Limerick-based players in Clovers team for Celtic Challenge opener

THE two Irish sides have been announced ahead of the first round of the Celtic Challenge competition.

The first round will see a derby between the Irish sides, the Clovers and the Wolfhounds, in Musgrave Park, this Friday, December 29, kicking off at 4pm.

Head Coaches Denis Fogarty and Neil Alcorn named their Match Day Squads, for Friday’s first round of the Celtic Challenge in Musgrave Park. The game can be watched live on RugbyPass TV.

The Celtic Challenge returns for the second year with an expanded format. The competition is being boosted from three to six teams across Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Fogarty and Alcorn have selected a mix of new and experienced players for the first round match on Friday, with Dorothy Wall (Clovers) and Hannah O’Connor (Wolfhounds) selected as captains for the first match day.

The match is also available to stream for free on RugbyPass TV.

Clovers Team (v Wolfhounds, Musgrave Park, Friday, December 29, 4pm)

15. Aoife Corey (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Alana McInerney (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13. Michelle O’Driscoll (Ballincollig/Munster)
12. Kayla Waldron (Railway Union/Connacht)
11. Clare Gorman (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
10. Méabh Deely (Blackrock/Connacht)
9. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster)

1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
2. Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster)
4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock/Munster) – CAPTAIN
6. Brianna Heylmann (UL Bohemians/Munster)
7. Faith Oviawe (Railway Union/Connacht)
8. Shannon Touhey (Tullamore/Connacht)

Replacements:
16. Lily Brady (UL Bohemians/Connacht)
17. Roisin Ormand (Ballincollig/Munster)
18 Elis Cahill (UL Bohemians/Munster)
19. Claire Bennett (UL Bohemians/Munster)
20. Eva McCormack (UL Bohemians/Connacht)
21. Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)
22. Kate Flannery (UL Bohemians/Munster)
23. Clara Barrett (UL Bohemians/Connacht)

Wolfhounds Team (v Clovers Musgrave Park, Friday, December 29, 4pm

15. Natasja Behan (Blackrock/Leinster)
14. Aimee Clarke (Railway Union/Leinster)
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
12. Leah Tarpey (Railway Union/Leinster)
11. Niamh Marley (Dungannon/Cooke/Ulster)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Erin McConnell (Wicklow/Leinster)

1. Linda Djoungang (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
2. Sarah Delaney (Blackrock/Leinster)
3. Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen/Railway Union/Ulster)
4. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere/Ulster)
5. Keelin Brady (Railway Union/Ulster)
6. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock/Leinster) – CAPTAIN
7. Aoife Wafer (Blackrock/Leinster)
8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster)

Replacements:
16. Meabh Clenaghan (Queens University/Ulster)
17. Hannah Wilson (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
18. Isobel Clerk (Railway Union/Leinster)
19. Eimear Corri (Blackrock/Leinster)
20. Eadaoin Murtagh (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
21. Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Leinster)
23. Ella Durken (Blackrock/Ulster)