McKeever looks ready for opener

HOCKEY: Ballymoney's Bridget McKeever, who suffered a fractured cheekbone in Argentina last month, looks set to be fit for Ireland…

HOCKEY: Ballymoney's Bridget McKeever, who suffered a fractured cheekbone in Argentina last month, looks set to be fit for Ireland's opening game next Tuesday in the World Cup Qualifier in Rome.

The 23-year-old student, Ireland's outstanding player in last summer's European Championships, came through last weekend's training camp at Lisnagarvey and will travel with the squad to Italy today.

Ireland, who need to finish in the top five of the 12-team tournament to qualify for September's World Cup in Madrid, play the United States (Tuesday), Korea (Thursday), New Zealand (Saturday week), Italy (Monday week) and Azerbaijan (Tuesday week).

Back home, Church of Ireland, runners-up in the Munster League, and Connacht champions Galway meet in Rosbrien tomorrow in the play-off to determine who will join Hermes, Ballymoney and Railway Union in Pool A of next month's Club Championships.

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FIXTURES: Club Championships Qualification Play-Off (at Rosbrien). Tomorrow: Church of Ireland v Galway, 2.0.

Junior Interprovincial Tournament (at Grange Road): Tomorrow: Leinster v South East, 9.30; Connacht v Ulster, 11.0; Munster v Leinster, 12.30; South East v Ulster, 2.0; Munster v Connacht, 3.30. Sunday: Munster v South East, 9.0; Leinster v Connacht, 10.30; Ulster v Munster, 12.0; South East v Connacht, 1.30; Leinster v Ulster, 3.0.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times