Ulster may have sharper edge

Men's Hockey/ Under-21 Interprovincial Championship: The unavailability of junior members of the national training squad who have been in Spain this week lowers the voltage of the Under-21 Interprovincial Championship at Harlequin Park, Cork, over the weekend, but there remains a considerable amount of talent to provide a worthwhile tournament.

While Leinster appear to be the hardest hit by the ruling out of their leading attacking figures, the squad still looks strong enough to put in a challenge for the title, fortified by the Monkstown contingent who won the province's under-21 cup. However, Alan Sothern of Pembroke will need a lot of support up front to match the striking capabilities of the holders, Ulster, in particular.

Certainly, if Mark Gleghorne can travel, Ulster may again have the sharpest edge, while one cannot discount the spirit of the Munster side led by Ken Twomey.

The Universities no doubt will once more rise to the occasion, especially with Eamon Bane at the helm.

MUNSTER: C Daunt (Harlequins), J Bruton (Cork C of I), G Catchpole (Harlequins), C Crowley (Bandon), L Dalton (Harlequins), J Dunphy (Waterford), A Gray (Cork C of I), A Herbert (Cork C of I), R Hobbs (Harlequins), A Moffett (Cork C of I), P O'Driscoll (Harlequins), S Parker (Cork C of I), B Shine (UCC), S Sweetnam (Cork C of I), K Twomey (Cork C of I, capt), J Lynch (Cork C of I). Manager: B Crowley; coaches: A Dunne, D Hales.

LEINSTER: R Irvine (UCD), D Fitzgerald (Monkstown); A McConnell (THC Hurley), A Blennerhassett (Corinthians, capt), N Lyons (YMCA), M Maguire (Three Rock Rovers), I Horsfield (Monkstown), C Black (Monkstown), F Lee (UCD), A Sutton (Corinthians), R O'Malley (Monkstown), R Billings (Glenanne), R McFarlane (Three Rock Rovers), A Barrett (Trinity), A Sothern (Pembroke), R Burke (Monkstown). Manager: S Kinsella; coach: T Dagg; assistant coach: T Ó Síocháin.

ULSTER: S Chisholm (Annadale), I Hughes (Cookstown); J Jackson (Mossley), G McCabe (Banbridge), C Cargo (Bangor), S Arbuthnot (Lisnagarvey), E Butler (Cookstown), S Redpath (Annadale), M Robinson (Lisnagarvey, capt), M Daniel (Bangor), C Dowd (Banbridge), M Gleghorne (Instonians), K Black (Cookstown), S Magowan (Banbridge), J McAuley (Bangor), C Kirk (Instonians). Manager: J Macafee; coach: B Davis; assistant coach: M Tumilty.

UNIVERSITIES: E Connolly (DCU), D van Mannen (UCC); C Connolly (DCU), D Barrett (UCC), E Bane (DCU, capt), B Scully (Trinity), A Willis (Trinity), C Nugent (Queen's), I McKeown (UU), M Acheson (UU), W M Hafizullah (RCSI), F Keaveney (NUIG), A Kingston (UL), E Bryan (UCC), B Hewitt (Trinity), D Needham (Trinity). Manager: K Healy; coach: T Parsons; assistant coach: E Kirwan.

PROGRAMME - Tonight: Munster v Leinster, 6.30; Ulster v Universities, 8.30; tomorrow: Leinster v Universities, 2.0; Munster v Ulster, 4.0; Sunday: Leinster v Ulster, 11.0; Munster v Universities, 1.0. Tournament director: J Connolly.