Ireland to tune up with three-game series in Glasgow

There’s a busy spell ahead for the Irish senior squad, 18 of the players are in EY Hockey League action for their clubs on Saturday before heading to Glasgow for a three-match series against Scotland as part of their build-up to January’s World League in Kuala Lumpur.

They play their hosts on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The build-up began with two defeats in Belgium last month which came after the news that captain Megan Frazer will be out of action for several months having suffered knee ligament damage while training with her German club Mannheimer. The Derry woman was due to have surgery this week and is expected to take six to nine months to recover.

The Hockey League, meanwhile, resumes on Saturday after a month-long break during which the players turned their attention to international, Irish Senior Cup and interprovincial matters.

Cork Harlequins, who are at home to Belfast Harlequins, and Hermes-Monkstown, who make the short trip to Railway Union, will look to extend their perfect records from their opening four games.

Third-placed UCD take on a Pembroke Wanderers side yet to pick up a point.

Pegasus, four points adrift of the students, host Loreto at Queen’s, while bottom four sides Ulsters Elks and Ards meet at Jordanstown.

Irish squad for series against Scotland:

Y O’Byrne, R Barry, C Sargent (all Cork Harlequins), E Tice, G Pinder, K Mullan, E Russell, C Cassin (all UCD), E Curran, C Watkins, N Evans (all Hermes-Monkstown), J McGirr, A Meeke, H Matthews (all Loreto), G O’Flanagan (Railway Union), C Brown (Ards), S McCay (Ulster Elks), N Daly (Muckross), Z Wilson (Harvestehuder), E Beatty (Dragons), S Loughran (Munchner), R Maguire (Pegasus), J McMaster (Queen’s).

Hockey League Saturday:

Cork Harlequins v Belfast Harlequins, Farmers Cross, 1.0;

Pegasus v Loreto, Queens, 1.0;

Railway Union v Hermes-Monkstown, Park Avenue, 2.15;

Ulster Elks v Ards, Jordanstown, 2.30;

Pembroke Wanderers v UCD, Serpentine Avenue, 4.0.