Munster girls in green get off to perfect start

Ireland A scored a convincing 2-0 victory over Canada at Belfield to get their five-games series off to the best possible start. Both strikes came in the first half, the opener a well worked short-corner move which saw the ball worked back to injector Roisin Flinn, who slapped home at the near post. The second arrived shortly after via a 20th minute short corner switch to Nicola Evans, and the Irish were in command throughout against a side that had caused the full senior team some problems at last year’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria. Ireland restricted the visitors to just one short corner – saved comfortably by Hermes stopper Emma Gray – and had a flurry of chances to augment their lead, striking the crossbar at one stage in the second half. “We are working on some key tactical play, and the girls performed in every aspect we were working on,” said Ireland A coach Guy Garrett. “This was a step up for a lot of them to play against a senior side, and I couldn’t have asked for more from them.” It was a particularly notable occasion for followers of Munster hockey, who saw Cork C of I’s Mel Ryan and UCC’s Audrey O’Flynn make their first appearances in an Irish jersey. Other Munster girls to make an appearance were Quins’ Cliodhna Sargent and UCC’s Julia O’Halloran, the latter making an exception to her self-imposed year-long sabbatical from international hockey to add some experience to the side. Ireland A take on the Canadians again today (2pm), before the senior side face them three times next weekend. Ireland A: E Gray (GK, Hermes); H Stevenson (GK, Railway Union); S McCay (Ulster Elks), R Flinn (UCD, capt), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), N Evans (Hermes), M Frazer (Ballymoney), M Ryan (Cork C of I), N Atcheler (Hermes) L McInerney (UCD), M Harvey (Pegasus), J O’Halloran (UCC), A O’Flynn (UCC), C Watkins (Hermes).