AUDREY O’FLYNN faces into the biggest test of her fledgling international career next month after she was yesterday named in Gene Muller’s 18-strong Ireland squad for the World Cup Qualifiers in Chile.

THERE was no fairytale ending for Catholic Institute’s Eimear Cregan as her former club Cork Harlequins gave a lesson in finishing to reclaim the women’s Munster Senior Cup at Rosbrien yesterday.

IRELAND’S senior women’s squad touched down in Nice, France yesterday ahead of this weekend’s Celtic Cup tournament, knowing many are in the last-chance saloon as they bid to secure a place in the squad for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Chile.

HAVING watched their male counterparts blaze a trail of glory for the majority of the summer, Ireland’s senior women have a chance to keep the good vibes coming as they begin their EuroHockey Nations Championship campaign in Amsterdam tomorrow.

Ireland 2 Ukraine 1

IRISH women’s hockey coach Gene Muller yesterday announced his squad to face Scotland in a three match series in UCD at the weekend.

THE Irish Hockey Association has appointed Paul Varian to the permanent position of Chief Executive.

Uncapped players Louise Henderson, Zanya Dahl, Sinead Dooley and Katherine Elkins have all been named in Ireland’s squad which will begin preparations for the World Cup qualifying competition in Rome next April.

ALL-IRELAND champions Kerry and Cork dominate the selection of the Waterford Crystal Munster GAA Allstars, announced last evening.

The Ireland women’s team travel to Germany for a four-nation tournament next week as they prepare to host the European Championship in August.

NIGEL BUTTIMER has announced his retirement from international hockey at the age of 28.

Ireland women’s coach Riet Kuper has omitted three experienced internationals from her training squad, which travels to Spain next month, in order to give younger players a chance.

New Zealand 5 (Igasan 17, Sharland 29, Provan 37, 51, Roberts 47) Ireland 1 (McDonough 37)

DESPITE the fact that Cork Harlequins have beaten today’s Irish Senior Women’s Cup opponents Knock in the competition for the past two years, coach Ivan Bateman is taking nothing for granted in the third round encounter at Harlequin Park (hit off 1.30pm).

IRISH ladies hockey coach Riet Kuper has named a squad of 20 to travel to America next month as preparations intensify ahead of the Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland from March 19-28.

Five uncapped players have been named in the Irish women’s hockey squad to play three Test matches in the USA next month.

Ireland 4 France2

Ireland women’s preparations for the European Nations Cup in September continue this week with a training camp and two Test matches in Holland.

Ireland’s women have named the pool of players who will contest selection for September’s European Nations Cup in Barcelona.

Ireland women’s coach Riet Kuper has handed first call-ups to five players for a three-day Easter training camp.

“THAT was the week that was,” and one the Irish women’s World Cup hockey squad will be trying to make amends for to some small measure of degree when they resume action today against Japan in the Women’s Hockey World Cup tournament in Perth.

USA 2 Ireland 1