King set to call up Stokes

Rep of Ireland v Scotland:  Kilmarnock's Becky Stokes could make her international debut this evening at Richmond Park where the Irish women's international team take on Scotland in a game that will go a long way towards deciding third place in their World Cup qualifying group table.

The Irish side are currently level on points with the Scots on four points, five behind Germany and Russia and one ahead of Switzerland, who were defeated by both of this evening's sides in recent weeks.

When the two teams met in Scotland, Noel King's side earned a valuable draw but, he says, if they want to make that result count for anything "we have to beat them at home".

"Our objective at the start of the campaign was to avoid finishing bottom of the table," says King, "and a win on Saturday would virtually guarantee us that."

It would also mark another step forward in the development of a young squad that, he believes, possesses a good deal of potential for the future.

Ireland will be without highly-rated striker Laura Hislop for the game as the Franklin Pierce College student is busy with exams in the United States.

Her absence, however, may open the door to Stokes who, despite having been with the squad on a couple of previous occasions, has never managed to get onto the pitch.

"She's extremely quick and has an eye for goal," says King. "It's good that we can call somebody like her up because this really is a vital game for us."

A place in the starting line-up may still prove elusive for Stokes but the striker has a good chance of getting her first taste of senior international action at this level before the night is out.

King is boosted by the return from injury of current FAI Player of the Year, Michelle O'Brien, while the squad also includes Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant, the Arsenal pair who both featured in last weekend's English FA Cup final 5-0 win over Leeds United.

The Irish face a tough conclusion to the season after this evening's game with an away game against world champions Germany to come next Wednesday followed on June 17th by Russia's visit to Dublin.

Sport Against Racism in Ireland has announced that former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr will be the quizmaster at a fundraising pub quiz the organisation is hosting at the Vaults bar (under Connolly Station in Dublin) on the evening of May 16th.

Further details are available on 01-6054700.