Major milestones for Cockram and Cleland

Timmy Cockram and Bridget Cleland are both set to hit major international appearance landmarks today on what will be the busiest day of the international summer with six Irish outfits doing battle.

Cockram – like Irish men’s skipper Ronan Gormley last week – scored on his 99th cap and will be aiming to extend Ireland’s fine run in their summer series to date with a fifth consecutive win in eight days at Coolnafranky this evening (6pm).

The side conclude their summer programme tomorrow evening, again at Coolnafranky at 6pm.

Cleland, meanwhile, has been a tower of strength in the Ireland back four this week as Australia have found breaking down her partnership with Cliodhna Sargent tough going and is likely to play her 150th cap today.

Women’s coach Gene Muller, though, will be hoping for some tangible reward from a series in which Ireland have offered much from a performance perspective but found the final result denied twice by Emily Hurtz. They play at Belfield this afternoon at 4pm.

Ireland’s young tyros continue their Junior Celtic Cup campaign in Cookstown this afternoon with both U-21 sides facing France – the women at 2pm and the men at 4pm.

In Jordanstown, Richie Malone’s Ireland’s U-18 girls play Scotland in the first of a three match series at 4pm while the U-16 girls face Wales at UCD at 6.30pm.

Today’s match schedule:
Ireland senior men vs France, 6pm, Cookstown; Ireland senior women vs Australia, 4pm, Belfield; Ireland U-21 men vs France, 4pm Cookstown; Ireland U-21 women vs France, 2pm, Cookstown; Ireland U-18 girls vs Scotland, 4pm, Jordanstown; Ireland U-16 girls vs Wales, 6.30pm, Belfield