MUNSTER have a tough task when they defend the Interprovincial Championship in Blaris this weekend. They won the title last year for the first time since 1975, prior to that the honours had alternated between Ulster and Leinster.

Bernie Heffernan, an art and design teacher in Loreto in Youghal, has taken over from Valerie Shannon as Munster coach. "We are positive about the interprovincials, but we are not naive to think that Ulster and Leinster will not be keen to reclaim the title," she said. "It was a great achievement last year, one that will be hard to recreate, especially off home territory."

Peter McCabe, the Ulster coach, agrees at home advantage will be important. And he said: "Our preparations have gone very well." He believes that the young squad which he introduced last year will come together this season, due to their greater experience.

In the Leinster camp, Fintan Butler has moulded together a side which encompasses the experience of Sandra O'Gorman, Mary Logue and Teresa Hurley with youth, through Daphne Sixsmith, Jenny Burke, Trish Conway. He feels that Leinster have a good chance but that there is a much more level playing field between the provinces. "The days of the interprovincials being dominated by Ulster and Leinster are gone," he said.

The interprovincials are to be held over two days, tomorrow and Sunday. This means that the teams are playing two matches on one of the days. With the pace and, intensity of hockey now, especially on astra turf, it seems unreasonable for this situation to occur.

For a fair and good tournament, the teams need to be fresh and sharp for each match, players cannot give the same effort in two matches in the one day. Playing some of the games on Friday evening seems a reasonable solution to this problem for future years.