HOCKEY:Proposals for an All-Ireland League have finally been ratified - by 61 votes to 10 - at an Irish Hockey Association special general meeting, a year after the initial proposals for reform were rejected, writes Mary Hannigan.

The decision means that from the 2008-09 season the existing club championships will be expanded to include the 12 leading clubs in the country. The teams will compete in two pools of six over the course of the season, with the top two in each pool qualifying for the semi-finals and finals weekends.

Meanwhile, The Irish women's hockey team lost the first of two test matches against world champions Holland 3-0 in Manchester last night.