Women's Hockey News round-up: While the Irish team continue their preparations for March's Olympic qualifier in New Zealand with a series of matches against the US in San Francisco, they have had a game against South Korea, ranked sixth in the world, added to their schedule for their trip to Argentina next month.
Riet Kuper's desire for her team to play top-quality opposition ahead of the qualifier has been satisfied, in some style - the US are 10th in the world, while world champions Argentina and European champions Holland, who Ireland also play next month, are first and second. Spain, the opposition in Madrid in Ireland's final warm-up game, are ranked seventh.
Jenny Burke (foot fracture) and Angela Platt (injured elbow) missed out on Wednesday's 1-0 defeat by the US (Burke, while back in training, is unlikely to feature in any of the games), in a match that saw Deirdre Casey, Nicky McCaughern and Kristin Farrell win their first senior caps.
Veteran American midfielder Tracey Fuchs scored the winner from a penalty corner in the final minute. It was little consolation to Kuper and her players that the umpire admitted after the game that the "corner" should, in fact, have been a free-out to Ireland.
Linda Caulfield, Jill Orbinson and Eimear Cregan, who had a goal disallowed in the first half, earned the praise of Kuper.
Meanwhile, Leinster clubs, at the request of the branch, have agreed to take greater care with the filling in of match cards following a spate of errors in the first half of the season that led to the threat of docked points. At a meeting on Wednesday the branch announced that "where reasonable explanations can be furnished in relation to 'clerical' errors on match cards clubs will not be deducted three points - they will, however, incur a financial penalty".
Loreto, who are aiming for an Irish Senior Cup three-in-a-row, travel to take on Randalstown at the Antrim Forum in tomorrow's third-round tie. Loreto are currently the Leinster Division One leaders, while Randalstown are just two points behind Pegasus with a game in hand.
IRISH SENIOR CUP - Third round: Old Alexandra v Railway Union, Milltown, 1.15; Randalstown v Loreto, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Pegasus v Bandon, Queens, 1.0; Cork Harlequins v Knock, Harlequin Park, 1.30; Hermes v Genesis, Booterstown, 1.15; UCD v Belfast Harlequins, Belfield, 12.30; Ballymoney v Coleraine, Joey Dunlop Centre, 3.30; Corinthian v Ards, Whitechurch, 1.15.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One - Sunday: Loreto v Three Rock, Beaufort, 4.0. Division Two - Tomorrow: Clontarf v Pembroke Wanderers II, Glasnevin, 10.0; Old Alexandra II v Glenanne, Milltown, 2.45; Hermes II v Muckross, Booterstown, 4.0. Sunday: Loreto II v Our Lady's, Beaufort, 1.30.
