Men's Hockey: The absence from the Leinster, Munster and Ulster senior interprovincial squads of their Ireland players, who completed their campaign at the Olympic Qualifier in New Zealand last weekend with a fourth-place finish, might take the gloss off this year's tournament.
But, on the positive side, it also gives an opportunity to many to boost their hopes of inclusion in future international squads.
The tournament starts at Grange Road this evening when defending champions Ulster meet the hosts, Leinster, seeking their first triumph since 2001.
To that end, Leinster coach Noel Keogh has chosen a squad with plenty of experience, to add to its more youthful element, selecting six players from his club, Glenanne, among them goalkeeper Stephen Doran, who was called up to replace Three Rock Rovers' Charlie Henderson.
Munster's squad, of course, is dominated by players from Church of Ireland and Cork Harlequins. There are just three from outside the "big two" - the Bandon pair Ian Hosford and David Smith, and Lisnagarvey's Jason Lynch, formerly of C of I.
Munster, who last won in 2005, open against Ulster tomorrow, and complete the tournament schedule on Sunday when they meet Leinster.
SENIOR INTERPROVINCIALS(at Grange Road) - Today: Leinster v Ulster, 8.0. Tomorrow: Ulster v Munster, 1.0. Sunday: Leinster v Munster, 1.0.
LEINSTER: E Bane, D Bane (both Fingal), S Doran, A Browne, J Brennan, R Shaw, G Shaw, B Parsons (all Glenanne), G Watkins (Monkstown), G Elliott, A Sothern (both Pembroke Wanderers), A McConnell, N Lyons, M Darling (all Three Rock Rovers), I Walker, D Robinson (both YMCA). Coach: Noel Keogh.
MUNSTER: I Hosford, D Smith (both Bandon), B Lynch, A Chambers, A Pritchard, A Herbert, P Smith, A Moffett, J Bruton, S Parker (all Church of Ireland), J Hobbs, D Hobbs, R Hobbs, L Dalton, P McLoughlin (all Cork Harlequins), J Lynch (Lisnagarvey). Coach: Stephen Jackson.
ULSTER: D Smyth, N Hamilton, P Carruth (all Annadale), G Lennox, G McCabe (both Banbridge), I Hughes, C Donaldson, E Butler, D Ames, K Black (all Cookstown), M Irwin (Instonians), M Robinson, M Daniel, T Cockram (all Lisnagarvey), J Jackson (Loughborough), S Todd (Mossley). Coach: Brian Davis.
Internationals(at Belfield) - Today- Under-16: Ireland v England, 10.30. Under-18: Ireland v England, 12.30.
