Hockey/ European Cup Winners Trophy: Hermes and Instonians go into European competition today without their Irish internationals, with Instonians' Paddy Brown and Mark Irwin already in action in the World Cup qualifier in China, and Hermes' Linda Caulfield, Catriona Carey and Fiona Connery unavailable for club hockey as they prepare for the qualifier in Rome.
Both clubs are competing in the European Cup Winners' Trophy, Hermes in Villafranca, Italy, and Instonians in Vienna, with promotion for Ireland to next season's A division their target.
Hermes, aiming for their third trophy of the season after winning the Leinster First Division title and Irish Senior Cup, are assured of European hockey next season, although if they manage to win the All Ireland club title in May it is the European Club Championships they will compete in next season, rather than Cup Winners' Cup.
Hermes and Instonians will need to finish in the top two of their pool to qualify for a promotion play-off on Monday.
Hermes open their campaign against Howardian Ladies of Wales today, while Instonians begin against Eagles of Gibraltar.
HERMES: N King, K Brannelly, A McCarthy, A Mitchell, C Devine, C Lawson, C Sullivan, D McDermott, J Burke, J Osborne (capt), J Hodgins, K Farrell, L Costello, L O'Sullivan, M Logue, M Powers, S Young, S McDonnell.
INSTONIANS: N Cooke (capt), N Skillen, A Seay, R Johnson, T Taylor, M Wainwright, G Currie, P Gleghorne, S McWilliams, S Reid, J Lewis, A Lewis, A Cousins, C Kirk, C Barnes, R Lee, A Stewart, G Frizelle.
WOMEN'S EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS TROPHY (at Villafranca) - Pool A: Kummultshik Barnaul (Rus), Meteor Ceske Budejovice (Czech), HC Olten (Switz), Eagles HC (Gib). Pool B: Lille (Fra), Hermes (Ire), Howardian Ladies (Wales), Mori Villafranca (Italy).
Today: Hermes v Howardian Ladies, 2.0. Tomorrow: Hermes v Villafranca, 4.0. Sunday: Hermes v Lille, 2.0. Monday: Classification matches.
MEN'S EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS TROPHY (at Vienna) - Pool A: WKS Grunwald (Pol), SV Arminen Koller (Aus), HC Olten (Switz), HK Marathon (Cro). Pool B: HC Roma (Italy), Instonians (Ire), Eagles (Gib), Bohemians Praha (Czech).
Today: Instonians v Eagles, 12.0. Tomorrow: Instonians v Bohemians Praha, 12.0. Sunday: Instonians v HC Roma, 12.0. Monday: Classification matches.
