Coach Mark Scannell answers Ireland call

Mark Scannell has been appointed head coach of the Ireland senior women’s side after six years out of international competition for the national side.

The Cork man was at the helm when Ireland were last active in 2009 and will oversee participation in the European Championship for Small Countries in 2016.

He described it yesterday as a “massive honour”, adding: “We were in a good place before the programme was stood down and this competition is the right starting point on the road back.”