Fourteen Leinster players got the call from Irish U18 coach Andy Smyth this week as he named an extensive training panel with a view toward the 2011 European Youth Nations Championships.

He gathers the panel together for the first time on Sunday for one of two intensive trial days following a couple of weeks of analysis of potential players at the recent interprovincial competition and the All-Ireland Schools event in Campbell College.

The squad includes seven of the Wesley side that claimed the recent All-Ireland schools title while David McCrea, Mark Ingram, Rob Burke, Shane Madeley and Tom Samuel have all stepped up from last summer's Irish U16 set-up.

St Andrew's Fiachra Maher is another to move up from the U16s despite missing out on a place in the Leinster U18 team through injury.

Providing the experience to guide this younger element through is High School's Shane O'Donoghue, who is already an established senior player with his club Glenanne and recently began training with the Ireland A set-up.

Dundalk marksman Andrew Shekleton also retains his place along with Richard Sykes and Luke Chadwick.

They were all part of the Ireland side that won the European Youth Trophy in Vienna last summer and achieved A status for the upcoming crop.

A number of famous names in hockey circles pop up from the Ulster contingent included.

Cookstown's Ian Sloan -- son of Marty Sloan who earned 149 international caps -- was brought up to the squad for last season's Europeans despite still being U16.

Banbridge's Owen Magee, meanwhile, continues his family's involvement at the top tier. His brother Eugene earned his 100th Irish cap against Belgium on Tuesday in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Argentina.

Explaining his decision to go with 35 players, Smyth said:

"I consulted with the interprovincial coaches and have brought all their recommendations.

"I feel that they are the people who know the players better at this stage. I had a good look at individuals during the interpro tournament and also at others during the Irish Schools tournament. I will now get a chance to look at these players over at least two hard days of technical, physical and match-day assessments.

"At the end of this process we will have a large squad who will take part in some, or possibly the entire, U18 programme this year.

"It is about finding the balance between developing those players who are in their final year at U18 hockey and having an eye on the longer-term prospects for the U18 A division next year."

In school's league action, Sutton Park continued their good form at U14 level as they beat north Dublin rivals Mount Temple 3-2.

King's Hospital's seniors, meanwhile, drew 3-3 with Wesley in a top-of-the-table clash.

Schools are also taking on board a new initiative to double up fixtures in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to reduce on bus costs.

To this effect, St Andrew's travel next week to Wesley with a junior A and senior A fixture while King's Hospital will play a triple-header at Andrew's with Minor A, B and U13 A sides all competing on the same day.

Irish U18 Training panel (school/club): Andrew Shekleton (Dundalk/Fingal), David McCrea (Wesley/TRR), Luke Chadwick (Wesley/YMCA), Mark Ingram (Oatlands/Railway Union), Mark Ryan (Mount Temple/Fingal), Neal Megarity (Wesley/TRR), Richard Sykes (St Andrews/Monkstown), Robert Burke (Wesley/Corinthian), Robert Fitzgerald (Wesley/YMCA), Shane Madeley (Wesley/TRR), Shane O'Donoghue (High School/Glenanne), Stephen Nolan (St Andrews/Monkstown), Tom Samuel (Wesley/TRR), Andrew Power (Midleton/Midleton), Ben Dobson (PBC/Cork C of I), Darren Sweetnam (Bandon/Bandon), David Doherty (Ashton/Cork C of I), David Wolfe (Ashton/Cork C of I), Dylan Murphy (Villiers/Limerick), Jack Robinson (Bandon/Bandon), Mark Holland (Ashton/Cork C of I), Nick Burns (Midleton/Cork C of I), Peter Catchpole (Ashton/Cork C of I), Roy Harvey (Villiers/Limerick), Stephen Swanton (Ashton/Cork C of I), Andrew Mooney (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Ciaran Kelly (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Colin Cleland (Friends/Lisnagarvey), Hugh McShane (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Ian Sloan (Cookstown HS, Cookstown), John Edgar (Annadale), Matthew Bell (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Matthew Leckey (Royal and Prior/Raphoe), Matthew Murphy (Wallace HS/Lisnagarvey), Neil Gilmore (Portadown/Banbridge), Niall Kelly (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Owen Magee (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Paul Ritchie (Regent/Annadale), Phillip Doyle (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Robin Smyrl (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Stephen Dowds (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Ward Phillips (Friends/South Antrim), William Edgar (Annadale), Fiachra Maher (St Andrews/Railway Union), Andy Williamson (Campbell College/Annadale).

- Stephen Findlater