Scott to coach Celtic Cup side

Hockey: The Irish Hockey Association has named David Scott as temporary senior men's coach for next month's Celtic Cup at Belfield and for the series of matches being played away to Belgium in July.

The appointment of Scott, currently Coaches' Co-ordinator in Ulster, will, said the IHA, "allow time for the extensive work required in finding a full-time successor" to John Clarke, who resigned last month.

Riet Kuper, however, has made clear her desire to remain in her senior women's coaching post beyond the expiry of her contract in August.

She also intends keeping faith with the squad that competed in March's Olympic qualifier, with at least 16 of that group of 18 expected to be named in the Celtic Cup panel. Kuper will have to do without Jill Orbinson who is unavailable through injury, while there remains a doubt over the availability of Nikki Symmons.

Meanwhile, Cork Church of Ireland's European Trophy campaign got off to a losing start in Prague yesterday when they went down 3-2 to Kolos Vinnitsa of Ukraine.

Philip Smith gave the Munster side the lead after 17 minutes when he was first to the rebound from an Alistair Dunne short-corner strike.

Kolos levelled before the break, however, and capitalised on two defensive errors in the second half (37 and 55 minutes) to go 3-1 up. Dunne was denied a blatant stroke soon after before Ken Twomey pulled a goal back two minutes from time.

Irish champions Hermes open their European Trophy campaign today in Baku, Azerbaijan, against hosts Atasport, before meeting Arminen (Austria) and Seneca San Saba (Italy) over the weekend.

As with C of I, a top-two finish in their pool would guarantee promotion to the A division next season.

EUROPEAN MEN'S TROPHY (at Prague) - Cork Church of Ireland 2 (P Smith, K Twomey), Kolos Vinnitsa 3. Today: C of I v Slavia Praha (Czech Rep), 4.0. Tomorrow: C of I v S G Amiscora (Italy), 2.0.

EUROPEAN WOMEN'S TROPHY (at Baku) - Today: Hermes v Atasport (Azerbaijan), 5.30. Tomorrow: Hermes v Arminen Koller Transport (Austria), 3.0. Sunday: Hermes v Seneca San Saba (Italy), 3.0.