The domestic hockey season finishes this weekend with the junior interprovincials at Blaris. Micky Nichols of Monkstown leads the Leinster challenge to Ulster, who are captained by Armagh's Howard Quinn, while Stuart Egner and Dermot Judge are two of Munster's stalwarts. Connacht's welcome presence is sharpened by the inclusion of the Avoca pair, Colm Brady and David Fanning, and Ian Walshe of Corinthians.
There are changes in the Leinster leagues for next season. The bottom team only will be relegated automatically from the first division and one side promoted from the second division but there will be a promotion/relegation play-off between the second-last team in division one and the runners-up in division two. The second division (with Naas, DCU and Skerries promoted this season and other third-division sides dispersed) will be made up of 12 teams, including Carlow.