HOCKEY:How times have changed. On Tuesday, Phelie Maguire and Andy McConnell from the men's national squad found time to make an appearance in Elverys sports shop in Dublin's Suffolk St before jetting off with Ireland to Chile to compete in a four-nations' tournament against Argentina, South Africa and the hosts. The tournament will serve as part of the Ireland men's preparation for their Olympic qualifying tournament in New Zealand next February.
That Maguire and McConnell, along with some from the women's squad, were involved in such a promotion is progress of sorts. The results next week will, however, reveal whether that marketing step forward is backed up on the pitch.
The bottom line is that Ireland should beat Chile and South Africa and lose narrowly to Argentina. Even though players such as Stephen Butler, Graham Shaw, Andy Barbour and Jason Black are not travelling, anything less than two wins would generate concern for Ireland's already slim chances of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics.
Of ongoing interest is why Justin Sherriff continues to remain out of favour. The most prolific scorer from play Ireland has had remains the elephant in the corner of the Irish dressingroom. The Pembroke forward's name is on the scoresheet almost every weekend, and those that know his game will tell you in terms of having an impact, despite his tendency to drift in and out of games, he is second to none.
Sherriff is a shining talent who has been left on the shelf, but no doubt he will line out for Pembroke tomorrow against the team that almost caused a huge Irish Senior Cup upset last weekend, Fingal. Their heroics against Lisnagarvey should give them real momentum going into this Leinster league match.
Elsewhere, Three Rock should find Monkstown tougher than last week's opposition, Trinity, while Corinthians v Glenanne, at Whitechurch, could be the match of the day.
Leinster Senior League: Division One - Kilkenny v YMCA, Kilkenny. 2.30pm; Pembroke v Fingal, Serpentine Avenue, 4pm; TRR v Monkstown Grange Road, 1pm; Corinthians v Glenanne, Whitechurch, 1pm. Division two - Railway Union v Skerries, Park Avenue, 1.15pm; Suttonians v Trinity, Sutton Park, 2.45pm; Weston v PSBPP, Griffeen Valley, 1.30pm; Navan v Naas, Sportslink, 12.30pm; Avoca v Clontarf, Newpark, 1.30pm.
Sunday: Leinster Senior Cup Round two - TRR v Corinthians, Grange Road, 2pm; Kilkenny v YMCA, Kilkenny, 1.30pm; Navan v Avoca, Sportslink, noon.
Monday: Ireland v South Africa, Chile, 8pm;
Tuesday: Ireland v Chile, Chile, 8pm;
Wednesday: Ireland v Argentina, Chile, 8pm.
