Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:WITH SEVERAL of Gene Muller's more established players missing from his squad for the three games against Scotland in Banbridge this weekend the opportunity is there for the more youthful members of the Irish panel to stake their claim as the international season gets under way.

The European Championships in Amsterdam might be nine months away but, for Muller, the Scotland games mark the start of the build-up to the event. While 12 of the squad that competed at the Olympic Qualifier earlier this year, including the experienced Bridget McKeever, Cathy McKean, Nikki Symmons and Jenny McDonough, are available he must make do without the rest, including captain Eimear Cregan, who is recovering from a stress fracture to her foot.