Ireland complete their build-up to the European Nations Cup women's finals (which get under way in Cologne in a fortnight's time) at Belfield this weekend with two games against France.
Having found their scoring touch in spectacular style in recent weeks (they've netted 19 goals in their last six games) confidence levels are now sufficiently high to ensure the Irish players are looking forward to the challenge of a daunting pool campaign (against Germany, Spain, England, the Ukraine and the Czech Republic) with relish rather than trepidation.
"We feel we can give anyone a game now, especially after the way we've played recently, not least against Holland," said goalkeeper Tara Browne, in reference to a superb display a fortnight ago against the reigning European champions, who were flattered by a 3-1 winning scoreline. Coach Riet Kuper, who has a fully-fit squad to select from, will be looking for two more morale-boosting displays before the squad departs for Germany.
Ireland beat France 5-0 when they last met (at Belfield in May of last year) but the French guaranteed themselves a kinder draw for Cologne when they won the qualifier in Helsinki last summer, while Ireland had to settle for third place.
IRELAND (from): T Browne, S Hutchinson, A Thompson, P Magill, L Caulfield, K Humphreys, C O'Kelly, D Sixsmith, M Logue (capt), S Kelleher, R Kohler, C Carey, L McVicker, C McMahon, J Burke, K Mills, K O'Brien, J Orbinson.
Tomorrow: Ireland v France, 3.30. Sunday: Ireland v France, 1.0.
For the first time in championship hockey, Ireland will travel with 18 players to the men's European Nations Cup in Padova next month. Under new regulations (to cover injury or illness) squads have been increased from 16 to 18, but for each match only 16 players can be nominated.
Stephen Butler and Mark Raphael complete a provisional squad of 18 which set off yesterday for a nine-day training stint in France and Belgium. The trip will include two full internationals against each of the host countries. This will be the ultimate preparation for Padova (September 1st12th) with coach John Clarke due to confirm his final selection on August 18th. Daniel Clarke and David Smyth have been ruled out because of injury, but Francis de Rosa is back in training and is bound to be on the stand-by list.
IRELAND (tour squad) - I Bateman, N Henderson, J Black, P Brown, S Butler, N Buttimer, A Dowd, A Dunne, G Goulet, C Hanna, C Jackson, E Lutton, D McAnulty, M Raphael, I Steen, J Stevenson, R Taylor, L Tumilty.
