Ireland Snr. Women Head Coach Mark Delahunty has named a 14-strong squad for this weekend’s Small Countries Association Championships in Luxembourg.
The Dubliner has selected eight players aged under 20, with a quintuplet of Newbridge teenagers, as well as experience in UCD duo Regina Halpin and captain Emily Frazell. This is also a call up for Net Force Cork’s All Star nominee Sylwia Gomes.
Delahunty is excited about the challenge ahead, “Luxembourg has become a home-from-home for us at this stage and to go there again for the SCA tournament is really exciting. The fact that the majority of the girls have all been there before and played in that amphitheatre will hopefully help us settle and just go out and play. We’ll be up against some new challenges and old frenemies, so it will be interesting to see our progression over the last 6 months to a year.”
Ireland will face Luxembourg in the showpiece game on Friday evening (7pm Irish time) before an early start against Malta (10am Friday). Results of those matches will mean either a Semi Final or a 5th place playoff Sunday. Iceland, Scotland and Northern Ireland make up pool B.
Delahunty added, “Whatever happens I am proud of the group, and how they’ve come together and supported each other. We just need to believe and execute our processes. Perhaps we’ll surprise a few people. Great venue, great organisation and great volleyball await.”
You can still support Ireland’s fundraising campaign here > https://gofund.me/c0fa41c2
1 raffle entry will be awarded for every 25EUR donated. There are some great prizes including hotel vouchers, a Jameson Experience tour and a €350 Robovac G30 Hybrid vacum and mop kindly donated by Rory at www.microwarehouse.ie
The Team:
Emily Frazell, UCD
Regina Halpin, UCD
TJ Sweeney, Munster Thunder
Maria Jones, Munster Thunder
Ciara Lowe, Newbridge
Sophie Quinlivan-Nolan, Newbridge
Emma Byrne, Newbridge
Eimear Byrne, Newbridge
Jess Dowling, Newbridge
Carly Donaghy, Santry
Sylwia Gomes, Net Force Cork
Grace Moloney, Naas
Caitriona ni Riordain, Munster Thunder
Roisin Roantree, Aztecs
Mark Delahunty, Head Coach
Edyta Jozwiak-McMullan, Assist. Coach
Patricia Somers, Team Manager
Cillian Braken-Conway, Statistician
Laura Power, Physio
