Teenage hockey starlet named in Irish squad

TEENAGE hockey sensation Emma Stewart has been named in the final Irish squad for the European Championships in Dublin in less than two weeks time.

National coach Riet Kuper has made her final selection for the European Nations Championship in UCD from August 14 to 20 and given her recent strong performances in the Irish side which won the Celtic Cup, it was no real surprise that the 17-year-old from Armagh was included.

Stewart will join a strong Ulster contingent in the 18-strong squad, along with captain Lyndsay McVicar, Jill Orbinson, Angela Platt, Bridgit McKeever, Jenny McDonough, Clare Parkhill and Katherine Smyth.

Leinster also have an eight-strong representation, four of whom come from the Irish club champions Hermes, while Munster only have two.

Perhaps the most contentious selection made by Kuper involved the choice of Mary Goode and Angela Platt as the two goalkeepers. This means that the highly rated Louisa Healy missed the final cut.

In final preparation for the Europeans, Ireland will play two test matches against Belgium this weekend. The first match is on Saturday, August 6, at 3.30pm in UCD and the second the following day at noon at the same venue.

IRELAND: Mary Goode (Pembroke Wanderers), Angela Platt (Ballymoney), Fiona Connery (Hermes), Linda Caulfield (Hermes), Eimear Cregan (UL), Catriona Carey (Hermes), Bridget McKeever (Ballymoney), Jenny Burke (V.Capt, Hermes), Jenny McDonough (Belfast Harlequins), Cathy McKean (Loreto), Emma Stewart (Armagh), Lynsey McVicker (Capt., Ballymoney), Ciara O’Brien (Railway Union), Jill Orbinson (Pegasus), Nikki Symmons (Loreto), Deirdre Casey (Cork Church of Ireland), Katherine Smyth (Pegasus), Clare Parkhill (Randalstown). Coach: Riet Kuper. Team Manager: Julie Dwyer.

European Championship Schedule

Saturday August 13: 18.00, Opening Ceremony.

Sunday August 14: 12.00, Germany v Scotland (Pool B); 14.00, England v Ukraine (Pool B); 16.00, Netherlands v Spain (Pool A); 18.00, Ireland v France (Pool A).

Monday August 15: 16.00, Scotland v England (Pool B); 18.00, Germany v Ukraine (Pool B).

Tuesday August 16: 17.00, Netherlands v France (Pool A); 19.00, Ireland v Spain (Pool A).

Wednesday August 17: 13.00, Scotland v Ukraine (Pool B); 15.00, England v Germany (Pool B); 17.00, Spain v France (Pool A); 19.00, Netherlands v Ireland (Pool A).

Thursday August 18: Rest day.

Friday August 19: 09.30, 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B; 12.00, 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A; 14.30, 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B; 17.00, 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A.

Saturday August 20: 10.00, 7th Place v 8th Place; 12.30, 5th Place v 6th Place; 15.00, 3rd Place v 4th Place; 17.30, 1st Place v 2nd Place.