WOMEN'S HOCKEY/Weekend previews: There's a wide variety of hockey activity this weekend to capture a broad interest as it caters for several grades of competition around the provinces which starts this morning in Cork with the Girls' Under-18 Interprovincials in Garryduff.
Tomorrow's line-up features Senior Cup ties in Munster and Ulster as well as a near full programme of Leinster Division One and Two league games. Sunday sees the draw for the Irish Senior Cup third round ties to be played on January 17th.
Also this weekend the Irish national coach Riet Kuper will be picking a squad of 20 players for a 10-day training session in the US starting on January 9th in the build-up to the Olympic Qualifier in Auckland, New Zealand, in March.
On the domestic front, Loreto, the Leinster League leaders, can expect two testing examinations before enjoying their Christmas break when they take on Corinthians tomorrow and Old Alexandra on Saturday week, two teams who can still make their impact felt in the race for the title. Siobhan Keogh, enjoying her first season as the Loreto coach, reckons that gaining the six points from these games will underpin their standing as championship favourites. "I've seen Corinthians twice this season and they impressed me a lot and look a very strong side compared to last year. We will of course be missing Nikki Symmons and Orla Ryan who are tied up with the international training."
TODAY: Under-18 Girls' Interprovincials (at Garryduff, Cork): Ulster v Munster, 9.30; South/East v Connacht, 11.0; Leinster v Ulster, 12.30; Munster v South/East, 2.0; Connacht v Leinster, 3.30.
TOMORROW: Leinster League: Division One: Corinthians v Loreto, Whitechurch Park, 12.0; Old Alexandra v Three Rock, Milltown, 1.15; Pembroke Wanderers v UCD, Serpentine Ave, 2.0; Trinity v Hermes, Santry, 4.0; Division Two: Glenanne v Clontarf, St Mark's Tallaght, 11.30; Hermes 2nd v Our Lady's, Booterstown Avenue, 1.15; Corinthians 2nd v Muckross, Donnybrook, 5.0; Pembroke Wanderers 2nd v Loreto 2nd, Serpentine Avenue, 5.0; Old Alex 2nd v Diocesan, Milltown, 2.30.
Munster (Div. 1 & 2) Cup: Second round: Harlequins v UCC, Harlequin Park, 3.15; Catholic Institute v C of I, Rosbrien, 12.0.
Ulster Shield: First round: Pegasus v Ards, Queen's, Malone, 2.30; Coleraine v Civil Service, Coleraine, 2.30; 2nd Rd. UUJ v Victorians, Jordanstown, 2.30; League Division One: Belfast Harlequins v Ballyclare, Deramore, 1.0; Ballymoney v Ballymena, Dunlop Centre, 2.30.
Under-18 Girls' Interprovincials (Garryduff): Leinster v South/East, 9.0; Ulster v Connacht, 10.30; Munster v Leinster, 12.0; South/East v Ulster, 1.30; Connacht v Munster, 3.0.
Leinster Girls Under-18 squad: Goalkeepers, P Smithwick (King's Hosptial), E Fitzsimons (Sion Hill); Outfield, E Balbrinie (capt, Alex), D Costigan (Trinity), F Flinn, R Flynn (St Andrews), J Heggie, K Byrne (Wesley), K Hutch, D McGuinness (Mount Anville), H Jenkinson (Rathdown), E Lucey (Our Lady's), C McNestry (Loreto, Dalkey), J McRann, L Watson (High School), N Small (St Louis H S). Coach: T O'Donoghue.
