HOCKEY: Graham Shaw announces Green Army squad For 4 Nations

Ireland women's hockey side return to competitive action in an invitational 4 Nations Tournament at the Merrion Fleet Arena in Rathdown School from July 30 until August 5.

The Green Machine, ranked 15th in the world, sit below Belgium (12th) but above Scotland (17th) and Chile (22nd), and have won all their most recent encounters with their 3 opponents.

Speaking about the upcoming 4 Nations head coach Graham Shaw said: “We are really looking forward to the 4 Nations in Rathdown.

“It will provide a very high level of competition that the group have worked very hard for.

“We set out to improve certain areas of our play this summer and these games will provide the perfect test”.

Ireland will already have a firm eye on World League 2 in Malaysia in January which will act as the first round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup in London.

Shaw added: “At the end of the summer we will select a training squad that will contest for World League 2 in Malaysia in early 2017.

“We have worked with and watched a lot of players this summer in order to make these decisions and this upcoming 4 Nations is another opportunity.”

Squad: Grace O’Flanagan (GK), Yvonne O’Byrne, Katie Mullan, Shirley McCay, Megan Frazer (Captain), Elena Tice, Naomi Carroll, Gillian Pinder, Anna Whelan, Ayeisha McFerran (GK), Chloe Watkins, Lizzie Colvin, Hannah Matthews, Anna O’Flanagan, Zoe Wilson, Deirdre Duke, Alison Meeke, Rebecca Barry.

Match Schedule

30/7/2016 1pm

Belgium vs Chile

30/7/ 2016 3pm

Ireland vs Scotland

31/7/2016 1pm

Scotland vs Chile

31/7/2016 3pm

Ireland vs Belgium

2/8/2016 5pm

Belgium vs Scotland

2/8/2016 7pm

Chile vs Ireland

3/8/2016 5pm 1st vs 4th

3/8/2016 7pm 2nd vs 3rd

5/8/2016 12pm 3rd vs 4th

5/8/2016 2pm 1st vs 2nd