Updated 18.00pm

KERRY LADIES FOOTBALLER Louise Galvin is part of the Ireland Women’s Sevens squad that begin their bid to qualify for the Rio Olympics this weekend.

And she’ll be joined by another GAA player in Clare dual star Eimear Considine.

The Irish team are heading to Amsterdam for a warm-up tournament where they will play three games with both Galvin and Considine included with the Irish squad.

Kingdom native Galvin, who is from Finuge, has been a regular fixture in the Kerry senior ladies team in recent years and has also captained UL Huskies to National Cup success in basketball.

Clare native Considine is from Kilmihil and has been playing senior football and camogie for the Banner county in recent years.

Clare's Eimear Considine. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

As Ireland aren’t competing in the World Series, they will attempt to progress to next year’s Olympic Games through European Championship regional qualifiers, which take place over two consecutive weekends in Russia (13-14 June) and France (20-21 June).

If they fail to win that, the 2016 World Repechage offers another possible route. In order to be eligible for that, however, Ireland would have to finished runner-up in the European Championship or land a spot in the top three of the European Repechage, being held in Lisbon this July.

Louise Galvin James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“It’s important for the squad to get competition time ahead of the European Championships in June,” said Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens. “This is the beginning of the journey to qualification for the Olympics in Rio 2016.”

As a squad we are very clear and focused on what we need to do over the next few months. Everyone has worked really hard and knows it’s time to put in the performances and deliver.”

This weekend, Ireland will play the Ushizi Warriors, Finland 7′s and Norwegian Vikingette’s in a warm-up competition in the Dutch capital. Sevens Player of the Year Lucy Mulhall will captain the side.

Alison Miller with the 6 Nations trophy. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad
Eimear Considine
Katie Fitzhenry
Stacey Flood
Louise Galvin
Shannon Houston
Claire Keohane
Alison Miller
Claire Molloy
Lucy Mulhall (Captain)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
Emma Murphy
Jenny Murphy

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