McKinnon Named as Men's Assistant Coach

08 May 2013

McKinnon Named as Men's Assistant Coach

Mick McKinnon has been named as Men's Assistant Coach to the Ireland Senior Hockey Team. McKinnon joined up with Andrew Meredith's Coaching Staff today in Dublin to meet the International Players at a training camp in UCD and takes up his role with immediate effect.

McKinnon comes to the role with a wealth of experience in domestic & international hockey having only this weekend coached Railway Union Ladies to a consecutive Irish Hockey League title as well as the Irish Senior Cup glory earlier this year while also holding a specialist coaching role with Pembroke Wanderers in the Irish Hockey League. Mick is no stranger to Irish Hockey having also previously worked with the IHA in his role as Ireland U18 Girls Team from 2001 - 2007, working with the Association as a Coach Educator for numerous years as well as winning the prestigious IHA Coach of the Year Award in 2010.

Smith announces Women's Training Camp Squad

Irish Women's Coach Darren Smith has named a 43 player squad for a 2-day training camp in Dublin on 25th and 26th May 2013 in preparation for the European Championships in Boom, Belgium from 17th to 25th August 2013.

Smith has selected the group having taken in every round of the Irish Hockey League recently culminating in the Finals last weekend at Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club. Smith's selection includes some new faces in the squad with uncapped players Vanessa Surgeoner, Chloe Brown, Kate Lloyd, Emily Beatty, Erika Hinkson, Yvonne O'Byrne, Aisling Campion & Kate Dillon joining the Green Army on this occasion. The Irish coach will also have to do without the services of Emma Clarke who is unavailable due to her upcoming marriage.

After the training weekend Smith will reduce the squad further to select a squad to train toward the European Championships and in to the latter part of 2013.
Speaking to hockey.ie Darren Smith said "The camp will be an opportunity to get together a group of players who have performed well over 2012/2013 and see where they are at. The focus will be on selecting a squad for the European Championships and ultimately the Rio Olympics in 3 years' time."
Smith continued "We have looked at players who are not only performing now but also have the potential to be Irish international players in the future. We are very keen to continue monitoring players over the coming years to ensure we have the best playing for Ireland."

Ireland Senior Irish Women's Squad

1. Grace O'Flanagan (Railway Union)
2. Emma Gray (Hermes)
3. Sammy-Jo Greer (Ballymoney)
4. Pamela Smithwick (Old Alex)
5. Kate Dillon (Railway Union)
6. Aisling Campion (Loreto)
7. Niamh Atcheler (University College Dublin)
8. Brenda Flannery (University College Dublin)
9. Nicola Gray (University College Dublin)
10. Sarah Greene (University College Dublin)
11. Sinead McCarthy (Hermes)
12. Audrey O'Flynn (Hermes)
13. Yvonne O'Byrne (Cork Harlequins)
14. Cliodhna Sargent (Cork Harlequins)
15. Lizzie Colvin (Loreto)
16. Leah Ewart (University College Dublin)
17. Michelle Harvey (Pegasus)
18. Stephanie Quinn (Pegasus)
19. Kate McConnell (Pegasus)
20. Erika Hinkson (Old Alex)
21. Shirley McCay (Old Alex)
22. Emma Smyth (Railway Union)
23. Nicci Daly (Loreto)
24. Ali Meeke ( Loreto)
25. Nikki Symmons (Loreto)
26. Megan Frazer (Ballymoney)
27. Gillian Pinder (Hermes)
28. Alex Speers (Railway Union)
29. Emily Beatty (University College Dublin)
30. Chloe Watkins (University College Dublin)
31. Lisa Jacob (Hermes)
32. Zara Delany (Railway Union)
33. Kate Lloyd (Railway Union)
34. Niamh Small (Loreto)
35. Deirdre Duke (University College Dublin)
36. Nikki Evans (University College Dublin)
37. Katie Mullan (University College Dublin)
38. Anna O'Flanagan (University College Dublin)
39. Chloe Brown (Ards)
40. Vanessa Surgeoner (Pegasus)
41. Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute)
42. Miriam Crowley (University College Cork)
43. Aine Connery (Corinthian)