WOMEN'S HOCKEYIT WILL be November before the Irish Hockey Association knows for certain which Olympic qualifying tournament the women's team will be contesting, although based on current rankings their more likely destination will be Japan in April. The other two possibilities are India in February and Belgium in March.
What is certain, though, is that clubs will again be without their international players for much of their league campaigns, starting tomorrow when the new season gets under way.
The squad is in the middle of a rest period after August’s European Championships and won’t return to club action until the second weekend in October.
Leinster champions Hermes will, then, be without their six internationals when they open the defence of their title against Loreto tomorrow, the team they beat to the crown on goal difference last season. Loreto, too, will be weakened, with Niamh Small, Lizzie Colvin and Nikki Symmons unavailable, although Nicci Daly is free to play after missing out on the Europeans.
One of Hermes’ six Irish players is new arrival Miriam Crowley, who has joined the club from UCC.
Meanwhile, having missed out in two successive promotion play-offs, Three Rock will, after all, be playing Division One hockey this season after being asked by the Leinster Hockey Association this week to take the place of Bray.
Having lost close to a dozen players the Wicklow club requested that they be allowed drop out of the division.
LEINSTER LEAGUEDivision One – Tomorrow: Corinthian v Glenanne, Whitechurch, 4.15pm; Loreto v Hermes, Beaufort, 1pm; Railway Union v Old Alexandra, Park Avenue, 1pm.
