BY LEE MAGINNIS
HOCKEY Ireland have confirmed their U16 and U18 squads to play in The Netherlands and Scotland respectively in July.
The Rise U16 team will play in the 8-Nations tournament in Houten in around a fortnight’s time while the Accelerate U18s take part in the Eurohockey U18 Championship II in Glasgow.
Northern Ireland is highly represented with nine of the 20 U16s from the province. The U18s also have nine from Northern Ireland in a total squad size of eighteen.
A massive congratulation to the players who have navigated a grueling season of club, school and Irish hockey to reach this level.
The U16 Northern Ireland contingent contains four players from Portadown Ladies Hockey Club. Sophie Tate, Lucy Megaw, Maisy Hannah and former Local Women Sport Awards winner, Brianna Gregg.
They are joined by Leah Callaghan, Maggie Scott, Bonnie Connor-Boyd, Alana Thornton (whose sister Emmy is on an athletics scholarship in the USA) and Katie Dolan.
The U18s sees Portadown Ladies Hockey Club captain Katie Herron joined by club mates Evie Girvan (see https://localwomensport.com/special-feature-how-premier-league-hockeys-top-scorer-evie-girvan-is-keeping-up-a-family-sporting-tradition-on-the-goal-trail-with-portadown-ulster-and-ireland/), Schools Cup winner Rebekah Lennon (see https://localwomensport.com/memorable-achievements-that-made-portadowns-rebekah-lennon-our-local-women-sport-hockey-player-of-the-year-and-theres-more-to-come/), and Ruby Johnston.
Other local players on the team are Lola Henderson, Scarlett Taylor, Caitlyn Gribbin, Isla Allen and Erin Pim.
Portadown’s Brianna Gregg (above) and Katie Herron (below)
