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.

“It is an honour to represent your country but it is the ultimate honour to captain your country and I am very proud to be given this opportunity,” she said.

“I am confident the squad will continue to apply themselves and be in the best position possible to achieve our goal; participation at the Olympic Games in 2012.”

Meanwhile, Cork Harlequins will hope for some distraction from their domestic woes when they travel to UCD in the ESB Irish Senior Cup quarter-final at Belfield today (1pm). Quins’ 2-0 loss to UCC last weekend has left them 11 points off the pace set by Catholic Institute in Munster, and though they have a game in hand, a miracle is required for their 15-year stranglehold to continue. Today they can revel in the underdog tag, however; it suited them well in shocking Ards 1-0 in the last round.

Elsewhere in the last eight, Old Alex host Ballymoney while there’s a heavyweight clash in one of two second-round back games, with Pegasus and Loreto — who have shared six of the last 10 titles — squaring off at Queens. Ulster Elks meet Armagh in the other tie. Ashton will duel it out with Clontarf at Mount Temple for a place in the last eight of the Irish Trophy, while domestically, Bandon are the latest side to bid to become the first to take points off Catholic Institute. Belvedere’s visit to UL is a vital one, as the Ballincollig outfit must win to keep their relegation fate in their own hands.

Meanwhile, Munster Senior Cup semi-final action dominates the men’s agenda, with UCC’s meeting with Bandon in west Cork (2pm) having all the hallmarks of a revenge clash.

Bandon beat the students 3-2 earlier this term to all but end their Irish Hockey League qualification hopes, and College — fresh from two epic wins on the road in the Irish Trophy — will want to lay down a marker for next term, as well as giving themselves a place in the Patrick’s Day showpiece.

The identity of their opponents is still unknown after Cork C of I’s clash with Cork Harlequins late on Thursday night was postponed due to fog. The duo’s second string outfits meet in the league today at Harlequin Park.