Cregan set for Institute move

IRISH women’s hockey captain Eimear Cregan is on the verge of a move from Cork Harlequins to Catholic Institute, it emerged yesterday.

The 154-times capped forward left the University of Limerick for Quins four seasons ago and has led the line superbly for the Cork outfit.

However, Cregan is still based in Limerick, while injury problems and international commitments have curtailed her involvement with Quins.

It is understood the formality of her move to Institute will be completed in the coming days, though she will not be available for their Irish Hockey Trophy quarter-final clash at Knock this weekend.

Meanwhile, Irish senior men’s coach Paul Revington has announced a squad of 24 players and seven “peripheral” squad members who he will work with over the next six months.

With Ireland’s next major tournament over a year away, the primary focus will be on strength and conditioning as the panel plays out their club commitments for the remainder of the 2009/10 season.

Revington said: “The breakdown of 24 and seven indicates a squad ranking at present (after 2009) but also a willingness to keep the squad open and competitive for 2010.”

Ireland men’s central panel: D Ames (Cookstown), J Brennan (Glenanne), S Butler (Glenanne), C Cargo (Reading), P Caruth (Annadale), T Cockram (Lisnagarvey), M Darling (Leuven), P Gleghorne (Loughborough), R Gormley (Pembroke), C Harte (Pembroke), D Harte (GK, Pembroke), D Hobbs (Cork Church of Ireland), J Jackson (Loughborough), J Jermyn (Cork Church of Ireland), T Lewis (Pembroke), E Magee (Dragons), M Maguire (Three Rock Rovers), P Maguire (Leuven), G McCabe (Dragons), A McConnell (Pembroke), G Shaw (Glenanne), A Sothern (Pembroke), I Walker (GK, YMCA), M Watt (Dragons).

Peripheral squad: P Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers), A Giles (Pembroke), A Herbert (Cork Church of Ireland), B McCandless (Banbridge), A Pritchard (Pembroke), S Todd (Mossley), G Watkins (Monkstown).