Trio join Irish preparation initiative

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:IRELAND COACH Gene Muller confirmed this week the addition of three names to the ESB-sponsored Central Preparation Programme (CPP), boosting the number of players involved to 26. Áine Connery (Hermes) and Hannah Bowe (Slough) return to the international fold after gaps of three years, while Connacht's Brenda Flannery (UCD) wins her first senior call-up.

Flannery, who joined UCD’s Elite Athlete Academy last year, and Connery are, for now, categorised as “probationary” members of the CPP which was assembled last September for the build-up to this summer’s European Championships, where the team will attempt to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The players have been training “in excess of 20 hours per week”, said Muller, giving the South African the time to “address critical technical and tactical weaknesses”.

“It’s been fantastic for the squad,” said captain Eimear Cregan. “It has boosted team morale and confidence as well as enhancing our quality of training.”

Connery and Flannery are having fine seasons for their clubs, who they joined from Munster’s Church of Ireland and Connacht’s Greenfields, respectively, last summer, while Bowe, sister of rugby international Tommy, resumes an international career that began when she was first called up to the senior panel by Riet Kuper in 2004 when she was a teenager playing with Armagh. She now plays in the English Premier Division with Slough and will commute back and forth to Dublin to take part in the programme.

The squad will see its first tournament action in June when Dublin hosts the Champions Challenge – Azerbaijan, India, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Spain and the US join Ireland in the event.

After their Irish Senior Cup victory over Corinthian last weekend Hermes, who now have six players involved in the CPP – Connery, Sinead McCarthy, Anna O’Flanagan, Audrey O’Flynn, Lisa Jacob and Emma Gray – resume their league campaign with a game at home to Trinity.

Loreto, two points behind but with two games in hand, haven’t played in a fortnight as last Saturday’s cup game against Pegasus was postponed, prompting the team bus to return to Dublin having reached Dundalk. They face Bray tomorrow.

FIXTURES – Tomorrow – Leinster League – Division One: Glenanne v Corinthian, Glenanne Park, 1.0; Hermes v Trinity, St Andrew’s, 1.15; Old Alexandra v UCD, Milltown, 1.15; Pembroke Wanderers v Railway Union, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0; Loreto v Bray, Beaufort, 4.0. Munster League – Division One: Belvedere v Catholic Institute, Ballincollig, 1.30; Bandon v UCC, Bandon, 3.0. Irish Junior Cup – Second round: Queen’s v Lisnagarvey, Queens, 1.0; Bray v Dromore, Loreto Bray, 2.30; Belfast Harlequins v Old Alexandra, Deramore Park, 2.30. Sunday: Pegasus v Lurgan, Queens, 1.0.

Sunday – Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup – Third round: Hermes v Railway Union, St Andrew’s, 1.30; Pembroke v Old Alexandra, Serpentine Avenue, 2.45.