Highfield Ladies in this year's 6 Nations Tournament:
Phillip Doyle, head coach of the Irish women's team, has selected 3 Highfield players in his match day 22 ahead of their Six Nation's opener against Wales on Friday night in Ashbourne RFC. Experienced international Laura Guest, retains the no. 6 jersey from last year's campaign and forms part of an experienced back row alongside UL Boh's Joy Neville and Bristol's Claire Molloy.
Highfield newcomer Ali Miller (DS) has been named on the wing and the Laois native will be hoping for plenty of opportunities to display her speed and strength against the Welsh. Heather O'Brien has been unlucky to lose out on the second row spot to Exile Sophie Spence but will no doubt be battling hard to reclaim the jersey that she fought so hard for in last year's Six Nations.
Finally, Highfield out half Helen Brosnan was desperately unlucky to suffer a knee injury in Ireland's final training session last weekend to rule her out of Friday's clash.
Highfield RFC would like to wish Laura, Heather and Alison the very best of luck on Friday night and a speedy recovery to Helen Brosnan.
Ireland v Wales, Friday February 3rd, Ashbourne RFC, KO 7.30PM.
Munster Ladies beat Connacht last Saturday 28 - 18 , Donna Hughes , Chris Fanning, Orla Buckley, Heather O'Brien , Laura Guest, Nicola Scully, Geraldine Rea and Elaine Anthony were in the Munster Squad and Amy O'Callaghan was playing for Connacht. Also Dee Lynch , Amy Desmond and Jenny Brennan tugged out for the Development Team which beat Connacht 13 -0. Well done to everybody.
Why not come and support the Ladies in the Interpro game v Leinster on the 17th of September up at Highfield. Kick-off 2:30pm
Love is in the air for the Highfield Ladies in this off-season with no fewer than three stalwarts of the team beating a path up the aisle. First up is Highfield's very own Will 'n' Kate, when Helen Jones and Johnny Moloney tie the knot before heading away on their travels. Then it's the turn of Helen Brosnan and another former Ladies coach John Canavan, and finally (so far), Karen Casey makes an honest man of Alan Hartigan in early Sept. The timing of all three to avoid pre-season training is entirely coincidental, we are assured.
On the pitch, things have gone well for the ladies team also. 2010-11 saw the Div 1 team finish as league runners up to UL Bohs and lost the Munster Cup by a point to the same opposition. The squad also fielded a development team for some pre-Christmas fixtures and from there some players were unearthed who proved very important for the cup season whilst some of the squad were on 6N duty. Captain Laura Guest, Heather O'Brien and Geraldine Rea all made all of the 6N squads, the latter duo in their first season at international level. Highfield had also had a strong presence at interprovincial level, with 14 players making the initial Munster squad and newcomer Amy O'Callaghan lining out with Connacht. We look forward to a strong Highfield presence again in the Munster women's squad which will be taking part in the interpros through September 2011.
The 2011-2 club season looks to get started very soon with a new, as yet unconfirmed coaching team and a new Manager - Holger Ertz brings his experience and expertise from managing the Men's senior team across and we very much look forward to his input. Although we have (hopefully temporarily) lost Fiona OSullivan and the new Mrs Moloney to travelling and emigration, the squad looks relatively settled otherwise, and some new faces should to maintain the upward momentum of recent years.
Highfield Ladies wish Frank, Fergus, Robert and the senior squad and indeed all Highfield teams the very best of luck for the season ahead.
