Ireland's National Women's Hockey Team are German bound to compete in a double header against the World Number 3's in a series that has been scheduled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the German Hockey Federation.
Irish coach Gene Muller has announced a squad of 16 players selected to compete in the series, taking place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May in Nurnberg, Germany. The selection sees a mixture of both experienced internationals peppered with some newer faces in the line up. Stalwarts such as Cregan, Symmons, McKean, Healy, McKeever and O'Brien, who returns to the squad after missing the Easter series, have all been included while this series will give some up and coming talents the chance to make an impression such as Harvey, Barr and Smyth.
Commenting on the series, which will see the squad together with all thoughts of club hockey behind them as they focus towards a busy Summer ahead culminating into the EuroHockey Nations Championship at the end of August, Muller clearly had August at the forefront of his mind ÔÇ£This will be a stern test for us against the world's 3rd ranked team. Germany is in our pool at the EuroHockey Nations Championships in August, so it will be good to see how we fare with a block of preparation left until the championships.ÔÇØ
Team Ireland: Lauren Barr, Bridget (McKeever) Cleland, Emma Clarke, Eimear Cregan, Roisin Flinn, Emma Gray, Michelle Harvey, Louisa Healy, Lisa Jacob, Cathy McKean, Rachel Mulligan, Ciara O'Brien, Emma Smyth, Emma Stewart, Niamh Small, Nikki Symmons.
Source: Irish Hockey Association
