Garrett names first A squad

Ireland’s ‘A’ coach, Guy Garrett, today announced his squad subsequent to the U-21 Women’s Inter-Provincial tournament in Lisnagarvey last weekend. His selection of twenty athletes sees players of various age groups being called into the squad.

Guy Garrett, current Loreto 1XI coach, said “I am very excited to be involved with what is a key squad in terms of the development of future senior players. Having seen such promising moves forward with the women's senior squad, it is a great honour to now be so closely involved.”

The objective of the Ireland ‘A’ squad (previously called the Development Squad) is to provide a continuum in preparing players for the senior squad. All players will attend one senior squad regional session per week where they will have the opportunity to work with the Senior athletes they aim to join.

Garrett is already putting in plans to keep his Women’s Ireland ‘A’ squad busy “We plan to have several camps and competitions during 2008 and the Ireland A players will be working closely with the senior squad in their regional sessions. We are also pleased to include several of the players whose performance at last weekend’s U-21 interprovincial tournament showed great potential.”

Ireland ‘A’ Squad:
Vicki Green (GK) (Victorians/BRA), Helen Stevenson (GK) (Belfast Harlequins), Hannah Bowe (Armagh), Rosie Carrigan (UCD), Lizzie Colvin (Armagh/Portadown College), Kym Daly (Catholic Institute), Zara Delany (Loreto, Loreto Beaufort), Katherine Elkin (Randalstown), Nicola Evans (Hermes, Alexandra College), Orla Fox (Pembroke Wanderers/Mount Sackville), Megan Frazer (Ballymoney/Foyle College), Michelle Harvey (Victorians), Hannah Matthews (Loreto/Loreto Beaufort), Kate McConnell (Pegasus), Elizabeth McInerney (Hermes), Katherine Steenson (Armagh, Royal School Armagh), Amy Stewart (Armagh, Royal School Armagh), Emma Thornbury (Armagh/Sourthern RC), Chloe Watkins (Hermes/St. Andrews College), Grace Watters (Randalstown)

Several more players will be invited to the regional senior squad sessions for an agreed period on a trial basis. They will then be invited to remain in the Ireland ‘A’ squad dependant upon their performance.