A DUNFERMLINE Water Polo Club star is preparing to line-up for Great Britain on their return to a major international competition for the first time in a decade.

Niamh Moloney is one of 14 players that have been picked for their senior women's squad to compete at the European Water Polo Championship, which begins today (Friday).

The tournament, which was originally to be held Netanya, Israel but has been moved to Eindhoven, in the Netherlands, will see GB's senior women take part for the first time in 10 years.

Over the festive period, Niamh was confirmed in the squad, who travelled to the town of Zeist for a training camp prior to the beginning of the competition.

Niamh, who in 2021 became the first water polo player from Scotland to be picked for a senior GB squad since Dunfermline’s Alasdair Campbell seven years previously, played a major role in helping them reach the finals during an eye-catching qualifying campaign.

In June, they travelled to Portugal to face the hosts, Germany and Finland, to determine who would secure their place at the championships.

Victories over Germany (13-5) and Portugal (14-12) sent GB through, with a 27-2 success over Finland - in which Niamh scored a hat-trick - ensuring they finished top of their section.

Following that success, she told Press Sport: "It’s massive, especially for the seniors, because we haven’t been in a major competition.

"It’s been 10 years and this is the first time we’ve qualified again for the European Championships. It’s really big.

"I’m really proud to be part of the team."

At the event, hosted by the current world champions, Niamh and her team-mates have been drawn in Group D, alongside Bulgaria, Germany and Slovakia.

In a new-look format, the finals have been split into two divisions for the first time, with the women's competition expanded to 16 teams to match that of the men.

To progress, GB must finish in the top two of their group, and then defeat one of the top eight sides from last year's competition, to reach the quarter-finals.

"I am really looking forward to it," Niamh, who was named Senior Water Polo Player of the Year for a second time at the 2023 Scottish Swimming awards, said.

"Our target is to get a top-eight finish, which would be a major achievement for us!"

Niamh and her team open their campaign against Slovakia today, before facing Bulgaria on Saturday, and Germany on Sunday.