Player Profiles
Zoe Wilson
Name: Zoe Wilson
Position: Defender
School: Ballyclare High School
Club: Randalstown
1st Cap: Jan 2016- Spain
Favourite sporting moment to date: World Cup final 2020
Age started playing hockey: 12
Who has had the most influence on your career: My family who have been so supportive throughout
Best advice you received from a coach: Back Yourself
Advice to young hockey players: Take every opportunity that you get as you might only get that opportunity once.
Instagram: @zoe.wilson97
Twitter: @zoe_wilson97
Sarah Hawkshaw
Name: Sarah Hawkshaw
Position: Midfield/Forward
Club: Railway Union
School: Mount Sackville Secondary School
1st Cap: January 2019 vs Chile
Favourite sporting moment to date: Olympic Qualifier in Donnybrook
Age started playing hockey: 12
Who has had the most influence on your career: Family
Best advice you received from a coach: Enjoy your hockey and you will perform well.
Advice to young hockey players: Make the most of any opportunities that you are given, and enjoy the process of reaching for a goal.
Instagram: @sarahhawkshaw95
Twitter: @sarahhawkshaw
Roisin Upton
Name: Roisin Upton
Position: Midfield
School: Crescent College Comprehensive
Club: Catholic Institute
1st Cap: Scotland November 2016
Favourite sporting moment to date: Walking out to play in the WC Final in London. Running around the pitch after qualifiers celebrating with everyone.
Age started playing hockey: 12
Who has had the most influence on your career: My parents and brothers
Best advice you received from a coach: Remember why you’re doing something & who you’re doing it for
Advice to young hockey players: Enjoy yourself. Set goals & keep learning – there’s no end to improving. Take every opportunity that comes your way.
Instagram: @roisinupton
Twitter: @roisinupton
Nikki Evans
Name: Nikki Evans
Position: Forward
School: Alexandra College, Dublin
Club: Old Alex
1st Cap: First cap vs Australia, 4 Nations Tournament, Germany June 2010
Favourite sporting moment to date: London 2018 – Playing in the World Cup Final in 2018. A dream come true.
Age started playing hockey: 12
Who has had the most influence on your career: My family
Best advice you received from a coach: Hard work always beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard enough.
Advice to young hockey players: Believe that anything is possible. If you want something, go get it. There are no barriers, there are no excuses. Never give up and keep chasing your dreams.
Instagram: @nikkilevans
Twitter: @nikkilevans
Megan Frazer
Name: Megan Frazer
School: Foyle and Londonderry College
Club: Belfast Harlequins
1st Cap: At the 2007 Celtic Cup in Cork against France I think
Favourite sporting moment to date: Hard to pick one- winning the National Championship in USA and scoring the winner in double overtime, winning the schools cup, winning silver in Champions Challenge 2014 and silver in World Cup 2018
Age started playing hockey: 11 as a goalkeeper, 12 as an outfielder
Who has had the most influence on your career: Parents
Best advice you received from a coach: “No one makes a mistake on purpose, I even made a mistake once” – Graham Quincy circa 2007
Advice to young hockey players: Play to YOUR strength, attack the space, go for it what’s the worst that can happen
Instagram: @Mfrazer11
Twitter: @mfrazer15
Elizabeth Murphy
Name: Elizabeth Murphy
Position: Goalkeeper
School: St Kilians German School
Club: Loreto HC
1st Cap: 2017 vs Scotland
Favourite sporting moment to date: Qualifying for the Olympics
Age started playing hockey: 10
Who has had the most influence on your career: My Family
Best advice you received from a coach: Enjoy the challenge of the day whatever it may be – Tom Parsons my school hockey coach
Advice to young hockey players: Enjoy the journey
Instagram: @lizzy_murphy2898
Twitter: @Lissibissi2898
Elena Tice
Name: Elena Tice
Position: Defender
School: St.Gerards School
1st Cap: 3rd November 2016 against Scotland
Career High: Getting my first international cap and winning the Leinster Schools Cup with Gerards for the first time ever.
Age they began playing at: 9
Advice to young hockey players: Be the person who works harder than everyone else.
Twitter Handle: @lenatice
Katie Mullan
Name: Katie Mullan
Position: Midfield/Forward
School: Dalriada
Club: Ballymoney
1st Cap: August 2012 Vs Wales
Favourite sporting moment to date: Qualifying for Tokyo in Donnybrook
Age started playing hockey: 8
Who has had the most influence on your career: Bridget McKeever
Best advice you received from a coach: Play every game with no regrets.
Advice to young hockey players: Don’t give up on your dreams. Each setback helps prepare you for the next success.
