Ireland U-18 Sevens Girls Set For UK School Games
The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced the Ireland Under-18 Girls Sevens squad to take part in the 2014 Sainsbury’s UK School Games which will take place in Manchester from September 4-7.
The 12-strong squad were selected after 200 girls, from a wide range of sporting backgrounds including GAA, hockey, athletics, gymnastics, basketball and rugby, attended open screening days held throughout the country in April.
The selected panel of players is coached by Stan McDowell and captained by Jayne Pennefather. Jayne and her team-mates Meabh Donohoe, Irene Herlihy and Shannen Lane were part of the Irish squad which finished fourth in the tournament last year.
Announcing the current squad, McDowell said: “We are delighted to name the squad to take place in the UK School Games in Manchester. Women’s rugby is on a high after great performances by the senior team in recent years and we were very pleased to have had over 200 girls from across the country try out for the squad in early April.
“The UK School Games represents a fantastic opportunity for the 12 girls selected to participate in a multi-sport event featuring 12 different sports with over 1,700 athletes creating an experience they will long remember.”
IRELAND UNDER-18 GIRLS SEVENS Squad (Sainsbury’s UK School Games, Manchester, September 4-7, 2014):
Chloe Blackmore (Carrick-on-Suir/Munster)
Eimear Corri (Portlaoise/Leinster)
Meabh Donohoe (Tullow/Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Irene Herlihy (Mallow/Munster)
Jessica Hunt (Wicklow/Leinster)
Shannen Lane (Cavan/Ulster)
Zoe Lynch (Carrick-on-Suir/Munster)
Meabh O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)
Aisling O’Hagan (Thurles/Munster)
Jayne Pennefather (Carrigaline/Munster) (capt)
Louise Scully (Cill Dara/Leinster)