Irish women’s Coach Gene Muller announced his selected twenty two for the tour to South Africa in early January. Muller finalized his selection after a two day training camp last weekend in Dublin.

The squad will spend ten days in South Africa (10-20 January) and will play six matches during the tour as well as maintaining their training program as they continue preparations for their WorldHockey Olympic Qualifying Tournament next April.

Muller’s squad includes three uncapped players, Loreto’s Niamh Small, Hermes’ Keeper Emma Gray and Louisa Moore who has just relocated to Ireland.  Commenting after his selection and impending tour “This tour has both a training and competition focus. We are playing four international matches against South Africa and two against the Dutch U/21 team.”

“It is a very demanding schedule that will test the players physically.  We are taking 22 players on the tour so it does give us a chance to rotate and compare players.  The goal is preparing the team for the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Canada in April 2008.” continued Muller.

Team Ireland

Emma Clarke, Aine Connery, Eimear Cregan, Roisin Flinn, Emer Harte, Louisa Healy (GK), Mary Goode (GK), Emma Gray (GK), Lisa Jacob, Shirley McCay, Jenny McDonough, Cathy McKean, Bridget McKeever, Louisa Moore, Ciara O’Brien, Julia O’Halloran, Clare Parkhill, Stephanie Quinn, Cliodhna Sargent, Niamh Small, Emma Stewart, Nikki Symmons.

Match Schedule:

12 January
15.00    Ireland – South Africa, Stellenbosch

13 January
15.00    Ireland – Holland U21, Stellenbosch

15 January
19.00    Ireland – South Africa, Capetown

16 January
19.00    Ireland – Holland U21, Stellenbosch

18 January
19.00    Ireland – South Africa, Stellenbosch

19 January
15.00    Ireland – South Africa, Capetown

Source: Irish Hockey Association