MEN'S HOCKEY: Ask Limerick hockey club captain Robbie Ryan to show you his club's facilities and you will see perhaps the best set-up in Ireland. Now in their third year of existence, Limerick has come to typify how healthy the game can be when the will is there.
Currently holding their place in the top four and facing Galway this weekend, the club have struck up a fraternal relationship with the University of Limerick, which has flourished.
In addition, several new players have come on stream this season: two from Spain, Christian Toral-Martinez and Vito Diaz; former YMCA defender John Cuppage, and one-time Irish under-21 player Andrew Kingston.
Toral-Martinez, who has scored in Limerick's last three games and hit a hat-trick against Belvedere, arrived from the Spanish first division side, Santander, and spends considerable time coaching in Villiers School.
Diaz, at 20, and in a gap student year, is the younger player and four years ago played in goal with the Spanish under-16 side.
Cuppage, down in UL studying, took the natural step of hooking up with the driving forces at the club, Ryan and Richard Eacrett, while Kingston has just returned to the game at sweeper after 18 months out with injury.
With confidence high after last week's first-half performance in the Peard Cup final, during which they held the All-Ireland Club Championship winners, Cork Harlequins, to 1-1 at half-time before finally falling 5-1, Limerick are more than surviving. Their colts section, in fact, is in danger of over-running the club, with between 90 and 100 turning out for the club's weekend sessions.
In Leinster, where many clubs would welcome such underage activity, the Senior Cup begins, with Aer Lingus facing Glenanne in the top match of the four.
Glenanne, undoubtedly talented, are out of sorts, and Aer Lingus may fancy their chances.
So too should Trinity against Weston, while Monkstown should have too much depth for Suttonians.
Avoca will face YMCA without midfielder Colin Brady, who is now playing in Cork.
FIXTURES: Saturday - Leinster Senior Cup first round - YMCA v Avoca, Wesley College, 2.0; Aer Lingus v Glenanne ALSAA, 1.30; Weston vs Dublin University, King's Hospital, 1.30; Monkstown vs Suttonians, St Andrew's College, 2.0. Munster Senior League Division One - Catholic Institute A v Bandon A, Moylish, 2.0; C of I A v Belvedere A, Garryduff, 3.0; UCC A v Harlequins B, Ursuline Convent, Blackrock, 3.0; C of I B v Harlequins A, Garryduff, 1.30; Limerick A v Galway A, UL, 3.30. Irish Junior Cup qualifier - UCC B v Waterford A, Ursuline Convent, Blackrock, 1.0.
Sunday - Munster Senior League Division One - Harlequins B v Harlequins A, Farmers Cross, 1.30.
Thursday - Neville Cup - Corinthians v YMCA, Whitechurch, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov 23rd - Men's Irish Junior Cup - Larne v Avoca II; Omagh v Monkstown II; Cookstown II v South Antrim II; Galway v Cork C of I II; Raphoe II v Down; YMCA II v Instonians II; Mossley II v Corinthian II; Cork Harlequins II v Bangor II; Railway Union II v Limerick; Banbridge II v Lisnagarvey II; Pembroke Wanderers II v Three Rock Rovers II; Kilkenny v Ballynahinch; Glenanne II v UCC II or Waterford; Bandon v Antrim II; Portadown v Annadale II; Portrush v Aer Lingus II.
