WOMEN'S HOCKEY:THIS WEEKEND Ulster's Pegasus side can sit back and watch almost half the teams disappear as they have gotten a bye into the second round, while the two Dublin teams that have been recent ESB Irish Senior Cup winners face the students from UCD and Trinity. Loreto travel to Dublin University's Santry, while Hermes entertain UCD at St Andrews School.
Loreto should be well pleased about their robust health with five players, 19-year-old Trinity Law student, Lizzie Colvin, goalkeeper Louisa Healy, the vastly-experienced Cathy McKean, 22-year-old Niamh Small and multi-capped Nikki Symmons drafted into Irish coach Gene Muller’s squad of 23 for the senior women’s training camp that takes place in Alicante at the beginning of February.
Muller’s objective is the European Championships in August with the obvious long-term goal of getting an Irish team to the London Olympics in 2012.
Zara Delaney, who didn’t make it onto the final cut for Spain, did play against Canada in the recent series of matches but twisted her ankle in the first game. Loreto are waiting to see if she will be fit for the weekend meeting.
The Orla Bell-coached side have the biggest representation on Muller’s new squad and will go into their game with confidence of getting through to the second round. Trinity have no players in the squad but as usual they will be tenacious and if tradition means anything, also somewhat unpredictable.
UCD, who go to the lions’ den at Booterstown, face a Hermes side, who have just one representative on Mullers’ squad, goalkeeper Emma Gray, while UCD have Lisa Jacob and Roisin Finn in camp. That said Hermes have a raft of younger talent who played for the Ireland A side against Canada last week and should be capable of fronting up to the students for a second-round place.
Cork Harlequins, the Irish Senior Cup winners of 2000, face the 2001 champions, Ballymoney. Part of that deal is a long trek up to the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre. Ballymoney have two Ulster teenagers, 19-year-old Lauren Barr and 18-year-old Megan Frazer, as well as the experienced Bridget McKeever included in the Irish squad. Belfast Harlequins, Old Alexandra and Cork C of I all join Pegasus with first-round byes.
IRISH SENIOR CUP
Round One:Ballymoney v Cork Harlequins, 2.30 Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre; Armagh v Genesis, 2.30 Ardmore; Knock v Pembroke Wanderers, 1.00 Balmoral; Lisnagarvey v Bray, 2.30 Hillsborough; Dublin University v Loreto, 2.45 Santry; Corinthians v Victorians, 3.45 Whitechurch; Randalstown v Cookstown, 2.30 Antrim Forum;Ards v Ulster Elks 1.30 Ards; Catholic Institute v Lurgan 12.00 Greenfields; Hermes v UCD, 2.30 St Andrews; UCC v Railway Union, 2.00 Mardyke.
