Egner names Munster U18 squad

Munster U18 girls coach David Egner has all but finalised his squad for this season’s interprovincial tournament, filling 16 places while leaving four players competing for the final two spots.

Egner has taken the unusual step of naming two co-captains for the squad, which has five players returning from last season. Recent Cork Harlequins signing Edwina McGrath will share the skippering duties with club-mate Yvonne O’Byrne, who will have a point to prove after surprisingly being overlooked at international level thus far.

Yvonne O'Byrne will co-captain the Muster U18 side alongside Cork Harlequins team-mate Edwina McGrath. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Naomi Carroll will inevitably be the side’s totem up front, while at the other end, Nicole Laarhoven is an eyebrow-raising inclusion. The Dutch sweeper has an Irish mother and divides her time between her club Almeerse HC in the town of Almere, near Amsterdam, and Ardmore, Co Waterford.

The experience gained by Rebecca Barry and Amy Kate Trevor with the Ireland U16 squad this term should also benefit the squad. However, international team-mate Roisin Upton misses out on this tournament as she is still eligible at U16 level, and must prioritise that age-grade in a European year, with Egner describing her as “a big loss”.

Regarding his selections, Egner added: “Rebecca and Amy Kate have come on tremendously over the summer months. Their time with the Ireland U16 squad has given them an extra confidence boost, which is very evident when you see them play. It’s a pleasure to coach them.

“Rebecca missed out on last year’s squad on the last day of trials, when she went over on her ankle and damaged it significantly. Had that not happened she would have been on the squad, so I’m delighted to be able to include her this time around.

“Nicole is a good player; she has shown tremendous commitment, whether it be driving down from Ardmore or coming over from Holland to trial out and train. She is a natural defender with experience of playing a high standard over in Almeerse HC in Amsterdam, and this can only benefit our team.”

Having screened 69 players across six trials, Egner says he is satisfied that his charges will be ready by the time the tournament at Grange Road rolls around on October 3/4. However, he makes no bones about some of the obstacles he has encountered along the way.

The squad’s preparation so far has seen them produce mixed results against Bandon’s first team amid some experimentation, but five more matches (against Avoca, Quins seconds and the Munster U16 boys and girls sides) are planned to get the squad up to speed in time for a tournament that falls very early in the calendar.

“Time has definitely been an issue in relation to this tournament; even though we began trials in June, players were away due to holidays so the team couldn’t be finalised until last weekend,” explains Egner.

“But the girls have put in great commitment so far with all the trials to date. They been training very hard over the last few weeks, and with their clubs’ pre-season fitness programmes in full gear now, I have no doubt that we will be ready come October 3.”

Lack of familiarity with a water-based surface could be a potential issue for the side due to reduced preparation time, but Egner is nonetheless looking forward to seeing if his side can better a fourth-place finish last time out. Of the four reserve players named, two will fill the final two squad places, with the other two acting as reserves for the tournament as Egner waits to see how a couple of players carrying injuries recover.

Sarah Sullivan (left) is one of four players from Munster champions Bandon Grammar in the initial squad. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Munster U18 girls squad (school/club): Rebecca Barry (Laurel Hill Coláiste/Catholic Institute), Katie Campbell (Villiers/Catholic Institute), Naomi Carroll (St Patrick’s Comprehensive, Shannon/Catholic Institute), Edel Coyne (Midleton College/Cork C of I), Elaine Donnolly Murphy (GK, Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins), Nicola Kerr (Bandon Grammar/Cork C of I), Nicole Laarhoven (Almeerse HC), Edwina McGrath (Ursuline Convent Thurles/Cork Harlequins, co-captain), Lauragh O’Neill (Scoil Mhuire/Cork C of I), Emily O’Leary (Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins), Yvonne O’Byrne (Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins, co-captain), Stephanie Peters (Bandon Grammar/Bandon), Emily Reidy (Scoil Mhuire/Cork C of I), Sarah Sullivan (Bandon Grammar/Bandon), Amy-Kate Trevor (Scoil Mhuire/Cork C of I), Elsbeth Wolfe (GK, Midleton College).

Reserves (2 to be added to squad): Julie Coyne (Midleton College/Cork C of I), Jess Kingston (Bandon Grammar/Cork C of I), Jennifer Murphy (Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins), Susan Peters (GK, Mount Mercy/Ashton).