ULSTER U18 GIRLS SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Ulster Hockey is delighted to confirm the Under 18 female squad for 2021-22.

A group of players have been training towards this selection since early summer and all the players who have made it onto the panel should be congratulated for their commitment and resilience after a difficult 18 months due to Covid restrictions.

Following discussions and consultations over the last number of months the format for the Interprovincial competitions has been revised and matches will take place throughout the season with a finals day for each age group in 2022.

Further details around match times and Ulster’s hosting venue will be confirmed in due course.

Ulster U18 girls fixtures:

Sunday 14^th November Ulster v Connacht (Three Rock Rovers)

Sunday 12^th December Ulster v Leinster South (Three Rock Rovers)

Sunday 16^th January Ulster v Leinster (Ulster)

Sunday 6^th February Ulster v Munster (Three Rock Rovers)

Sunday 3^rd April Finals Day

Note:

• 18 players will be selected from the panel for each Interpro game
• The same 18 players may not play every game
• Some players may not be selected for an Interpro game.
• Development games will also take place through the season.

Ulster U18 girls Co-Head Coach Suzanne Evans:

‘We are delighted to announce this very talented group of Ulster U18 players. We are looking forward to the new format of Interpros where we will get the opportunity to develop them both technically and tactically allowing us to improve on their performances over a longer period of time.’

Ulster Talent Coach Shirley McCay:

‘I am delighted to see our U18 girls panel confirmed after a period of development sessions since the middle of June. A lot of these girls have been through a rigorous process of selection and it’s particularly pleasing to see some girls who are new to our representative panels, joining some who are going into their fourth year of Ulster programmes. I am also delighted that we have 30 girls in the panel, with over half of these players with another year at U18 age group in 2022-23. We have quality and depth in this group, and it certainly bodes well for the future of our underage programmes. The new structure of the interpros means that we can select from a larger panel and the same squad does not have to play in every game. I am looking forward to the coming months and wish all the players and staff the best of luck.’

Manager: Sarah Craig

Co Head Coaches: Suzanne Evans and Caroline Adams

Assistant Coaches: Kerry Magee, Frankie Brown

Goalkeeper Coach: Naomi McKnight