Five newcomers get the call

Hockey: Five uncapped players have been included in Riet Kuper's 20-strong squad which travels to the United States in January for a 10-day training camp in preparation for the Olympic Qualifier in New Zealand in March.

Orla Ryan (Loreto), Pamela Orr (Randalstown), Deirdre Casey (Church of Ireland), Kristin Farrell (Waterford) and Nicky McCaughran, one of four Ballymoney players in the squad, are the newcomers.

Fourteen of the players who competed in September's European finals in Barcelona are recalled, with Lynsey McVicker replacing the retired Rachael Kohler as captain. Elaine Brommell (Catholic Institute), who has one cap so far, is also included.

Jenny Osborne (Hermes), Susie Martin (Pegasus) and Mary Goode (Pembroke Wanderers) are the panellists to miss out on the trip to San Francisco.

UCD's Linda O'Neill, who is still recovering from an ankle injury, won't travel either but has not been ruled out of the Olympic Qualifier.

Joan Morgan, meanwhile, returns as manager following Annette Fortune's retirement, while Sally Bell, the former Australian international who is now employed as high performance manager for hockey at the Northern Ireland Institute of Sport, will make her first trip as assistant coach.

IRISH SQUAD: A Platt, N McCaughran, B McKeever, L McVicker (all Ballymoney), S Beaney, J McDonough (both Belfast Harlequins), E Brommell (Catholic Institute), D Casey (Church of Ireland), J Burke, L Caulfield, F Connery (all Hermes), O Ryan, N Symmons (both Loreto), N King (Old Alexandra), K Maybin (Pegasus), J Orbinson (Portadown), P Orr (Randalstown), C O'Brien (UCD), E Cregan (University of Limerick), K Farrell (Waterford).