HOCKEY/Weekend Fixtures:Ireland's build-up to next April's Olympic Qualifier in Canada might not move in to full swing for a few months yet but Gene Muller's team will need to be in good shape as early as next month when they play Australia, fourth in the world rankings, in four matches in Dublin.
The games will be part of the "Hockeyroos" tour of England, Ireland and South Africa, when the former world champions will attempt to confirm their recent loss to New Zealand in the final of the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament was no more than a blip.
Australian coach Frank Murray will be without three of his key players for the tour, Melanie Twitt, Angie Lambert and Rachel Imison, Lambert and Imison opting to stay behind to attend Twitt's wedding.
"You can't exactly tell a player they can't get married," said a rueful Murray.
Ireland's games against Australia take place on October 24th, 25th, 27th and 28th, which, presumably, will rule players out of league action for that spell, lengthening the period clubs will have to make do without their internationals this season.
One such club, Cork Harlequins, who have Eimear Cregan and Julia O'Halloran in the Irish squad, open the defence of their league title when the Munster first division campaign gets under way tomorrow, the champions taking on UCC at Farmers Cross.
Church of Ireland, their closest rivals for the past two seasons, have lost seven members of their squad, including Karen Hales (now Pembroke Wanderers), Hollie Moffett (now UCC) and Sinead Connery (in Australia), making Harlequins even firmer favourites to retain their crown.
In Leinster the students of Trinity and UCD begin their campaigns with testing home ties against Pembroke Wanderers and Old Alexandra, while Hermes are at home to a Genesis side that pushed champions Loreto all the way last weekend, only losing 3-2.
Corinthian's home game against Three Rock completes the first division fixture list for the weekend.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Tomorrow - Division One: Trinity v Pembroke Wanderers, Santry, 11.0; Corinthian v Three Rock, Whitechurch, 11.30; UCD v Old Alexandra, Belfield, 1.0; Hermes v Genesis, Booterstown, 2.30. Division Two: Suttonians v Pembroke II, Sutton, 11.0; Glenanne v Clontarf, Tallaght, 2.0; Railway Union II v Old Alexandra II, Sandymount, 2.0; Loreto II v Corinthian II , Beaufort , 2.30; Hermes II v Bray, Booterstown, 4.15.
MUNSTER LEAGUE - Tomorrow - Division One: Church of Ireland v Ashton, Garryduff, 12.0; Cork Harlequins v UCC, Farmers Cross, 1.0; Univ of Limerick v Belvedere, Plassey, 1.30.
Irish Senior Cup - First round draw: Ballymena v UCD, Pembroke Wanderers v Portadown, Omagh v Belvedere, Trinity v Greenisland, UCC v Univ of Limerick, Genesis v Lisnagarvey, Ashton v Priorians, Catholic Institute v Belfast Harlequins, North Down v Corinthian, NICS v Knock, Three Rock v Ards, Bandon v Cookstown, Lurgan v Railway Union. Ties to be played October 20th.
MEN - Neville Cup - Tomorrow - Quarter-final: Monkstown v Fingal, Rathdown, 1.30.
Irish Senior Cup - First round draw: North Down v Newry; Weston v Suttonians. Ties to be played October 20th.
