Victories over Belgium a boost for Irish women’s hockey squad

Two victories over Belgium in Brussels this week gave Darren Smith's Irish team an encouraging start to their build-up for March's World Hockey League, phase one of the Olympic qualification process.

Belgium denied Ireland a place in the line-up for London 2012, but this time around Ireland kept two clean sheets, Audrey O'Flynn and Chloe Watkins getting the goals in their first win, Chloe Brown scoring the only goal of the game in the second.

Next in the schedule for the team is a three-game series against Scotland (November 2nd, 3rd and 5th) which will be played at Three Rock Rovers' newly laid Grange Road pitch and at Alexandra College in Milltown.

“The pitch at Three Rock Rovers looks fantastic and the club must be delighted that all their hard work has paid off,” said Smith.

Meanwhile Lisnagarvey host the under-18 interprovincial tournament this weekend, Ulster looking to reclaim the title they lost to Leinster last season. On the club front, the two Leinster Division One sides yet to drop points, Pembroke Wanderers and UCD, meet at Serpentine Avenue, giving Loreto, Railway and Corinthian, tied in third, the chance to make up some ground.