O'Flynn looks to stake claim

HOCKEY:AUDREY O'FLYNN, who made her senior debut against Belgium last month, has been given another chance by Gene Muller to stake her claim for a place in the squad for next month's World Cup qualifier in Chile, the UCC captain included in the panel for this weekend's Celtic Cup in France.

Study commitments have ruled O’Flynn’s Munster team-mate Julia O’Halloran out of the tournament, which, following Wales’ withdrawal, is now just a three-nation affair, Scotland joining the hosts and Ireland in the line-up.

Sunday’s match against Scotland will be particularly significant for Muller because the teams will meet again in Chile. Before then Ireland play France (1pm today), who are also preparing for a World Cup qualifier, their journey taking them to San Diego next month.

Loreto, meanwhile, will have to make do without four of their internationals – Liz Colvin, Louisa Healy, Niamh Small and Nikki Symmons – when they take on Leinster champions Railway Union in a critical league match.

Hermes, who are at home to Old Alexandra tomorrow, are a point ahead of Railway and four clear of Loreto, but they have played an extra game.

The Beaufort match, a “dress rehearsal” for the Irish Senior Cup final, could, then, have a major bearing on the title race.

Defeat for Loreto would leave them adrift of the top two, but if they can reverse December’s defeat to Railway, which ended their unbeaten run, then the race will become even tighter – not least because Hermes and Railway have to play each other next month. UCD will hope to strengthen their grip on fourth place with a win over Glenanne at Belfield, while Pembroke Wanderers, away to Trinity, need to reproduce some of their IHL and Leinster Cup form to lift themselves from second from bottom.

In Munster, Cork Harlequins can make substantial progress up the table if they take maximum points from their double-header this weekend – away to third-placed Church of Ireland tomorrow, before hosting struggling Ashton on Sunday.

IRELAND (squad): E Stewart, R Mulligan (both Armagh), B Cleland (Ballymoney),

M Goode (Bray), E Cregan (Catholic Institute), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins),

A Speers, S McCay (both Dragons, Belgium), E Clarke (Leicester), L Colvin, L Healy,

N Small, N Symmons (all Loreto),

R Flinn (Old Alexandra), M Harvey (Pegasus), E Smyth (Railway Union),

A O’Flynn (UCC), L Jacob (UCD).