Hermes' Zanya Dahl will have an early season reunion with her former Trinity teammates when the two sides meet in the Leinster League at Belfield tomorrow morning. Ironically, Trinity now look set to fill the midfield void created by Dahl's departure with a player who has already lined out for Hermes this season, Irish under-18 captain Linda Caulfield.
Caulfield joined Hermes during the summer but, having secured a place at Trinity College, she is now expected to play for the students, once the Irish council sanction the switch. The former Loreto Wexford player cannot line out for Trinity this weekend but should be eligible for their game against Loreto next week.
"It was probably the right decision for Linda, when you get a chance to go to college you have to take it," said Hermes coach Roy Horsfield. "She's a lovely hockey player - it will take a little time for her to get used to the speed of Senior League, but she has all the skills, she's going to go from strength to strength and become a top Irish player in a short period of time."
Meanwhile, six Hermes players have been named in the Leinster squad for October's Senior Interprovincial tournament in Galway, which features four members of the Irish squad who played in Zimbabwe during the summer - Carol Devine, Jenny Burke, Caitriona O'Kelly and captain Mary Logue.
Leinster Squad: S O'Gorman, T Hurley, O Bell (all Muckross), S Hilliard, C Devine, D Sixsmith, Z Dahl, J Burke, A Byrne (all Hermes), C Metchette, S Keogh, T Conway (all Old Alexandra), C O'Kelly, A Pomeroy (both Loreto), C Curran (Trinity), M Logue (Railway Union, capt).
Leinster League: Senior A - Trinity v Hermes, Belfield, 10.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Old Alexandra, Serpentine Avenue, 1.30; Railway Union v Loreto, Park Avenue, 1.30; Clontarf v Genesis, Dardistown, 2.0; Glenanne v Muckross, St Marks, 2.30. Senior B: Loreto II v Muckross II, Belfield, 11.45; Avoca v UCD, Rathdown, 12.0; Railway Union II v Corinthian, Park Avenue, 12.15; Diocesan v Aer Lingus, High School, 1.0; Hermes II v Maids, Belfield, 2.30.
Ulster Senior League: Section One - Randalstown v Collegians, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Portadown v Ards, Edenvilla Park, 2.30; North Down v Owls, Ards Leisure Centre, 1.0; Coleraine v Pegasus, UUC, 2.30; Victorians v Knock, Olympia Leisure Centre, 2.30.