HOCKEY:It's already been a memorable week for Amy Stewart, the 15-year-old scoring the winner for Royal School Armagh against Ballyclare High in Wednesday's Ulster Schools' Cup final, before lining out that evening for Armagh in the Senior League. The highlight, though, may yet be to come, with Stewart in line for her first senior international cap in Ireland's three-match series in France over the weekend.
In 2004 Stewart's older sister Emma, now 19, was tentatively hailed as the youngest ever Irish international, although the record books, particularly for the early days of Ireland's international involvement, aren't detailed enough to have confirmed the claim. But it is an unofficial record Amy, who began last year in the under-16 squad, will inherit should coach Gene Muller give her a run against the French.
The Stewarts are joined in the squad by two more Armagh players, Rachel Mulligan and Hannah Bowe. Bowe, an engineering, economics and management student at Oxford University, returns to the Irish set-up after a two-year gap during which she focused on her studies.
Muller omitted most of his more experienced players, including captain Linda Caulfield, from this squad to give the younger crew some senior competitive action, leaving him with one of the most youthful Irish squads ever selected. They play the first of their games against the French today (4pm), with two more matches over the weekend.
Back home, league leaders Loreto effectively put an end to Pembroke Wanderers' challenge on Wednesday night by beating them 1-0 at Beaufort, but Pembroke must regroup and attempt to take three points from Corinthian tomorrow if they are to maintain hope of a top-three finish. Hermes and Old Alexandra have home games against teams from the bottom three, Trinity (who won their first league game of the season against Railway Union on Monday) and Three Rock, so should be able to narrow Loreto's lead.
In Munster Church of Ireland play their final league game of the season, already assured of the runners-up spot to Cork Harlequins.
IRISH SQUAD: H Bowe, R Mulligan, A Stewart, E Stewart (all Armagh), B McKeever (Ballymoney), C Parkhill (Bowdon Hightown), E Harte (Chelmsford), J O'Halloran, C Sargent (both Cork Harlequins), N Symmons (Eintracht Braunschweig), L Healy (Loreto), A Speers (Pegasus), M Goode (Pembroke Wanderers), E Clarke, K Elkin, S McCay (all Randalstown), R Flinn, L Jacob (both UCD).
FIXTURES: Senior internationals (at Chatenay) - Today: France v Ireland, 4.0. Tomorrow: France v Ireland, 3.0. Sunday: France v Ireland, 10.30.
Leinster League - Tomorrow - Division One: Hermes v Trinity, Booterstown, 12.0; Old Alexandra v Three Rock, Milltown, 12.30; Corinthian v Pembroke Wanderers, Whitechurch, 3.15. Division Two: Railway Union II v UCD II, Sandymount, 11.45; Pembroke Wanderers II v Diocesan, Ballsbridge, 12.30; Genesis v Corinthian II, Belfield, 4.0; Loreto II v Glenanne, Beaufort, 5.0.
Munster League - Tomorrow - Division One: Church of Ireland v Ashton, Garryduff, 6.30; Bandon v UCC, Bandon, 3.30.
