Olympic build-up

Plans for Ireland's build-up to the Olympic Qualifier in Milton Keynes next March are already taking shape, with coach Riet Kuper confirming that she will be taking the squad to Barcelona for a training week in early January.

Kuper, who met up with the panel in Dublin over the weekend, is also hopeful of another two week trip abroad in February and a Four Nations' tournament in either Dublin or Belfast the week before the Qualifier begins.

Maria Merrigan, who plays with Chelmsford in the English league and who was a member of the senior panel last season, and Ballymoney goalkeeper Angela Platt were late additions to the panel that attended the training weekend at Belfield, where they joined up with newcomers Avril Copeland, Cathy McKean, Jenny Osborne and Helen Cathcart.

A weakened Loreto side, without Copeland, McKean, Caitriona O'Kelly and Nikki Symmons (who was training with the Irish under-18s at the weekend) were knocked out of the Leinster Senior Cup on Saturday by Pembroke Wanderers, who avenged their 1-0 league defeat of last week by the same opposition. Kathryn Henderson equalised for Pembroke after Sarah Scott had given Loreto an early lead and Joanna Morris made it 2-1 when she scored from a penalty corner midway through the second half. Fine goal-keeping by Pembroke's Nikki King and resolute defending by Emma Glanville and German Sanni Schmidt kept Loreto at bay and clinched Pembroke a place in the second round.