THE countdown to August's World Cup hockey qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe began in earnest yesterday with the selection of a 16-player Irish squad for the internationals against Wales, Poland and Slovakia in Cardiff next week.

The squad shows four changes from Ireland's last international matches, against Italy in August, with Mary Logue taking over the captaincy in the absence of the injured Jeanette Turner. Hermes goalkeeper Tara Browne is also temporarily ruled out with a back problem, while Turner's Pegasus team-mates, Claire Samways and Kim Mills, have been omitted for the four-nations tournament.

North Down's under-21 international goalkeeper, Lucy McClements, wins her first senior call-up in place of Browne, with Slough's Sarah Kelleher returning to the squad after being unavailable for the two friendlies against Italy.

Caitriona O'Kelly, of Loreto, and Old Alexandra's Irish Conway, who finished the Leinster league season as joint top scorer with Logue on 17 goals, get a chance to stake their claim for a place in the Harare squad.