Five Mayo girls in Connacht U18 squad for today's big game

Five Mayo girls have been named in the Connacht U18 Girls squad to take on Munster in the first round of the inter-provincial championship today in Cork at 12.45pm.

The game in Musgrave Park will be the curtain-raiser for the senior fixture between the same provinces which kicks off later in the afternoon.

Ten clubs are represented in the squad with Emily Foley, Grainne Moran and Ailish Quinn from Ballina, Amy Horan from Ballinrobe and Aoife Heaney from Claremorris all hoping to make an impression against the home side.

Team manager Natalie Fox believes her players are ready to produce a big performance. "It's a big step up from U16 club rugby to U18 Interprovincial level; but some of these girls are more than ready. They've had a taste of U18 rugby with their clubs so they appreciate the faster pace, higher skill level and physicality that is required going into these games.

"We had a weekend training camp with Ulster in early July which brought some unity to the squad. In everyday life not all 15-year-olds have many 17-year-old friends. It is equally important that they know each other as people as well as they do players, so this proved to be the foundation of our team. Having played two friendlies against Ulster and EIRA the girls have grown to trust each other and work as a team".

Saturday is the first of three Interprovincial fixtures with home fixtures to come against Ulster on August 26 and Leinster on September 2. This will seed the provinces for semi-finals and finals which will be held next February in the run-up to U18  Six Nations selection.