ÁINE CONNERY looks set to be given the chance to resurrect her Irish international hockey career, after she was confirmed as a participant in the team’s central preparation programme (CPP) yesterday.

SCOTLAND struck late in each half to compound Ireland’s woes at the World Cup qualifiers in Santiago, Chile as a lack of killer instinct either end put paid to any remote chance of reaching the second biggest competition in the game.

IRELAND coach Gene Muller believed only three of his squad of 16 performed to standard as his side were thrashed 3-0 by Malaysia in Santiago yesterday, virtually ending their World Cup dreams at the first hurdle.

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.

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.

CORK Harlequins began their campaign in the European Club championships in Prague yesterday with a comfortable 1-0 victory over local side SK Slavia Praha.

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.

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 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.

MUNSTER revived their hopes of retaining the men’s hockey Interprovincial Championship by beating Ulster at Harlequins Park yesterday but it was Connacht ladies who commanded the spotlight.

MUNSTER ladies will be attempting to end an eight-year wait when the senior hockey inter-provincial tournament is staged at Harlequin Park, Cork, this weekend.