WOMEN'S HOCKEY/World Cup Apeal and Weekend Preview: While they were no less surprised than their Irish counterparts about the announcement that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear both countries' appeals against the International Hockey Federation as soon as next Friday, the Lithuanian Hockey Federation (LHF) has, nonetheless, expressed its relief that the saga will soon be over. Mary Hannigan reports.
"At least, finally, everything will end," said their spokeswoman yesterday. "It's taken a very, very long time already."
The president of the LHF, Leonardas Caikauskas, did, however, admit to some annoyance over the choice of London as the venue for the hearing, one he said was a lot more convenient for the Irish delegation, and the fact that it clashes with Lithuania's participation in the European Indoor Nations Cup in France - consequently the national coach, Rimas Caikauskas, will have to leave the tournament to attend the hearing.
Lithuania, though, say they are "very confident" that they will triumph and that it will be Ireland who will have to "re-qualify" for November's World Cup.
That decision will be down to the three appointed arbitrators, two of whom heard Michelle de Bruin's case in 1999 - Michael Beloff QC (who was nominated by de Bruin and has also been chosen from the CAS list of arbitrators by the Irish Hockey Association) and Denis Oswald (nominated in 1999 by FINA, swimming's governing body, and chosen by the FIH and Lithuania - because there are three parties in the case, two have to share an arbitrator).
On the club front, it could be a decisive weekend for the pretenders to Hermes' Leinster crown - second-placed Pembroke Wanderers play the champions at Belfield tomorrow while Loreto play them at Beaufort on Sunday.
"This weekend will reveal an awful lot and could virtually decide the league for Hermes," said Loreto coach Fred McDarby, whose team play Corinthian tomorrow.
"However, it could also result in Loreto going on top of the league if all the results go our way. Hermes are still the benchmark team in Leinster and if you want to win anything, you must beat them," said McDarby.
McDarby also pointed to the fact that this season's league has been the most competitive for years.
"The league is much more interesting this year with the strengthening of Pembroke and UCD, and the revival of Alexandra, after a bad start. It is clear there are many more fixtures now where points can be dropped by the top teams, so full attention is required most weeks.
"Other teams such as Corinthian, who we will be treating very carefully tomorrow, can also be difficult to beat if the performance level drops, so there are not too many 'easy' fixtures anymore. I think this will help Leinster teams be more consistent, which I hope is borne out by the Irish Senior Cup results."
The Irish Hockey Association's Strategic Planning Group will hold two more sessions on Sunday, both open to anyone with suggestions to make on the future of Irish hockey. They take place at the Menlo Park Hotel, Headford Road, Galway (2.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.) and Kilkenny College (2.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.). There will also be a session at Cork Harlequins' home (at Farmers Cross) between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 26th.
IRISH JUNIOR CUP - Second round: Genesis II v Pegasus II, Rathdown, 12.0; Old Alexandra II v Carlow Alexandra College, Milltown, 1.15; Cork Church of Ireland II v Muckross, Garryduff, 1.30; Three Rock v Catholic Institute, Grange Road, 1.0; Hermes II v Banbridge, Belfield, 4.0; Pembroke Wanderers II v Cork Harlequins II, Serpentine Avenue, 2.30; Aer Lingus v Parkview, ALSAA, 1.15; Ards II v Loreto II, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.30.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Tomorrow - Division One: Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 12.15; Railway Union v UCD, Park Avenue, 2.0; Corinthian v Loreto, Whitechurch, 3.30; Trinity v Old Alexandra, Santry, 4.15; Genesis v Glenanne, Beaufort, 5.0. Division Two: Clontarf v Our Ladys, Dardistown, 1.0. Sunday - Division One: Loreto v Hermes, Beaufort, 2.30.
MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: UCC v Bandon, The Mardyke, 1.30.
ULSTER SHIELD - Third round: Ballymoney v Randalstown, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Ballymena v Coleraine, Ballymena, 2.30; Ards v Portadown, Ards Leisure Centre, 4.0; Pegasus v Knock, Queens, 4.0.
SENIOR PLATE - First round: Omagh v UUJ, Omagh Leisure Centre, 2.30; Belfast Harlequins v Owls, Deramore, 2.30; Victorians v Enniskillen, Olympia, 2.30; North Down v Limavady, Comber Leisure Centre, 1.0.
