Muller is keen to see further progress

HOCKEY/Setanta Cup:With the first edition of the Setanta Cup in Belfield starting tomorrow, Irish hockey has a chance to see what fettle it is in just a couple of months before the European Championships take place in Manchester in August.

Gene Muller's 14th-ranked women's Irish side, particularly, should get well tested as fourth-ranked Germany, 12th-ranked South Africa and 17th-ranked Scotland make up the numbers. In the men's event both Egypt at 15 and Canada at 16 are ranked higher than Ireland, while Wales at 25 are six places below.

In the opening matches today the Irish women face South Africa in a tough test but they should have expectations of winning despite the ranking. They are going to have to punch above their weight in Manchester anyway to get anything out of the European Championships.

"I have been satisfied by our progress this year and would like to see us progress further during this tournament," said Muller. "The Setanta Sports Trophy will be our toughest challenge this year and will give us a taste of tournament hockey in preparation for the Euro Hockey Nations Championships."

Muller has selected an experienced squad as four of her players have over 100 caps. Hermes' Linda Caulfield on 138 caps, Jill Orbinson of Pegasus with 127, Chelmsford's Ciara O'Brien with 115 and Cork Harlequins Eimear Gregan on 103 spearhead the challenge. Goal-scorers Orbinson and Cregan are the leading Irish strikers.

Ireland last played South Africa at Muller's first full-on training camp with Ireland in South Africa last January. In very competitive matches and with a number of younger members on the squad they lost their first game 2-1, lost the second 2-0 and drew the third 3-3.

Like the women, the men's aim is to make the final. But men's coach Dave Passmore has had to accommodate a few injuries and exams. Still, it is a squad without Justin Sherriff, who has been one of Ireland's most prolific goal scorers. Paddy Browne, with 123 caps, is again the Irish captain.

"Egypt have just competed really well in a tournament in China under their new Polish coach and Canada are a strong unit who have just competed against the world's best nations in the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia," said Passmore.

Both of these teams are full-time and the Welsh are always very physical and hard to beat.

IRELAND SQUADS

MEN: M Ruddle, P Brown, J Black, K Burns, S Butler, M Watt, M Irwin, J Jermyn, E Magee, G Shaw, D Hobbs, A Barbour, M Black, P Maguire, I Lewers, G McCabe, T Lewis, D Harte.

WOMEN: L Caulfield, E Cregan, M Goode, L Healy, J McDonough, C McKean, B McKeever, C O'Brien, J Orbinson, N Symmons, C Clarke, E Harte, E Stewart, R Flinn, A Connery, S McKay, A Speers.

FIXTURES: Today: 6pm, Ireland v South Africa (w); 8pm, Ireland v Canada (m). Tomorrow: 5pm, Germany v Scotland (w); 7pm, Egypt v Wales (m). Friday: 1pm, Germany v South Africa (w); 3pm, Canada v Wales (m); 5pm, Ireland v Scotland (w); 7pm, Ireland v Egypt (m). Saturday: 1pm, South Africa v Scotland (w); 3pm, Ireland v Germany (w); 5pm, Egypt v Canada (m); 7pm Ireland v Wales (m). Sunday: 9am, Women 4th v 3rd; 11.25, Women 2nd v 1 st; 2.05pm. Men 4th v 3rd; 4.30pm, Men 2nd v 1st.