Women's HockeyAlmost five years after she won the last of her 36 caps, Caitríona Carey is back in the international fold, having been added to the Irish panel by Riet Kuper following last weekend's club finals in Cork. And, if selected for the trip, the Hermes player could win her 37th cap in Korea, where the team will compete in a six nations tournament next month.
A combination of study and work commitments, allied to a not always smooth relationship with Kuper, resulted in Carey's unavailability for Ireland since June 2000. The loss to the team in that period of a player widely regarded as the most naturally gifted in the country was incalculable.
Her return, then, is a significant boost for the squad as preparations for August's European Championships in Dublin are finalised.
Previously scheduled games against England and Wales and a four nations tournament in France have all been cancelled, but the invitation to take part in the six nations event in Seongnam City, where the hosts, Korea, China, England and India (with one more nation to be confirmed) will provide the opposition, will provide a stern test.
The 18-player squad for Korea will be named on May 16th, but the Armagh teenagers, Hannah Bowe and Emma Stewart, will not be considered due to exam commitments.
RevisedIrishpanel
H Bowe, E Stewart (both Armagh), L McVicker (capt), A Platt, B McKeever, N McCaughern (all Ballymoney), S Beaney, J McDonough (both Belfast Harlequins), E Bromell (Catholic Institute), D Casey (Church of Ireland), L Caulfield, F Connery, J Burke, J Hodgins, C Carey (all Hermes), L Healy, L O'Neill, C McKean, N Symmons (all Loreto), K Maybin, K McCollum, J Orbinson (all Pegasus), M Goode (Pembroke Wanderers), C O'Brien (Railway Union), C Parkhill (Randalstown), E Cregan (University of Limerick), K Farrell (Waterford).
REVISED BUILD-UP TO EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: June 9th-16th: Six Nations Tournament (China, England, India, Korea, Ireland, AN Other), Korea.
July 8th-10th: Four Nations Tournament (Germany, Holland, Scotland, Ireland), Germany.
July 22nd-24th: Four Nations Tournament (France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland), Scotland.
July 29th-30th: Ireland v Germany, Belfield.
August 5th-7th: Ireland v Belgium, Belfield.
August 14th-20th: European Championships (England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Ukraine), Belfield.
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