WOMENS HOCKEY: The Irish senior international panel of 23 players returned last Tuesday from Barcelona having completed a week's intensive training programme that included four friendly internationals against the Netherlands as both were on the same mission in their build up to the European Nations championship in Dublin in August.
The Dutch, who are the reigning European champions and last year's Olympic Silver medal winners in Athens, ruined an otherwise "dizzy run" of results for the Irish in the last of their "friendlies" by claiming a 6-0 victory after Ireland had held them to a scoreless draw followed by 1-0 and 2-1 defeats.
Irish coach Riet Kuper summed up this initial preparation as a "very important learning process for all the players" for the squad she took to Spain that included six of the 10 newcomers in the 30 strong panel.
"Having played the Netherlands four times in the space of five days the players know now what it takes to be successful at this level and what areas we have to work towards."
She added "To start with our fitness needs improving but after all this was the first time this group of players have been together for this kind of pressurised build up."
Rudi Wortman a compatriot of Dutchwoman Kuper who was also on the back-up coaching team and has been coaching both men's and women's teams in Ireland for the past decade put great emphasis on how the squad will progress to develop in the coming months ahead.
By all accounts it was indeed quite a good and encouraging showing by the Irish in containing the Dutch in those opening three friendless even though their squad included six of their under-21 side.
The same point of course can be said in Ireland's case as Kuper had excluded her most experienced internationals captain Lynsey McVicker, Jenny Burke, Linda Caulfield, Jill Orbinson and Deirdre Casey from the selection.
Looking ahead to the proposed line-up of internationals earmarked for Ireland's build up over the next six months those tentatively in place feature games against England, Wales, Belgium and Germany and the annual Celtic Cup event while it is also likely Ireland will be taking part in a nations tournament in Bremen in Germany in July.
Back on the domestic front the rained-off Irish Senior Cup third round tie of two week's ago between Pembroke Wanderers and Old Alexandra is back for decision tomorrow at Serpentine Avenue. Old Alexandra's 1-0 lead goal secured by Jan Perrin before the rain called a halt on the half hour has given Pembroke a second chance to start on level terms. Tomorrow's four premier league games in Leinster suggest's the top three, Loreto, Hermes and Railway Union, will all reap their full quota of points at the expense of UCD, Clontarf and Genesis.
FIXTURES: Saturday: Irish Senior Cup: Third round: Pembroke Wanderers v Old Alexandra, Serpentine Ave 1.30. Leinster League: Division one - Corinthian v Three Rock, Whitechurch Pk 3.30; Hermes v Clontarf, St Andrews, Booterstown 1.15; UCD v Loreto, Belfield 11.15; Genesis v Railway Union, Belfield 4.15. Division two: Glenanne v Muckross, St Mark's, Tallaght 3.30; Dublin University v Skerries, Santry 12.30. Munster League: Division one - Bandon v C of I, Bandon G S 11.30; U C C v Catholic Institute, Mardyke 12.0; University of Limerick v Waterford, Univ. of Limerick 2.0. Ulster Shield: Semi-finals: Pegasus v Victorians, Ards L C 1.0; Ballymoney v Omagh, Olympia L C 2.30. Ulster League: Division one - Ballymena v Randalstown, Showgrounds 2.30. May Costley Cup: Quarter-finals - Moyne Thurles v Yeats County, Ursuline Convent, Thurles 3.0; Dublin City University v Cooke, Wolston College, Celbridge 1.0; Newbridge v Mallow, Naas HC 3.30; Weston v Wexford 2nd, King's Hospital 4.0. SUNDAY: Leinster Cup: Semi-final: Loreto 2nd v Hermes, Grange Road 2.0. Irish Junior Cup: Quarter-final - Old Alexandra 2nd v Armagh, Milltown 2.0. MONDAY: Leinster League: Division two: Muckross v Loreto 3rd, Donnybrook 8.0; Pembroke Wanderers 2nd v Hermes 2nd, Serpentine Avenue 8.30.
