Ireland U-16s take on home nations

Ireland's U-16 boys and girls tip off the highlight of their summer programme this afternoon in Largs, Scotland as they take on England, Scotland and Wales in a four nations tournament.

With this being a non-European year at this age group, the tournament provides the setting for players to get used to the intense rigours of international events with a view to next year's U-16 campaign and further down the road, the respective A division campaigns in 2011.
On the boy's side, Paul Cooke's charges picked off a win over England in their last outing - the third game in a three-game series - and include a panel with a couple of famous names. Ross Canning, Shane Madeley, David Cole and Owen Magee have full international blood in the family.

To date the captaincy duties have been shared by Three Rock's Tom Samuel and Fingal's Mark Ryan while Bandon midfielder Darren Sweetnam is one to watch.

On the girl's side, Ireland's panel - coached by Una McCarthy - draws heavily from the interprovincial championship winning Ulster side who take 10 of the 18 from the northern province. Leinster has two representatives with Railway's Lisa McCarthy and Corinthian's Aisling Naughton making the panel.

Both sides get their campaigns underway today against Scotland this evening.

Boys match Schedule:
Wednesday, July 22: 3pm, England vs Wales; 7pm, Ireland vs Scotland
Thursday, July 23: 3pm, Ireland vs England; 7pm, Scotland vs Wales
Friday, July 24: 12pm, Ireland vs Wales; 4pm, Scotland vs England

Girls match Schedule:
Wednesday, July 22: 1pm, England vs Wales; 5pm, Ireland vs Scotland
Thursday, July 23: 1pm, Ireland vs England; 5pm, Scotland vs Wales
Friday, July 24: 10am, Ireland vs Wales; 2pm, Scotland vs England

Ireland U-16 Boys: Michael Anderson (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Robert Burke (Wesley/Corinthian), Nicholas Burns (Midleton/Cork C of I), Ross Canning (St Columba’s/TRR), David Cole (St Andrew’s/Monkstown), Mark Ingram (Oatlands/Railway Unuion), Matthew Lecky (Royal & Prior/Raphoe), Shane Madeley (Wesley/TRR), Owen Magee (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Fiachra Maher (St Andrews/Railway Union), David McCrea (Wesley College/TRR), Joshua Moffett (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Paul Ritchie (Regent House/North Down), Mark Ryan (Sutton Park/Fingal), Thomas Samuel (Wesley/TRR), Jeffrey Spillane (Blackrock College/Railway Union), Scott Sullivan (Bandon Grammar/Bandon), Darren Sweetnam (Bandon Grammar/Bandon)

Ireland U-16 girls: Vikki Hynes (GK) (Salerno/Knocknacarra), Lucy Camlin(GK, Ballyclare High/Ballyclare), Freddie Timmons (Taylors Hill/Galway), Amy Kate Trevor (Scoil Mhuire/Cork C of I), Louise Murray (Lurgan College/Lurgan), Gemma Frazer (Omagh High/Omagh), Roisin Upton (Cresent Comp/Catholic Inst), Amy Cooke (Ballyclare HS/Ballyclare), Leah Ewart (Royal Sch Armagh/Armagh), Kerri Mc Donald (Banbridge Academy/Dromore), Lisa McCarthy (Mount Anville/Railway Union), Katie Morris (Strathearn Sch/Belfast Victorians), Rebecca Barry (Laurel Hill Colaiste/Catholic Inst), Joanne Orr (Royal Sch Armagh/Armagh), Lucy McKee (Banbridge Academy/Armagh), Aisling Naughton (Mount Anville/Corinthian), Elaine Carey (Jesuits, Galway/Galway), Chloe Brown (Nendrum College/North Down)