New Ireland skipper Speers targets Olympic dream

ALEX SPEERS has set her sights on becoming the first skipper to lead the Irish women’s hockey team to the Olympics, after she was named as the senior side’s new captain this week.

The Banbridge native, currently playing her club hockey with Dublin’s Railway Union, replaces EimearCregan following her recent international retirement.

Fellow Ulster woman, Emma Clarke — currently with English Premiership side Leicester — will take on the role of vice-captain, again replacing another to recently bow out at the top level, Bridget Cleland. At just 23, the selection of Speers as skipper reflects the overall youth of the current national panel — only three of the squad are over 25. But with 84 caps to her name, the ex-Pegasus girl — who filled the post on an interim basis last summer against Belgium — already has the requisite experience.