AFTER THEIR traditional delayed start to the season, UCD and Trinity get their Leinster League campaigns under way this weekend, both sides playing tomorrow before meeting each other in Santry on Sunday.
Following Mary Logue’s departure to Hermes, Johnny Harte takes over as UCD coach.
Both Lisa Jacob, captain of the team that won the Irish Senior Cup two years ago, and Kerry McComish have joined Logue at Hermes, with goalkeeper Grace O’Flanagan (Railway Union) and Julie Garvey (Old Alexandra) also moving on.
Harte’s squad, though, has been strengthened by the arrival from Hermes of Niamh Atcheler and Chloe Watkins, both members of the Irish Hockey Association’s Central Preparation Programme, with Connacht’s Brenda Flannery also now part of the University’s Elite Athlete Academy. The UCD defence, meanwhile, should be bolstered by the arrival of Leah Lenehan from Old Alexandra.
David Bane’s Trinity squad has also been strengthened for the new season by the addition of the gifted trio of Alice Ward, Hayley O’Donnell (both from Pembroke Wanderers) and Liane Costello from Old Alexandra.
Trinity’s opening game, though, is as tough as it gets, national champions Railway Union their opponents tomorrow before they take on their fellow students on Sunday. UCD open against Glenanne at Belfield.
Hermes and Old Alexandra, both of whom had comfortable wins in their first games of the season last weekend, meet in Booterstown tomorrow, while Loreto will also try to make it two wins out of two when they host Corinthian at Beaufort.
Pembroke Wanderers and Bray will look to get off the mark when they meet at Serpentine Avenue.
FIXTURES: Leinster League– Division One – Tomorrow: UCD v Glenanne, Belfield, 1pm; Pembroke Wanderers v Bray, Serpentine Avenue, 1pm; Hermes v Old Alexandra, St Andrew's, 1.15; Loreto v Corinthian, Beaufort, 2.30; Trinity v Railway Union, Santry, 3pm. Sunday: Trinity v UCD, Santry, 3pm.
Munster League– Division One – Tomorrow: Church of Ireland v UCC, Garryduff, 10am; Catholic Institute v Ashton, Rosbrien, noon; Harlequins v Belvedere, Farmers Cross, noon; Bandon v Univ of Limerick, Bandon, 12.30. Sunday: Univ of Limerick v Catholic Institute, UL, 3.30.
