WOMENS HOCKEY/Interprovincial Championship: For players with senior international aspirations, this weekend's interprovincial tournament in Hillsborough gives them their first chance to impress new Ireland coach Gene Muller, who will be talent-spotting at the tournament ahead of naming his first squad for next month's matches against Scotland in Edinburgh.
Ulster, who held off the challenge of Munster last season in Garryduff to deny Leinster a three-in-a-row in the tournament, will once again be relying on a youthful squad, one that features five Randalstown players, who have made such a bright start to the club season, as well as the talent of Armagh's Emma Stewart and Ballymoney's Lauren Barr, both already capped at senior level.
Munster, too, include some of the country's brightest prospects, most notably Harlequins' Julia O'Halloran and Ashton's Cliodhna Sargent, while Australian junior international Ashleigh Roberson, who joined Harlequins during the summer, has been called up by coach Mike McKinnon.
Jeamie Deacon, top scorer in Leinster this season, features in Rudi Wortmann's squad, which is captained by Hermes' Caitriona Carey. Susie Geoffroy of Corinthian has also been called up, as have UCD players Róisín Flinn, Lisa Jacob and Christine Quinlan.
Between them Pembroke Wanderers and Loreto provide nine of the Connacht squad, coached by Roy Horsfield. Ciara Murphy returns from France, where she is playing for Stade Françcais, and former Ireland goalkeeper Tara Browne, now playing for Galway, is also included.
Ulster open the defence of their title against Connacht in the first of this evening's games, while Munster will be hoping to repeat their defeat of Leinster last season when they meet at 8pm.
CONNACHT: T Browne (Galway), R Carrigan (Greenfields), K Brannelly, A Harte (both Hermes), C Grealy, O Ryan (capt), S Scott (Loreto), B Fitzgerald (Old Alexandra), O Canavan, S Clarke, E MacNicholas, C Friel, L O'Hagan, S McDonald (all Pembroke Wanderers), J Coyne, S Walsh (both Railway Union), C Murphy (Stade Français), A McKeon (Univ of Limerick). Coach: R Horsfield.
LEINSTER: S Geoffroy (Corinthian), C Carey (Hermes, capt), L Caulfield, C Sullivan (both Hermes), N Keegan, C McKean (both Loreto), S Frey, Z Dahl, J Deacon (all Old Alexandra), M Goode, D Kelly, A O'Gorman (all Pembroke Wanderers), K Dillon, I Joyce, E Smyth (all Railway Union), R Flinn, L Jacob, C Quinlan (all UCD). Coach: R Wortmann.
MUNSTER: C Sargent (Ashton), K Daly (Catholic Institute), E Harte (Chelmsford), O McCarthy, S Connery, K Hales, H Moffett, D Casey (all Church of Ireland), A O'Neill, J O'Halloran, A Roberson (all Cork Harlequins), F Connery, J Hodgins (both Hermes), S O'Connor (Old Alexandra), E Bromell (capt, Pembroke Wanderers), C Kenefick (Railway Union), A Connery (UCC), J O'Loughlin (Univ of Limerick). Coach: M McKinnon.
ULSTER: H Bowe, E Stewart (both Armagh), E Lesley (Ballymena), L Barr (Ballymoney), J Lynch (Loreto), S Moffett, S Beaney, S Martin, F McIlwaine, A Speers (all Pegasus), K McComish (Pembroke Wanderers), E Clare, K Elkin, S McCay, C Parkhill (capt), G Watters (all Randalstown). Coach: S Watt.
Tonight (all matches at Hillsborough): Ulster v Connacht, 6.0; Leinster v Munster, 8.0.
Saturday: Leinster v Connacht, 10.30; Ulster v Munster, 2.30.
Sunday: Connacht v Munster, 10.30; Ulster v Leinster, 2.30.
