National Coach Darren Smith has this morning named his squad of 18 who will pull on the green jersey in the upcoming world ranking tournament, Champions Challenge I taking place in Scotland from April 27^th  â€“ May 4^th.

Smith has named his squad after close monitoring of the six back to back weekends of Irish Hockey League with support from selectors Arlene Boyles and Mary Logue. The intensity of the Irish Hockey League over the last six weeks has provided the perfect viewing arena to monitor players and their performances closely before selecting the 18. Smith also utilised key contacts throughout Ireland to track players competing at club level providing valuable insights and information feeding into the selection process. The selection also sees Megan Frazer pulling on the captain’s armband with support from Cliodhna Sargent in the vice captaincy role.

This squad will be facing some challenging competition squaring up against four World Cup teams in Korea, Belgium, South Africa and USA. Spain, India and hosts Scotland make up the remainder of the competition.  Ireland are drawn in pool B alongside USA, South Africa and Spain and are ranked 7^th going into this event with Scotland making up 8^th place.

Commenting on the selection and tournament Smith was looking forward to this Challenge "We have been looking at the talent over the past six months culminating in the completion of the Irish Hockey League over the weekend. Several of the group that won the series against Spain in January are being rewarded with the opportunity to play against India and then Champions Challenge in Glasgow. The tournament in Glasgow is going to be extremely tough with initially pool games against South Africa, Spain and USA before a knock out match to decide placings. The challenge facing us as a young group will be difficult but the team is determined"

"There are some high quality players who are either not available, injured or for this tournament others preferred. We look forward to seeing them back in action at a full training camp in May before the national squad is selected for the summer. Congratulations to Megan Frazer who will captain the team in Glasgow. She was excellent in Spain and is a player who loves the challenges that international hockey brings"

Ireland will also play India in a three test series in UCD (13^th â€“ 18^th April) with just a two player variation from the Champions Challenge I squad with Kate Dillon & Emma Smyth on club duty in Europe giving Chloe Brown and Deirdre Duke the opportunity to compete on the international squad. Smith has also taken the opportunity to name 29 players for a 3 day trial camp at UCD from May 23rd â€“ 25^th (listed below).

Champions Challenge Team - 27 April - 4 May

1. Emily Beatty (UCD)
2. Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute)
3. Nicci Daly (Holcombe HC / Loreto)
4. Kate Dillon (Railway Union)
5. Nikki Evans (UCD)
6. Megan Frazer – Captain (Holcombe HC / Ballymoney)
7. Emma Gray GK (Hermes)
8. Michelle Harvey (Leuven / Pegasus)
9. Shirley McCay (Old Alex)
10. Ayeisha McFerran GK (Randalstown)
11. Ali Meeke (Loreto)
12. Katie Mullan (UCD)
13. Anna O'Flanagan (UCD)
14. Audrey O'Flynn (Hermes)
15. Gillian Pinder (UCD)
16. Cliodhna Sargent - Vice Captain (Cork Harlequins)
17. Emma Smyth (Railway Union)
18. Chloe Watkins (Club de Campo / UCD)

Injured: 
Lizzie Colvin (Anterior Cruciate Ligament)
Lisa Jacob (Broken finger)

Unavailable for Selection:
Nikki Symmons
Alex Speers
Pamela Smithwick
Niamh Small

India Series – 15^th -18^th  April – 3 Matches UCD

1. Emily Beatty (UCD)
2. Chloe Brown  (Ards)
3. Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute)
4. Nicci Daly (Holcombe HC / Loreto)
5. Deirdre Duke (UCD)
6. Nikki Evans (UCD)
7. Megan Frazer – Captain (Holcombe HC / Ballymoney)
8. Emma Gray – GK  (Hermes)
9. Michelle Harvey (Leuven / Pegasus)
10. Shirley McCay (Old Alex)
11. Ayeisha McFerran – GK (Randalstown)
12. Ali Meeke (Loreto)
13. Katie Mullan (UCD)
14. Anna O'Flanagan (UCD)
15. Audrey O'Flynn (Hermes)
16. Gillian Pinder (UCD)
17. Cliodhna Sargent - Vice Captain (Cork Harelquins)
18. Chloe Watkins (Club De Campo / UCD)

India Test Schedule
Tuesday 15^th April            Ireland v India 19.30 (UCD)
Thursday 17^th April           Ireland v India   19.30 (UCD)
Friday 18^th April                 Ireland v India  19.30 (UCD)

CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE 1 SCHEDULE (Scotland)

Sunday 27 April

10:00 Pool B USA v Spain

12:00 Pool B South Africa v Ireland

14:30 Pool A Belgium v Scotland

16:30 Pool A Korea v India

Monday 28 April

14:00 Pool B South Africa v USA

16:00 Pool B Spain v Ireland

19:00 Pool A India v Scotland

21:00 Pool A Belgium v Korea

Wednesday 30 April

09:30 Pool B Spain v South Africa

11:30 Pool B USA v Ireland

14:00 Pool A Korea v Scotland

16:00 Pool A India v Belgium

Thursday 1 May

13:00 Quarter-Final 1st Pool A v 4th Pool B

15:15 Quarter-Final 2nd Pool B v 3rd Pool A

18:00 Quarter-Final 2nd Pool A v 3rd Pool B

20:15 Quarter-Final 1st Pool B v 4th Pool A

Saturday 3 May

09:00 Classfication Match

11:15 Classfication Match

14:00 Semi-Final Winner QF1 v Winner QF2

16.15 Semi-Final Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

Sunday 4 May

10:30 Classfication Match

12:45 Classfication Match

15:30 3rd/4th Place

17:45 Final

Trial Camp 23^rd -25^th  May 

1. Emily Beatty (UCD)
2. Chloe Brown (Ards)
3. Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute)
4. Aine Connery (Hermes)
5. Nicci Daly (Holcombe HC / Loreto)
6. Stella Davis (Pembroke Wanderers)
7. Kate Dillon (Railway Union)
8. Deirdre Duke (UCD)
9. Nikki Evans (UCD)
10. Megan Frazer (Holcombe HC / Loreto)
11. Emma Gray (Hermes)
12. Michelle Harvey (Leuven / Pegasus)
13. Jenna Holmes (Ballymoney / Loughborough Students HC)
14. Kate Lloyd (Railway Union)
15. Shirley McCay (Old Alex)
16. Audrey O'Flynn (Hermes)
17. Hannah Matthews (Loreto)
18. Ali Meeke (Loreto)
19. Katie Mullan (UCD)
20. Yvonne O'Byrne (Cork Harlequins)
21. Anna O'Flanagan  (UCD)
22. Grace O'Flanagan (Railway Union)
23. Gillian Pinder (UCD)
24. Cliodhna Sargent (Cork Harlequins)
25. Niamh Small (Loreto)
26. Pamela Smithwick (Old Alex)
27. Emma Smyth (Railway Union)
28. Alex Speers (Railway Union)
29. Vanessa Surgeoner (Pegasus)

Unavailable 

1. Chloe Watkins - Exams

2. Lisa Jacob - Injured

3. Ayeisha McFerran - Exams