Munster sides reveal their hand

Two more Munster panels have been named this week ahead of the upcoming interpros in October and November, with the U16 girls and U18 boys confirming their final panels. Clodagh Moloney of Crescent is an obvious choice to lead the girls, given this is the Ireland U16 starlet’s third season representing her province at this level. Eimear Ryan and Laura Buttimer will provide ample back-up as vice-captains, and are joined by fellow returnee Edel Nyland. Sinead James (Midleton College), Holly Redden (Villiers) and Niamh O’Donnell (Scoil Mhuire) could also potentially light up the tournament – which takes place on NICS’ sand-based pitch in Newtownards, Belfast – while Nicole Power has recently been exposed to top-level club hockey with Catholic Institute, alongside Moloney and Nyland. While Sarah Gray takes the coaching reins for the U16 girls, elder brother Andrew is the man in charge of an U18 boys panel who will look to an experienced midfield to backbone their effort from November 18-20 at a Dublin venue to be confirmed.

The side will be keen to bounce back from a tournament to forget last season, as injury ravaged the side’s top players amid a series of heavy defeats after a promising start. Ashton’s Richard Lynch will skipper the side, and he is joined by fellow underage Irish internationals Scott Sullivan (Bandon Grammar) and Gary Wilkinson (Ashton) in the engine room. Sullivan is one of two vice-captains named, with school-mate Stuart Miller tasked with leading the side from the front. Ireland U16’s Richard Sweetnam moves up for his first season at U18 level to anchor the defensive effort alongside the likes of Midleton College’s dangerous drag-flicker Andrew Colton and David Treacy, while Newtown’s Jamie Petch and Bandon Grammar’s Ben Scott offer some direct options up top. Just one goalkeeper – Midleton netminder Daniel Moore – is named in the squad. MUNSTER u16 GIRLS 2011: Angel Axxon (GK, Midleton College/Cork Church of Ireland); Becky Danaher (Urselines Convent Thurles/Limerick); Bella Sherlock (Bandon Grammar); Clodagh Moloney (Crescent/Catholic Institute, captain); Edel Nyland (Urselines Convent Thurles/Catholic Institute); Eimear Ryan (Laurel Hill Colaiste/Catholic Institute, vice-captain); Emma Barber (Urselines Convent Blackrock/Cork Church of Ireland); Emma Rumley (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Holly Redden (Villiers/Catholic Institute); Kate Crotty (Urselines Convent Thurles); Kate Murphy (GK, Scoil Mhuire/Cork Church of Ireland); Laura Buttimer (Bandon Grammar/Bandon, vice-captain); Megan Mawhinney (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Michelle Barrett (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Niamh O’Donnell (Scoil Mhuire/Cork Harlequins); Nicole Power (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Rachel Foley (St Angela’s/Belvedere); Sinead James (Midleton College/Cork Church of Ireland). Non-travelling reserves: Kate Brosnahan (GK, Laurell Hill Secondary/Catholic Institute); Saoirse O’Leary (Bandon Grammar/Bandon), Sophie Lilburn (Villiers/Limerick) Manager: Sarah Jones; Coach: Sarah Gray; Assisstant Coach: Malcolm Coombes; GK Coach: David Wolfe. MUNSTER U18 BOYS 2011: Daniel Moore (GK, Midleton College/Midleton); Richard Sweetnam (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Andrew Colton (Midleton College/Cork Church of Ireland); David Treacy (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Fred McElroy (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Alex Simonin (Midleton College/Midleton); Richard Lynch (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland, captain); Scott Sullivan (Bandon Grammar/Bandon, vice-captain); Gary Wilkinson (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Ben Scott (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Stuart Miller (Bandon Grammar/Cork Church of Ireland, vice-captain); Jamie Petch (Newtown); Nathan Eacrett (Villiers/Limerick); Sam Butler (Newtown/Waterford); Peter Daunt (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); David Whitaker (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Ricky McMahon (Bandon Grammar/Belvedere); Marc Hornibrook (Midleton College/Midleton). Coach: Andrew Gray; Assistant Coaches: Graham Catchpole, Peter Catchpole; Manager: Alan Good.