Loreto's fatigue may benefit Coleraine

Women's Hockey: After a near flawless conclusion to their league campaign Coleraine, who overtook Belfast Harlequins and Ards to finish third in the table, will make their debut in the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Club Championship this weekend, when they host Loreto in the first leg at the University of Ulster.

The club will hope to benefit from any weariness Loreto may feel after their gruelling schedule at the European Cup Winners Cup in Holland last weekend - by 4.0 p.m. tomorrow the Leinster champions will have played five games in nine days.

While relegation to the B Division was a crushing blow for Loreto - and for Pegasus or Hermes; one of whom will play in the competition next season - draws against the Spanish and Russian cup holders, following a single-goal defeat to German side Klipper, were commendable results for a team making their A Division debut in Europe.

The form, too, of the Loreto defence was a source of pleasure for coach Siobhan Keogh. After the "ordeal" of their opening game - when they were trounced by hosts and eventual gold medalists Laren - goalkeeper Louisa Healy, Therese O'Keeffe, Ann Marie Cullen and Orla Ryan conceded just two goals in three games.

It was, though, the form of Sarah O'Meara that really caught the eye, the sweeper richly deserving Loreto's own player of the tournament award.

Caitriona O'Kelly's typically gutsy midfield displays simply underlined the loss she is to the Irish senior team, while the squad's youngsters, most notably Nikki Keegan, with Sarah Cooney and Jessica Lynch also impressing, didn't look out of place in A Division company.

Loreto are desperate to return to European competition, to continue their education at that level, but having failed to complete an Irish Cup three-in-a-row this season their only route back to Europe is through the Club Championships, with Pegasus the only team so far guaranteed European hockey next season.

The Ulster champions and 2004 Irish Cup winners will play Bandon at Belfield on Saturday and Sunday week, rather than travelling to Cork tomorrow and then hosting the Munster runners-up in Queen's a week later.

Should Pegasus regain the All-Ireland crown they lost last year, Hermes, beaten Irish Cup finalists, would play in the Cup Winners Cup, with Pegasus going in to the Club Championships.

Hermes, then, have that safety net as they prepare for their quarter-final games against Cork Harlequins, who travel to Booterstown for tomorrow's first leg.

Randalstown visit Dublin tomorrow to meet Old Alexandra. The Ulster side have been hit by the enforced retirement of veteran defender Denise Doherty, with a knee injury, but have been boosted by the return of Kerri Anderson from injury.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday - Club Championship quarter-finals: Hermes v Cork Harlequins, Booterstown, 2.30; Coleraine v Loreto, University of Ulster, 2.30; Old Alexandra v Randalstown, Milltown, 1.15.