Railway open defence at Alexandra

WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE:RAILWAY UNION open the defence of their Leinster League title against Old Alexandra at Park Avenue tomorrow, while Loreto and Hermes, the teams that shared the title for the previous 11 years, meet at Beaufort.

Railway coach Mick McKinnon has had a productive summer, strengthening an already gifted squad by bringing in Nicola Evans, Zara Delany and Holly Jenkinson from Hermes, Loreto and UCD, respectively. Delany is recovering from a cartilage operation and has just resumed light training but Emer Dillon is available again after winning her fourth All-Ireland camogie medal with Cork.

With next year’s World Cup qualifier restricting international players’ involvement with their clubs (the date and venue for Ireland’s qualifier has yet to be confirmed) strength in depth will be even more crucial than usual to the main contenders this season.

To that end Hermes will look to their batch of Irish under-18 players – Chloe Watkins, Niamh Atchelor, Gillian Pinder, Deirdre Duke and Sarah Greene – to develop yet further and bolster their challenge. The team will be coached this season by Simon Filgas who has a hard act to follow in Colin Stewart, winner of nine trophies in his four seasons with the club.

While Elaine O’Neill has joined from UCD and former international Fiona Connery returns, Hermes will be without Sinead McDonnell for the season and Linda Caulfield and Jill Hodgins until Christmas. Shelly Sloan, meanwhile, has returned north where she will play with Pegasus.

Pembroke Wanderers open their campaign against Bray at Serpentine Avenue while Glenanne play their first game under Ireland A coach Guy Garrett away to Corinthian, who finished bottom of division one last season but avoided relegation by beating Genesis in a play-off.

LEINSTER LEAGUE (Division One, tomorrow):Corinthian v Glenanne, Whitechurch, 1.45; Pembroke Wanderers v Bray, Serpentine Avenue, 1.0; Railway Union v Old Alexandra, Park Avenue, 2.30; Loreto v Hermes, Beaufort, 2.30.

MUNSTER LEAGUE (Division One, tomorrow):Ashton v Catholic Institute, Ashton, 1.0; Cork Harlequins v Waterford, Farmer's Cross, 12.0; Bandon v UCC, Bandon Grammar School, 12.0; Univ of Limerick v Church of Ireland, Univ of Limerick, time to be confirmed.