MEN'S HOCKEY:The Irish men's head coach, Dave Passmore, has announced a number of key fixtures in the senior men's hockey calendar for next year in the run up to the European Championships in Manchester next August.

Typically, the Irish side will be kept extremely busy and given the arranged fixtures against the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain in the first six months of next year, they will also be asked to take a step up in class as well.

"We have struggled to get major opposition over the past couple of years but I am pleased with the schedule and the timing of the matches. To have secured matches against the Netherlands and Spain is ideal as we can see where we are in relation to them and get a good look at them before we play them in the summer.

"Results in many of these matches will be irrelevant as long as we are making progress in the right areas and hitting our performance indicators," said Passmore

The Irish men go into camp this weekend in Dublin with the thought of a trip to South Africa early next year very much in the forefront of their minds. The squad will leave for South Africa for 10 days in early January and will face the home nation on January 10th before playing a Spanish side just four days later. The other new fixtures take place in March against the Dutch and in April against Belgium.

Although yet to be confirmed it also looks likely that Ireland will take on the Australian Institute of Sport just a few days after their Celtic Cup campaign next July.

On the domestic front, Trinity and YMCA face a torrid time in Santry and Claremont Road respectively when Pembroke and Glenanne come visiting, while Monkstown will want to firm up their growing credentials against Three Rock Rovers. At Railway Union two sides in desperate need of points face each other. Visitors Bray will have their work cut out to leave with anything.

Leinster Senior League: Division 1- Dublin University v Pembroke 1.30pm, Santry; Fingal v Corinthians, 2.30pm, ALSAA; Monkstown v TRR, 3pm, Rathdown; Railway Union v Bray, 1pm, Park Avenue; YMCA v Glenanne, 1:30pm, Claremont Road. Division 2 - Clontarf v Weston, 2pm, Mount Temple; Kilkenny v PSBPP, 1pm, Kilkenny College; Navan v Naas, 2pm, Sportslink; Skerries v Suttonians, 2pm, Skerries; UCD v Avoca, postponed. Munster Senior League: Division One - Church of Ireland A v UCCA, Garryduff, 10.30; Church of Ireland B v Belvedere A, Garryduff, 1.30; Bandon I v Catholic Institute 1.