HOCKEY: Senior Women's Team Complete Final Training Session in Style Just Ahead of World Cup Qualifier

19 Apr 2010

Ireland's Women's Hockey Team, sponsored by ESB, gathered today in UCD for their final training session before flying to Santiago, Chile, tomorrow to begin preparations for their World Cup Qualifying Tournament. The occasion also saw Irish Hockey in conjunction with new official kit suppliers Samurai launch the new match and off field kit which will be worn for the first time by the Women's Squad in Chile.

Commenting on the new Partnership Chief Executive Angus Kirkland said "We, the IHA, are delighted to announce formally our partnership with Samurai Sportswear. We have been working with them in the background for the last six months to ensure that our players both look and feel good and we as an association are extremely pleased with the results which we are able to showcase today on our Women's Team in UCD."

The Managing Director of Samurai Terry Sands said "As one of the world's leading bespoke team wear brands, Samurai Sportswear are proud to be the official kit suppliers to the Irish Hockey association. Our partnership enables us to work with top sporting professionals in developing state of the art products for on and off field activities. Having our own manufacturing facility ensures that we are able to provide Irish Hockey with an unparalleled service that they thoroughly deserve. By working closely with Irish Hockey we can fully understand their needs and as a bespoke manufacturer we can deliver an exclusive, technical, high quality product. Over the past 12 months we have taken bespoke Sportswear to another level which we believe will provide Irish Hockey with an all important edge."

The squad were also joined on the occasion by Chief Executive of ESB, Mr. Padraig McManus, who made the trip out to wish them well in this upcoming tournament, ESB are official sponsors of this team as well as all Women's and Girls hockey in Ireland.

Speaking at the training session, Padraig McManus said "This is a tremendously challenging time for Irish Women's Hockey and our national team certainly has to face tough competition in Chile. But I have every confidence that their combined skill, determination and extraordinary team spirit will bring them through to represent Ireland in the World Cup later this year in Argentina. I wish the captain, Eimear Cregan and the team every success in the World Cup Qualifiers in Chile".

The team who will face Scotland, Chile, Malaysia and top seeds Australia in this competition know that nothing less than first place will secure them the final spot at the 2010 World Cup. Coach Muller Announced his squad just over three weeks ago travels with a fully fit eighteen but he knows that it is a tough task ahead "There are no easy points given the evenly matched nature of the teams in Santiago, so mental toughness will be paramount to progress in this tournament. Australia is the obvious stand-out team having recently lost in the Champions trophy final"

Women's World Cup Qualifier Team (Ireland)

Emma Clarke (Leicester)
Bridget Cleland (Vice Captain) (Ballymoney)
Lizzie Colvin (Loreto)
Eimear Cregan (Captain) (Catholic Institute)
Roisin Flinn (Old Alex)
Megan Frazer (Maryland)
Mary Goode (GK) (Bray)
Michelle Harvey (Pegasus)
Louisa Healy (GK) (Loreto)
Lisa Jacob (UCD)
Shirley McCay (Dragons)
Audrey O'Flynn (UCC)
Julia O'Halloran (UCC)
Cliodhna Sargent (Cork Harlequins)
Niamh Small (Loreto)
Emma Smyth (Railway)
Alex Speers (Dragons)
Nikki Symmons (Loreto)

Match Schedule

Saturday 24th April - May 2nd; Santiago, Chile.
Date Team Team Local Time Irish Time
Saturday 24th April Ireland v Scotland 13.30 (18.30)
Tuesday 27th April Ireland v Malaysia 15.30 (20.30)
Thursday 29th Ireland v Australia 13.30 (18.30)
Saturday 1st May Ireland v Chile 15.30 (20.30)
Sunday 2nd May 3rd v 4th 09.30 (14.30)
1st v 2nd 12.00 (17.30)