WOMEN'S HOCKEY ROUND-UP:THREE MONTHS ahead of the World Cup qualifier in Chile the Ireland squad leaves for Alicante today for a week-long training camp that signals the start of an intensive build-up to the tournament for Gene Muller's players.
In early February Ireland will play two internationals against Belgium in Nivelles, before taking on England in three games at Bisham later in the month. After that the players travel to Nice for the Celtic Cup (March 5th-7th), with Muller then finalising his squad for Chile. Exam commitments have ruled Megan Frazer (University of Maryland) and Emma Stewart (Armagh) out of the trip to Spain.
Back home UCC will look to build on their win over league leaders Catholic Institute, who had won all six of their games before losing 2-1 to UCC last weekend, when they meet Church of Ireland tomorrow, with champions Cork Harlequins, who have games in hand, at home to Bandon.
While the draw for the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup has already been made, a repeat of last year’s final between holders Hermes and Railway Union the stand-out tie, two third-round games have still to be played – they are scheduled for Sunday.
Meanwhile, the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght, hosts the ESB Indoor Women’s National Trophy this weekend, with 11 clubs competing, among them Galway, who host the EuroHockey Indoor Champions Challenge at the end of next month.
IRELAND SQUAD:R Mulligan (Armagh), L Barr, B Cleland (both Ballymoney), M Goode (Bray), E Cregan, C Sargent (both Cork Harlequins), S McCay, A Speers (both Dragons, Belgium), N Atcheler (Hermes), E Clarke (Leicester), N Symmons, N Daly, N Small, L Healy, L Colvin (all Loreto), R Flinn (Old Alexandra), M Harvey (Pegasus), H Stevenson, E Smyth (both Railway Union), J O'Halloran, A O'Flynn (both UCC), L Jacob (UCD).
Irish Hockey Challenge:Second round – Tomorrow: Fermoy v Wexford, Loreto Fermoy, 12.30; Mallow v Kilkenny, Farmers Cross, 1pm; Enniscorthy v Tipperary, Enniscorthy, 1pm; Renmore v Limerick, Mervue, 1.30. Sunday: Athlone v Clonmel, Athlone, 2.30.
Leinster Senior Cup:Second round – Sunday: Corinthian II v Old Alexandra, Whitechurch, 1.15; Old Alexandra II v Genesis, Milltown, 3.30. Quarter-final draw: Old Alexandra II/ Genesis v Pembroke Wanderers; Corinthian II/Old Alexandra v Loreto II; Railway Union v Hermes; Glenanne v Corinthian.
Munster League:Division One – Tomorrow: UCC v Church of Ireland, Mount Mercy, 1.15; Univ of Limerick v Waterford, Univ of Limerick, 1.30; Cork Harlequins v Bandon, Farmers Cross, 3pm.
