Ulster aiming to defend title

ULSTER'S under 21 team will hope to fare better than their senior colleagues did a fortnight ago when they attempt to defend their Interprovincial title in Kilkenny this weekend.

Leinster inflicted a crushing defeat on the Northerners at Grange Road to clinch the senior title and their Under 21 team will hope to repeat that success in the two day programme of matches.

Leinster League leaders Loreto provide six of the team that will lead the Leinster challenge in Kilkenny, including under 21 internationals Caitriona O'Kelly and Sarah O'Meara who will captain the side at the weekend.

Connacht's coach, Donal Dempsey, is impressed by the strength of the Leinster squad and believes this could be the province's year. "The tide has to turn some time and maybe it has this year because Ulster haven't been doing too well in the other categories. Leinster have a very strong team this year, the province is on the up and up," he said.

Meanwhile, Dempsey is hoping for at least a repeat of the form produced by his team at last year's, championship when they drew three of their matches and lost narrowly, 1-0, to Ulster. "We're always underdogs, we're used to that, but I'm confident we can give a good account of ourselves'," said Dempsey.

"We'd certainly be happy if we played as well as last year which was our first appearance in the under 21 Interprovincials for three years, having been unable to field a team the previous two years. We haven't been helped by losing two of our most experienced players, Niamh Staunton and Orla Ryan, but we have a good squad that includes three players from the Connacht squad from the senior interprovincials - sweeper Sinead Kennedy, Erin Ryan and goalkeeper Siobhain Hickey," added Dempsey.

Ulster's squad includes four players who represented the province at the senior interprovincials - Anya Bowers, Jill Orbinson, Shauna Parkhill and Heather Thompson - as well as Irish under 21 captain Kim Mills who was missing from Grange Road because of injury.

Munster, who last won the under 21 championship in 1982, include nine players from UCC while the South East, who gain independence from Leinster and provide their own squad for this tournament, is dominated by Kilkenny and Wexford players who play their hockey with Dublin clubs.