Boost for Ireland

Women's Hockey News round-upWith Australia and New Zealand meeting in the third and deciding match of the Oceania Cup in Sydney tomorrow Ireland are close to knowing the exact nature of the opposition they will face in April's World Cup Qualifier in Rome, where they must finish in the top five if they are to make it into September's finals in Madrid.

Eleven of the 12 qualifier spots have been filled - by Ireland, Italy, China, Korea, Japan, the US, England, Scotland, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and France - the loser of the Oceania Cup taking the final slot (the winner automatically goes through to the World Cup).

New Zealand had a rare win over the Australians in Auckland last Sunday to go one up in the series but lost the second match 4-0 in Sydney yesterday. Whichever of the two Ireland end up meeting in Rome they will be one of six nations in the competition with a higher ranking than Riet Kuper's team.

That, then, is the size of the task Ireland will face in April, but, albeit much further down the road, their hopes of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games received something of a boost this week when the International Olympic Committee announced it was increasing the number of qualifying women's nations from 10 to 12 for the Games in Beijing.

"It's wonderful news," said Irish Hockey Association chief executive Paul Varian. "We've been on the cusp before and this gives us a real chance of achieving what is the ultimate goal for Irish hockey - qualifying for the Olympic Games.

"If you asked any international player what their ambition was I'm sure they would say to make it to the Olympics. It will, of course, still be extremely hard to qualify but the two extra spots makes it that bit more achievable."

Beijing in three years' time will hardly, though, be on the minds of the players who take to the field for the first round of the ESB Irish Senior Cup this weekend.

Thirty teams will be in action, with all six Munster representatives unlucky enough to have received away ties, five of them against Ulster sides. The sixth, UCC, play UCD on Sunday, and both teams are in action again from Tuesday in the intervarsities.

IRISH SENIOR CUP: First round, Tomorrow: Corinthian v North Down, Whitechurch, 2.45; Knock v Old Alexandra, Queens, 2.30; Owls v Ashton, Paisley Park, 2.30; Armagh v Bandon, Ardmore, 2.30; Galway v Priorians, Dangan, 1.0; Portadown v Belvedere, Edenvilla Park, 2.30; Ballyclare v Three Rock, Valley Leisure Centre, 2.30; Victorians v Ards, Olympia Leisure Centre, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Trinity, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0; Omagh v Coleraine, Omagh Leisure Centre, 2.30; Cookstown v Univ of Limerick, Cookstown, 1.0; Parkview v Belfast Harlequins, UUJ, 1.0; Ballymena v Catholic Institute, Ballymena Show Ground, 2.30; Civil Service v Lisnagarvey, Civil Service, 2.30. Sunday: UCD v UCC, Belfield, 3.30.

LEINSTER LEAGUE: Division Two, Tomorrow: Bray v Glenanne, Bray, 11.0; Diocesan v Loreto II, Rathgar, 1.0; Hermes II v Corinthian II, Booterstown, 1.0; Genesis v Loreto III, Belfield, 4.0. Sunday: Old Alexandra II v Genesis, Milltown, 2.0.