Those familiar with the internet will know that you can shop for just about anything you could imagine in cyberspace these days and have it delivered to your door. What technology buffs might not know is that if they look hard enough they can even secure for their hockey team the services of two Australian internationals, one capped at under-21 level, the other a former under-18 player.
The Dutch Hockey Association's website features a message-board that is used by players from all over the world who want to join European clubs. It was there that Loreto coach Tom O'Donohgue spotted a message posted during the summer by Peta Gallagher, a member of the Australian senior youth squad and a forward with Canberra Strikers.
Gallagher received offers from clubs all over Europe - including one from another Leinster side and one in Ulster - but opted to spend the Australian off-season in Dublin, encouraged by Rachel Brophy, the former Loreto player who is now playing with the University of Limerick, who knew Gallagher from her time in Canberra.
Last Saturday Gallagher, who arrived in Dublin only the day before, made her debut for Loreto in a 4-0 win at Genesis and will line out against Muckross tomorrow afternoon. Next week her compatriot Bronwyn Donnelly will arrive in Dublin and, like Gallagher, will play for Loreto until the middle of February. "We're delighted Peta and Bronwyn agreed to come over for the three months and we're looking forward to working with them," said O'Donohgue. "It will be a great learning experience for all of us, especially for our own players who can only gain from playing and training with two players of that quality."
The internet was a source of good news for Gallagher during the week - it was there that she learnt she has been re-selected for the Australian youth squad, one of only four players retained from last season.
Another Irish hockey import, South African under-21 international midfielder Jennifer Wilson, who joined Coleraine at the start of the season, will make her Ulster debut tomorrow when the province begins its defence of its under-21 interprovincial title at Garryduff.
Ulster will be seeking an extraordinary 14th successive victory at this level and have a strong squad again this season. Captained by Irish senior international Pamela Magill the squad also includes senior panellists Helen Cathcart of Ards and Angela Platt of Ballymoney and Irish under-21s Fiona Ferguson, Katharine Maybin and Jenny McDonough.
Leinster could prove to be the biggest threat to Ulster's stranglehold on the title but Munster will hope that home advantage can boost their challenge.
