Celtic Cup 'crucial' for NI development - O'Hanlon
O'Hanlon missed last year's Celtic Cup through injury
- Published
Northern Ireland Warriors vice-captain Caroline O'Hanlon feels this week's Celtic Cup tournament in Glasgow will be a "crucial experience" for the younger members of the squad.
The six-team round-robin tournament begins at the Emirates Arena on Wednesday with Zimbabwe first up for Northern Ireland at 17:00 GMT.
In the opening fixture at 14:30 GMT, Uganda take on Namibia, while there is a repeat of last year's final to close out the day at 19:30 GMT as Scotland face holders Wales.
O'Hanlon missed out on last year's tournament through injury, but is delighted to be back, and with Northern Ireland missing out on the 2023 World Cup, the 41-year-old feels this is ideal preparation for next summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
"We're looking towards the Commonwealth Games next year, so it's vital for those players to use this competition to build that confidence and experience," the former Armagh Gaelic footballer told BBC Sport NI.
"There's no better way than a competition like this, playing back-to-back games. Getting away and into camp for a period is great for the team as well, on and off the court.
"Having missed out on the World Cup, it feels like a lifetime since we have had a competition. We've had some test series here and there, but it doesn't match that tournament feel.
"Getting five games in five days is going to be crucial experience, especially for the younger girls coming through."
'This is a measure to see where we are at'
Currently, Northern Ireland are ranked 12th in the world with Wednesday's opponents Zimbabwe one place below.
Therefore, it will be a good opening test for the Warriors and O'Hanlon feels it is "brilliant to get that mix" of domestic and African opposition over the five days in preparation for next year's Games.
"They are going to be physical," she said of Zimbabwe.
"They are a very athletic team with a lot of height, so it's about playing to our strengths.
"All of the top nations are Commonwealth countries, so that's where Northern Ireland want to be. You want to perform on the top stage, so coming in between World Cups is great to have that competition. This will be a good measure to see where we are at."
While O'Hanlon is one of the veterans of the current 15-strong squad, there is plenty of fresh talent emerging in what she describes as a "transition period".
Ana Mulholland and Emilia Gordon have been promoted from the summer's World Youth Cup squad, joining established names such as team captain Michelle Magee, Emma Magee and Niamh Cooper.
"[There's] a lot of talent in those younger players coming off the back of the U21 World Cup, so hopefully they are ready to step up to senior level," O'Hanlon continued.
"We have lost a lot of experienced players over the last number of years and this is a bit of a transition period, but we want to get those young players bedded in. I think there's enough ability there but it's just getting that experience and confidence into them.
"This tournament is crucial for that, so we'll know more off the back of this."