HOCKEY Muller makes selection for New Zealand Tour

Senior Women’s Hockey Coach Gene Muller today announced his selected eighteen for the Irish tour to New Zealand. Ireland’s women’s team will travel to Wellington, New Zealand, on 22nd February returning home on the 2nd March, this short trip will see them compete in four matches, two against China and two against New Zealand as they continue to prepare for their Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Canada in April / May.

Commenting was Coach Muller; “This tour is probably the most important element of our preparation for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament because of the nature of the opponents we are playing. New Zealand and China are both top ten teams and have both already qualified for the Beijing Olympics, we have two Asian teams to play in the Qualifiers so it is very important to get play against these skilful and fast paced teams.”

“This tour would not have been possible without the support of the Irish Sports Council and our sponsor ESB, we are enormously grateful to them and I feel they have increased our chances of qualification because of this tour”. Continued Muller.

Gene Muller’s selection sees the re-inclusion of Loreto’s Niamh Small after South Africa and Munster’s Hollie Moffett retain her position after a good performance in Spain. Bridget McKeever also makes her way back into the squad after missing out on the recent trip to Spain due to work commitments.

Squad, Wellington New Zealand 22nd February – March 2nd

Name                                      Club                                        Caps

Mary Goode (GK)                   Pembroke Wanderers               37

Louisa Healy (GK)                   Loreto                                      25

Roisin Flinn                               UCD                                        33

Eimear Cregan                          Cork Harlequins                       124

Emma Clarke                           Randlastown                             39

Emma Stewart                          Armagh                                    42

Bridget McKeever                    Ballymoney                               99

Shirley McCay                         Randalstown                             33

Jenny McDonagh                      Belfast Harlequins                     96

Cathy McKean                         Loreto                                      89

Julia O’Halloran                        UCC                                        24

Ciara O’Brien                           UCD                                        137

Nikki Symmons                        Loreto                                      87

Lisa Jacob                                UCD                                        17

Niamh Small                             Loreto                                      1

Clare Parkhill                            Randalstown                             55

Hollie Moffett                           UCC                                        2

Louisa Moore                           Pembroke Wanderers               4

Match Schedule

Date                                        Match                                     NZ Time

26th February                           Ireland V China                       18.30

27th February                           Ireland V New Zealand             18.30

29th February                           Ireland V China                        18.30

1st March                                 Ireland V New Zealand              14.30