Ciara O'Brien's impressive start to the season for UCD, allied to her earlier performances as Irish under-21 captain, has been rewarded with a call-up to Riet Kuper's 25-strong Irish senior panel which meets at Belfield this weekend.
All 18 of the squad that made it to Milton Keynes for the Olympic Qualifier in March are recalled - however, despite being named on the panel, Loreto's Caitriona O'Kelly has announced that she will be taking a year out from international hockey.
Newcastle University's Jenny McDonough, who plays with Belfast Harlequins when she's home, is the only other newcomer named by Kuper who has recalled Pamela Magill (Pegasus), who played in last year's European finals, and Claire Redpath (Pegasus) and Cathy McKean (Loreto), both of whom won their first caps in Edinburgh last June. Jenny Osborne (Hermes) also returns to the senior set-up after narrowly missing out on selection for the Olympic Qualifier while Pembroke Wanderers goalkeeper Nikki King is back in the senior fold after a brief stint on the panel last season.
After five hectic years of international hockey, O'Kelly has decided to take a break, admitting that the level of commitment required in that spell had taken its toll: "I'm 24. "I've been playing representative hockey since I was 15 and the aches and pains are beginning to catch up on me. I have a back problem and need a chance to get it right but I hope to come back and when I do I'll be even more passionate about my game."
Discussions on replacements for Kuper's assistant coaches Glynis Taylor and Bernie Heffernan and manager Joan Morgan, all of whom retired during the summer, will take place at next month's Irish Hockey Association Council Meeting. By then it is also hoped that Ireland will know, one way or another, whether or not they have won a place in next September's World Cup qualifier in France.
RBAI will be the favourites to win the Boys' Irish Schools Championship at Bangor next week. Kilkenny defend the title but Wesley and St Andrew's are likely to be the strongest southern sides this year.
