WOMEN'S HOCKEY:AFTER RETAINING their under-16 and under-18 interprovincial titles at Grange Road last season Ulster return to Dublin this weekend seeking a three-in-a-row in both competitions, with Alexandra College the venue this time around.
Only Connacht (in the under-16 event) and Leinster (in the under-18s) have broken Ulster’s stranglehold on both tournaments in recent years, the province winning nine under-18 titles since 2000 and seven under-16 in the same period. Last season’s triumphs were particularly emphatic with neither team dropping a point and conceding just a goal each in their four games.
Because of the interprovincial events there is a reduced club programme this weekend, with just two Leinster first division games scheduled – Bray v Corinthian and Glenanne v Hermes – and just one in Munster, with UCC hosting the University of Limerick at the Mardyke.
UNDER-16 INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT (at Alexandra College) – Tomorrow:South East v Ulster, 10.0; Munster v Leinster, 11.30; South East v Connacht, 1.0; Ulster v Munster, 2.30; Leinster v Connacht, 4.0. Sunday: South East v Leinster, 9.30; Ulster v Connacht, 11.0; South East v Munster, 12.30; Leinster v Ulster, 2.0; Munster v Connacht, 3.30.
Under-18 interprovincial tournament (at Alexandra College) – Tomorrow:Leinster v Connacht, 10.0; South East v Ulster, 11.30; Munster v Leinster, 1.0; South East v Connacht, 2.30; Ulster v Munster, 4.0. Sunday: Munster v Connacht, 9.30; South East v Leinster, 11.0; Ulster v Connacht, 12.30; South East v Munster, 2.0; Leinster v Ulster, 3.30.
Leinster League, Division One – Saturday:Bray v Corinthian, Loreto Bray, 1.0; Glenanne v Hermes, Tallaght, 1.30. Munster League, Division One – Saturday:UCC v Univ of Limerick, Mardyke, 3.0.
