Gary Shaw opts for young squad for January trip to Spain

As they prepare themselves for the penultimate round of Hockey League matches before Christmas, 16 of the 26 players named in the latest Irish senior panel will have a warm weather trip to Valencia to look forward to in January.

Coach Graham Shaw named his squad this week for the training camp that will also include five matches against hosts Spain. The average age of the group just 23, with four USA-based players included – Syracuse University's Emma Russell and Zoe Wilson, fresh from helping their college to the United States' national title, Roisin Upton of the University of Connecticut and Ayeisha McFerran of the University of Louisville

UCD, once again, have the highest number of representatives in the squad. For now their focus will be on their Hockey League game against Ards on Sunday, both sides in the bottom four of the table and in serious need of a win to further their top-four aims.

Hermes will attempt to make it nine wins out of nine when they take on UCC at the Mardyke, while second-placed Railway Union will look to maintain their challenge when they play Pembroke.

Ulster Elks, in third but with a game in hand, meet Pegasus, while Cork Harlequins, tied for fourth in the table, face bottom club Greenfields.

Irish Squad: K Lloyd, K Mullan, E Beatty, G Pinder, D Duke (all UCD), H Mulcahy, H Matthews, A Meeke, E Tice (all Loreto), A O'Flanagan, C Watkins, N Evans, N Carroll (all Hermes), S McCay, M Frazer, G Frazer (all Ulster Elks), C Brown, K McDonald (both Ards), S Davis (Pembroke Wanderers), Y O'Byrne (Cork Harlequins), P Smithwick (Old Alexandra), N Daly (Muckross), Z Wilson (Randalstown/Syracuse University), E Russell Old Alexandra/Syracuse University), R Upton (Catholic Institute/University of Connecticut), A McFerran (Pegasus/ University of Louisville).

Hockey League: Tomorrow: UCC v Hermes, 2.0; Cork Harlequins v Greenfields, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Railway Union, 2.30; Ulster Elks v Pegasus. Sunday: UCD v Ards, 1.45