Women's hockeyNew national coach Gene Muller is beginning to put together a programme for the senior squad as part of their build-up to next summer's European Championships in Manchester, with a trip to his native South Africa in the new year already arranged.
Ireland will play South Africa, formerly coached by Muller, in Stellenbosch but he is hopeful they may also take part in a four-nations tournament "if other countries can be attracted" to the city at the same time.
Before then there will be three uncapped matches against Scotland in Edinburgh (next month), the squad for which will be named the weekend after next. Riet Kuper, Muller's predecessor, often spoke of her desire to see more Irish players move to clubs in stronger leagues, such as the Netherlands, Germany and England, and helped arrange Eimear Cregan and Jill Orbinson's spells with Dutch club PUSH last season.
While those two players have since returned home two more, Ciara O'Brien and Nikki Symmons, are now playing in England and Germany, respectively.
O'Brien is expected to make her debut for Chelmsford this weekend - they have two Premier League matches, against Bowden Hightown and Old Loughts - a week after they beat league champions Leicester. Fellow international Emer Harte also plays with Chelmsford, as do former Irish captain Sarah Kelleher and Maria Merrigan, the English-born player once called up to the Irish squad by Kuper.
Back home the ESB Irish Senior Cup gets under way this weekend, with 28 clubs involved in the first round. Old Alexandra, last season's beaten finalists, are away to Munster's Ashton while Pembroke Wanderers host Ballymena at Serpentine Avenue.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Tomorrow: Irish Senior Cup, first round: Belvedere v Parkview, Ballincollig, 1.0; Corinthian v Civil Service, Whitechurch, 1.0; Cookstown v Omagh, Cookstown, 1.0; Clontarf v Lurgan, Mount Temple, 1.0; Coleraine v Victorians, UUC, 1.0; Ashton v Old Alexandra, Ashton School, 1.0; Univ of Limerick v Belfast Harlequins, Univ of Limerick, 1.30; Priorians v Armagh, Strabane, 2.0; UCC v North Down, Mardyke, 2.0; Three Rock v Portadown, Grange Road, 2.0; Knock v Lisnagarvey, Queens, 2.30; Ards v Catholic Institute, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.30; Bandon v Ballyclare, Bandon, 3.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Ballymena, Serpentine Avenue, 3.0.
