WOMEN'S HOCKEY:FOR THE first time since 1997, when Terry Gregg stepped down from the role, the senior women's team has a home-produced coach following the interim appointment by the Irish Hockey Association of Cork man Denis Pritchard.
Pritchard was assistant to Gene Muller during the South African’s five and a half years at the helm, Muller having succeeded Dutch woman Riet Kuper in the job.
The former Munster and Church of Ireland coach, who also had a spell as assistant with the men’s senior team, will remain in the role until the conclusion of October’s Champions Challenge, at which point the IHA hopes to make a full-time appointment. The position will be advertised in July.
Pritchard will also take charge of the team at June’s Investec Cup in London, where the team will play five of this summer’s Olympic line-up, and at the Celtic Cup in Lisnagarvey later in the month.
Most of the players he’ll likely be calling up for those tournaments will be in Irish Hockey League action tomorrow in the final round of pool matches.
Three semi-final places are up for grabs, with Hermes the only side to have already qualified for the last four.
They travel to Belfast to take on defending IHL champions Pegasus, who will seal their semi-final place if they pick up a bonus points win over Hermes. Anything less than that, though, could allow UCD, a point behind in third, leapfrog them. The students are away to Munster champions Catholic Institute.
It’s tighter still in pool B where just two points separate the top three teams. Two of them, Loreto (14 points) and Ballymoney (12), meet at the Joey Dunlop Centre, so a win for Railway Union (13) away to Cork Harlequins would ensure them a semi-final place. A draw would suffice for Loreto, or even a defeat by a single goal – their bonus point would see them top Ballymoney on goal difference.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Tomorrow– Irish Hockey League: Pool A: Pegasus v Hermes, Queen's, 1pm; Catholic Institute v UCD, Rosbrien, 1pm; Armagh v Old Alexandra, Ardmore, 1pm. Pool B: Cork Harlequins v Railway Union, Farmers Cross, 3pm; Ballymoney v Loreto, Joey Dunlop Centre, 3pm; UCC v Lurgan, The Mardyke, 3pm.
Sunday– Irish Junior Cup final: Loreto v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 1.15.