Instagram: @katiemullan1
Twitter: @katiemullan11
Deirdre Duke
Name: Deirdre Duke
Position: Forward
Club: Old Alex HC
School: Alexandra College
1st Cap: June 2013 v Scotland
Favourite sporting moment to date: 2018 World Cup in London – every minute of it
Age started playing hockey: 10
Who has had the most influence on your career: My parents – they’ve always supported me through the highs & lows. They’re also not afraid to give me honest (!) feedback on how I’ve played
Best advice you received from a coach: Just back yourself
Advice to young hockey players: Work hard, have fun & don’t take no for an answer!
Instagram: @deirdre_duke28
Twitter: @deirdreduke28
Chloe Watkins
Name: Chloe Watkins
Position: Midfield
School: St. Andrews
Club: Monkstown
1st Cap: 25th July 2010 vs Scotland
Favourite sporting moment to date: Qualifying for Tokyo Olympics in front of a home crowd
Age started playing hockey: 7
Who has had the most influence on your career: My family
Best advice you received from a coach: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take
Advice to young hockey players: Watch top-level hockey whenever you can, you can learn a lot from watching the game being played at a high level.
Instagram: @Clowatkins
Twitter: @Clowatkins
Bethany Barr
Name: Beth Barr
Position: Defence
Club: Belfast Harlequins
School: Lurgan College
1st Cap: January 2019 in Santiago Chile against Chile
Favourite sporting moment to date: Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics with a home crowd in Donnybrook – amazing atmosphere. As well as winning the Kate Russell with school alongside my two sisters.
Age started playing hockey: 5
Who has had the most influence on your career: Definitely my family who have supported me the whole way along, even travelling out to America to watch me and my sister’s play hockey out there when we were studying over there for four years
Best advice you received from a coach: Don’t settle for just being on a team, aim to make an impact on that team and every practice try to make your teammates better – train harder than any opposition you will play so that your teammates are prepared for every game
Advice to young hockey players: Believe in yourself and always try new things. Don’t let mistakes define you but pick yourself up and learn from them! But most of all enjoy it because that is why you are playing hockey after all
Instagram: @bethanybarr12
Serena Barr
Name: Serena Barr
Position: Defence
School: Lurgan College
Club: Belfast Harlequins
1st Cap: January 2019 in Santiago Chile against Chile
Favourite sporting moment to date: Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in Donnybrook in front of a huge home crowd.
Age they began playing at: 5
Who has had the most influence on your career: My sisters who I have played with throughout my hockey career and my family who have supported me in every step of my career.
Best advice you received from a coach: To not feel sorry for myself. If I get stuck feeling sorry for myself I’ll never pick myself back up and move on. Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone will suffer set backs. It’s our response to them that defines us.
Advice to young hockey players: Don’t let disappointments or setbacks deter you, instead see them as opportunities to grow and improve. Let those times shape you and define you as a player into a stronger more robust individual. This will stand you in good stead on and off the pitch.
Instagram: @serenabarr9
Twitter: @SerenaBarr_RD
Ayeisha McFerran
Name: Ayeisha McFerran
Position: GK
Club: SV Kampong
School: Larne Grammar School
1st Cap: January 11, 2016, Spain
Favourite sporting moment to date: World Cup Silver, London World Cup 2018
Age started playing hockey: 8
Who has had the most influence on your career: Arlene Boyles or Nigel Henderson
Advice to young hockey players: Know why you’re doing it & have fun at the same time!
Insta: @ayeisha96
Twitter: @Ayeeishaa
Naomi Carroll
Name: Naomi Carroll
Position: Forward
School: St Patrick’s Comprehensive School Shannon
Club: Catholic Institute
1st Cap: 2012 V Wales
Favourite sporting moment to date: 100th cap for Ireland
Age started playing hockey: 14
Who has had the most influence on your career: My mom Margaret
Best advice you received from a coach: Don’t overthink it just enjoy it.
Advice to young hockey players: Work hard and enjoy every moment.
Instagram: @naomicarroll13
Twitter: @NaomiCarroll13
Anna O’Flanagan
Name: Anna O’Flanagan
Position: Forward
Club: Muckross HC
School: Muckross Park College
1st Cap: July 2010 v Scotland
Favourite sporting moment to date: Qualifying for the Olympic Games
Age started playing hockey: 10
Best advice you received from a coach: Good things happen to those who work hard
Advice to young hockey players: Have fun and enjoy time with your friends
Instagram: @annaoflanagan
Twitter: @AnnaOF
Sarah Torrans
Name: Sarah Torrans
Position: Forward
School: Loreto College, St. Stephens Green
Club: Loreto
1st Cap: October 2017 vs Scotland, Belfast
Favourite sporting moment to date: Receiving my 1st cap and captaining the Irish U18s
Age started playing hockey: 7
Who has had the most influence on your career: The players that I play with every week at club and Irish training continue to inspire me every day. Their dedication and resilient work ethic pushes me to be the best player I can be
Best advice you received from a coach: Play in the moment, don’t look back on the mistakes
Advice to young hockey players: Do everything you do to the best of your ability with a smile on your face
Instagram: @sarah_torrans
Twitter: @sarah_torrans
Zara Malseed
Name: Zara Malseed
Position: Forward
School: Sullivan Upper
Club: Ards Ladies
Favourite sporting moment to date: Winning the schools cup in my final year of school
Age started playing hockey: 11
Who has had the most influence on your career: My Parents
Best advice you received from a coach: Only play to enjoy it, don’t play for any other reason. When you enjoy it is when you will get the most out of it.
