Munster junior men still on lookout for coach

Progress has been made with the naming of squads for both Munster junior and U21 women ahead of their respective interpro tournaments in March, but the province’s junior men are still without a coach. The Munster Branch last week sent a circular in the hope of unearthing a coach and a manager for the side, but are still on the lookout ahead of the tournament, which takes place on March 13/14 in Cork Harlequins. Those interested in either position should contact Finbarr Kelleher on finbarr(at)ireland.com asap. A first trial for this team will be held this Saturday, February 20 at 5pm at Harlequin Park. Players are asked to bring a white and red top, and €5 for pitch rental. Thirty players from inside and outside the province have so far expressed their interest in taking part, but all are welcome to try out on the day. All players whose teams did not play Irish Senior Cup hockey – and who have not played senior or U21 interpro – are eligible.

Meanwhile, things have moved on for the Munster women’s junior team, with coach David Egner naming his panel of 18 for their tournament, which takes place on the same weekend as the men in Garryduff. Six clubs are represented, with 13 coming from Catholic Institute and Cork Harlequins, the pace-setters in Division Two thus far this season. Ten players make a return from last year’s squad, while Institute quartet Nicki Sterritt, Sandra Hedigan, Aisling Fitzgerald and Niamh Barron, goalkeepers Mary Claire McCarthy (Quins) and Emma White (C of I), Ashton’s Jane O’Sullivan and Orla Cotter of Quins are the new faces. “We had 40 players attending 3 trials over past month,” explained Egner, who is coaching the side with Brian Hayes Curtin. “The standard is much higher than last year – not that it wasn’t strong then, it’s just more competitive for places everywhere this time around – and we feel we have a much stronger unit this time around.” The squad has two upcoming training sessions in Garryduff: this Saturday, February 20, from 4.30pm-7pm, and Saturday March 6th, from 6pm-6.30pm, in advance of the tournament. Meanwhile, Munster U21 women’s coach Alan Dobson has also named his 24-strong training panel in advance of their tournament in Dublin on March 27/28. This year’s outfit looks set to be much-changed, with a number of stalwarts of this grade moving on at once, but there are a number of exciting talents included. Chief among those are Institute hitwomen Naomi Carroll and Katie Campbell, along with Cork Harlequins’ uncompromising defensive rock Yvonne O’Byrne. A couple of exiles also feature; former Bandon girls Síle Johnson, now with NUIG, is among them, as is Trinity’s ex-Institute and former Ireland U18 Caomihe Burke, and Kate Collins-Smyth of the University of New Hampshire. MUNSTER U21 women’s training panel (24): Susan Peters (GK, Ashton), Claire Hayes (GK, Coláiste na Toirbhirte), Emma White (GK, C of I), Emer White (GK, Bandon), Caomihe Burke (Trinity), Katie Campbell (Catholic Institute), Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute), Kate Collins-Smyth (University of New Hampshire), Orla Cotter (Cork Harlequins), Julie Coyne (C of I), Aoife Crowley (Catholic Institute), Emma Harrington (Ashton), Síle Johnson (NUIG), Sinead Kelly (UL), Nicola Kerr (C of I), Jennifer Lyttle (Limerick), Edwina McGrath (Cork Harlequins), Kate Murphy (UCC), Yvonne O’Byrne (Cork Harlequins), Fiona O’Connell (UCC), Sorcha O’Dea (Catholic Institute), Jennifer O’Flynn (UCC), Rosie Shanahan (UCC), Aoife Walsh (Catholic Institute). MUNSTER JUNIOR women’s squad (18): Emma White (GK, C of I), Mary Claire McCarthy (GK, Cork Harlequins), Erica Breen (Cork Harlequins), Niamh Barron (Catholic Institute), Dale Burkley (Cork Harlequins), Maria Twomey (Belvedere), Kay Gaffney (Cork Harlequins), Jane O’Sullivan (Ashton), Aisling Fitzgerlad (Catholic Institute), Nicki Sterritt (Catholic Institute), Laura Davis (UL), Kate Herbert (Cork Harlequins), Sandra Hedigan (Catholic Institute), Orla Cotter (Cork Harlequins), Claire Bergin (Cork Harlequins), Laura McSweeney (Cork Harlequins), Eleanor Flood (Cork Harlequins), Maeve Murphy (Clonmel). Reserves: Liz Clifford (Belvedere) Anne Marie Dooley (Belvedere).