Gaelic Football Ace Caroline Leads Ireland Against Wales In Netball European Open

The Sport Wales National Centre. Formally called The National Sports Centre for Wales. Pic: parkerphotography / Alamy Stock Photo

Caroline O’Hanlon, a star in netball and gaelic football, leads Northern Ireland into their Netball European Open Championship clash with Wales in Cardiff today (6.25pm). Ireland captain O’Hanlon, who has played for Superleague clubs Team Northumberland and Sirens, is also an Armagh ladies gaelic football ace and former All-Ireland player of the year. The sportswoman […]

Caroline O’Hanlon, a star in netball and gaelic football, leads Northern Ireland into their Netball European Open Championship clash with Wales in Cardiff today (6.25pm).

Ireland captain O’Hanlon, who has played for Superleague clubs Team Northumberland and Sirens, is also an Armagh ladies gaelic football ace and former All-Ireland player of the year.

The sportswoman from Bessbrook is a doctor, working as a GP in Newry, and manages to fit in training for two sports and playing both into her hectic life.

A World ranking match between Fiji and Scotland is the first match at the four-day European Open netball event this afternoon (4.25pm), while Wales play Northern Ireland in the second game (6.25pm).

They played each other in the seventh/eighth place play-off at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Northern Ireland winning 58-36.

Nia Jones is in the Wales squad and, like O’Hanlon, is hugely successful in two sports. Jones is a Welsh football and netball international.

Jones says: “Everybody was slightly disappointed to finish eighth in Glasgow when we felt we could have finished sixth or seventh.

“We missed out against Ireland and play them in day one of the European Open.

“The main focus for all of us are the Commonwealth Games next April.

“This is one of the strongest squads I’ve known.

“The trials were unbelievably competitive and some really talented players missed out. That’s a measure of how good this squad is.

“We have a squad of 15 at the moment and nobody could pick a 12, nobody could pick a seven. It’s really competitive and that depth is a luxury we maybe haven’t always had.

“Wales are currently seventh in the World rankings and we are eyeing up a top six place. Malawi and South Africa are the teams ahead of us.”

The Netball European Open Championships involve England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, while Fiji Pearls are also in action at the Sport Wales National Centre.

Fiji play each of the UK teams in World-ranking matches over the four days of the Championships.

Captain Suzy Drane and her Welsh team play four matches over the next four days, while they are in Scotland next January for the Netball World Cup qualifying tournament.

Welsh team: Suzy Drane (capt), Kelly Morgan (vice-captain), Georgia Rowe, Chelsea Lewis, Eleanor Roberts, Sarah Llewelyn, Cara Lea Moseley, Kyra Jones, Clare Jones, Bethan Dyke, Amanda Varey, Nia Jones, Leila Thomas, Christina Shaw, Fern Davies.

Wales management team: Trish Wilcox, Head Coach; Melanie Tuckwell, Assistant Coach; Donna Crossman, Team Manager; Clare Ursell, Team Physio.

Netball European Open Championships, fixtures:

Thursday, 5 October

4.25pm-6pm Fiji v Scotland

6.25pm-8pm Wales v Northern Ireland

Friday, 6 October

11.55pm-1.30pm England v Scotland

5.55pm-7.30pm Fiji v Wales

7.55pm-9.30pm England v Northern Ireland

Saturday, 7 October

10.25am-Noon Fiji v Northern Ireland

3.55pm-5.30pm Wales v Scotland