Advice to young hockey players: Don’t let anybody tell you you’re not capable of something, believe in yourself. There’s always room to push your limits.
Instagram: @zaramalseed
Hannah McLoughlin
Name: Hannah McLoughlin
Position: Defender/Midfield
School: Loreto, Foxrock
Club: UCD
1st Cap: 2018 vs Scotland
Favourite sporting moment to date: Getting my first senior cap
Age started playing hockey: 9
Who has had the most influence on your career: My Parents
Best advice you received from a coach: Hard work can overtake natural talent
Advice to young hockey players: You decide your own goals and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
Instagram: @Hannahmc2011
Twitter: @Hannahmc2011
Niamh Carey
Name: Niamh Carey
Position: Forward
School: Colaiste Iosagain
Club: UCD
Favourite sporting moment to date: Coming 4th in the u18 six nations in Barcelona
Age started playing hockey: 6
Who has had the most influence on your career: My mum
Best advice you received from a coach: Get lower (every coach I’ve ever had has told me this!)
Advice to young hockey players: Believe in yourself! If you want something it’s up to you to make it happen
Instagram: @niamhcarey_1
Twitter: @niamh99carey
Michelle Carey
Name: Michelle Carey
Sarah McAuley
Name: Sarah McAuley
Ellen Curran
Name: Ellen Curran
Position: Midfield
School: Loreto College, Foxrock
Club: UCD
1st Cap: vs Scotland in November 2016
Favourite sporting moment to date: Series v SA and Germany, Stellenbosch 2020
Age started playing hockey: 11
Who has had the most influence on your career: My mum
Best advice you received from a coach: Enjoy the process
Advice to young hockey players: Be the hardest working player
Instagram: @ellenlcurran7
Twitter: @ellenlcurran7
Caoimhe Perdue
Name: Caoimhe Purdue
Position: Defender
School: Ursuline Convent Thurles and Cashel Community School
Club: UCC
Favourite sporting moment to date: Winning an Irish Senior Cup with Cork Harlequins in 2019
Age started playing hockey: 14
Who has had the most influence on your career: My father.
Best advice you received from a coach: I’ve learnt that by making mistakes you can learn from them, they make you question yourself and push you to play better and to improve your skills.
Advice to young hockey players: I believe work rate and ambition and very important and a saying that has stuck with me is “hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”.
Instagram: @caoimhe_perdue
Twitter: @perdue_caoimhe
Orla Macken
Name: Orla Macken
Position: Midfield
Club: Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club
School: Rathdown School
Favourite sporting moment to date: Captaining my club team for the first time
Age started playing hockey: 6
Who has had the most influence on your career: Carli Figlio, my college coach in the US
Best advice you received from a coach: My coach in college told me to get fit. I had to learn the hard way but it’s stood with me to this day and is a cornerstone of my game.
Advice to young hockey players: Play with freedom, take risks but always work back as hard as you go forward.
Instagram: @orlamacken
Twitter: @orla_macken
Sophia Cole
Name: Sophia Cole
Position: Defence/Midfield
Club: UCD
School: St. Columba’s College
Favourite sporting moment to date: Scoring a penalty stroke against the Belgium u18s in our 6-nations tournament in Eindhoven, 2018
Age started playing hockey: 10
Who has had the most influence on your career: Luciana Aymar
Best advice you received from a coach: To believe in yourself and be confident
Advice to young hockey players: To push yourself outside of your comfort zone, believe in yourself and be the hardest working player on the pitch
Instagram:@sophia_cole13
Twitter: @sophiac19201221
Ellie McLoughlin
Name: Ellie McLoughlin
Position: Goalkeeper
School: Kilkenny College
Club: Muckross Hockey Club
Favourite sporting moment to date: Winning an all Ireland title with my school
Age started playing hockey: 12
Who has had the most influence on your career: My two school coaches Mr. Willis and Mr. Harding
Best advice you received from a coach: To trust my training
Advice to young hockey players: Keep pushing through all the hard days, all the work is worth it in the end
Instagram: @emcloughlin27
Twitter: @Ellie_42584
