MEN'S HOCKEY: Irish coach John Clarke is seeking an assistant for Ireland's preparation for and participation in the European Championship finals this September in Barcelona. British Seoul Olympic gold medallist Jimmy Kirkwood, who has been a strong influence on the Irish squad over the past year, has decided to step down due to family and work commitments.
Kirkwood, with 130 caps for Ireland, ranks third in the Irish caps tally behind Marty Sloan (149) and Billy McConnell (135), and was regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation. He helped Clarke to one of their most successful seasons for some years.
Having won the European Championship qualifier staged in Dublin last summer, and registered wins over the higher ranked Belgium and England, Ireland are now being sought as valuable opposition for top-ranked countries.
The hope is to play between 15-20 international matches between February, when the squad travels to Barcelona for a training camp, and the European finals, which would be one of the most intense phases for the Irish team for some time. The number of preparatory matches depends on the amount of funding available.
Apart from a series in Glasgow in May involving Scotland, a quadrangular tournament in June in Vienna with Russia, Austria and Switzerland, and the Celtic Cup in August with Wales, Scotland and France, Ireland are also hoping to play some of the top-ranked sides.
They are in talks with England, who are committed to playing the Champions Challenge in July, as well as Belgium and Poland. Ireland also have Holland, Spain and Germany in mind.
Kirkwood's replacement will become involved with a less experienced squad than that which travelled to Australia for the women's World Cup last year. A number of key players in the women's squad had over 100 caps each, while few of the men's squad approach that figure.
Domestically this weekend, Three Rock Rovers hope to maintain their place at the top of the league table when they face Monkstown at St Andrew's on Saturday. Glenanne, who play UCD, have two games in hand but are six points adrift of the Grange Road side.
Rovers won the last meeting against Monkstown 2-1 in a tight game and will probably go into this one as favourites after their 4-2 Nevile Cup win on St Stephen's Day over holders Glenanne. It has also been confirmed that Monkstown will meet Glenanne in their refixed Irish Senior Cup game on January 11th.
SATURDAY
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE - Division One: Aer Lingus v Avoca 1.45 ALSAA; Corinthians v YMCA 3.0 Whitechurch Park; Monkstown v Three Rock Rovers 2.0 St Andrew's College; Railway Union v Pembroke 3.0 Park Avenue; UCD v Glenanne tba. Division Two: Clontarf v Naas 2.0 DCU; Suttonians v St Brendan's tba; St James's Gate v Skerries 3.0 Iveagh Grounds; Portrane v Weston 2.15 College of Surgeons; Dublin University v Bray tba.
