Squad for US pass stringent new tests

A work ethic has been rewarded this weekend when the Irish women's team take off for a 10-day tour to America on Sunday. Following a summer dedicated to elevating the fitness levels of the Irish squad, the players, who will face into seven tour matches, are those who have followed coach Gerry Fitzpatrick's training regime and passed the new fitness tests which will now become de rigueur for any future inclusion in Irish squads.

Selection for the squad was determined by physical ability rather than the technical skills of the game, although, clearly the players are also abundantly equipped in that department.

All the 12 squad members had to firstly pass stringent tests before being considered for selection, thus pointing the way to future selection criteria.

Next May's European Championship qualifier may well draw from a different set of players but Fitzpatrick has certainly made a point to those who aspire to the highest level of the game.

Five of the players who won the Four Countries tournament last April, the first time Ireland had done so in 12 years, will not travel on the US Tour.

Obviously Fitzpatrick aimed high and demanded a certain commitment, with only 14 players from an original squad of 28 sitting a follow-up test in August to the original one conducted at the National Coaching and Technical Centre, Limerick, in May.

More positively the tour gives the coaches an important opportunity to assess what is now at their disposal.

The team clearly lacks height with both Eimear Brophy and Suzanne Maguire, the two tallest players, both resident in the US over the summer and thus ruled out.

The squad contains two post players, two forwards and a total of seven guards.

"We only want people who are committed," said Fitzpatrick, who lectures in Sports Psychology at WIT. "If you are in a tournament and you are being pushed to the limit, it's the people who put the work in you want to work with you.

"If we hear of players interested in the programme, we will organise tests for them wherever they are. But we have to get rid of this climate which has existed in the past, where if players thought they were good enough they expected to be invited to training. This just will not happen now."

The first round of the men's Sprite Cup also kicks off with eight games scheduled. Old local rivalries will be revived as Blue Demons meet the seeded Neptune for the first time in five years.

Already 1,000 tickets have been sold for the match in Neptune stadium where the home team have lost only one game in the Superleague all season and that by just one point.

Al Boller will be back for Dungannon who hope to end Waterford Crystal's unbeaten run. Dungannon have gone out in round one for the last two years and again must face the considerable strengths of Roscoe Patterson and Eric Blair on a game average of 27 and 24 points respectively.

Defending champions Notre Dame face UCD Marian, bringing Randal Mounts up against his old team-mates tomorrow. Mounts joined Marian two weeks ago and was top scorer on 24 points last weekend. Notre Dame have been struggling recently narrowly beating Killester and losing in extra time to Blue Demons last weekend.

Anthony Jenkins, however, is back on form scoring over 70 points in his last two outings.