Alex), Emma Smyth (Railway Union), Alex Speers (Capt, Railway Union), Chloe Watkins (UCD)