HOCKEY/Court of Arbitration hearing: Almost four months after the ill-fated penalty strokes competition between Ireland and Lithuania at the World Cup Qualifier in France, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will today hear arguments in London from both countries and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on the controversy, before delivering what will be the final say on the matter.
The verdict will determine which of the two nations goes through to November's World Cup finals in Australia and will also draw a line under what has been a hugely embarrassing episode for the FIH.
CAS's judgment could be known as early as this evening but none of the parties can confidently predict its nature, this being the first time a hockey dispute has been heard by sport's last legal port of call.
Ireland, at least, have the comfort of knowing that "defeat" today would not end their hopes of reaching the finals - they would then have to play off against India and/or the United States for the final qualifying spot - but for Lithuania it could be "all or nothing".
If CAS rule in favour of Lithuania they will be through to the World Cup, but if they fully support the decision of Claire Peeters-Monseu, the tournament director, who deemed Lithuania to have withdrawn from the qualifier when they refused to turn up for the replay of the strokes, then their qualifying hopes would be over.
It could be a very brief hearing if CAS accepts the Irish Hockey Association's contention that the FIH did not have the jurisdiction to hear an appeal against Peeters-Monseu's ruling - they will point to the qualifier rules which stated that the tournament director's decisions were final and "unappealable".
On the other hand, if CAS agrees with the FIH's Disciplinary Commission that Peeters-Monseu acted "unconstitutionally" by consulting with Antonio von Ondarza, vice-president of the FIH, before ruling that the strokes should be replayed, then the hearing could turn into a torturous debate on the pros and cons of going first in a penalty competition.
There also remains the possibility that the FIH will offer a "deal" to Ireland and Lithuania before the hearing gets under way.
Paul Sreenan SC and solicitor Giles Kennedy will present Ireland's case, which begins at 10 a.m. at the offices of Farrer and Co Solicitors in Lincolns Inn Fields, while the IHA will be represented by Joan McCloy (president) and John Dennis (chairman of the management committee). Rachael Kohler and Denise McCarthy, the Irish captain and manager respectively, are Ireland's two witnesses.
As the spokeswoman for the Lithuanian Hockey Federation put it last week, "Ireland say that they are the winners, Lithuania say they are the winners, so the FIH will ask the question of CAS: please tell us, who are the winners?" As simple, or as complicated, as that.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Genesis v Trinity, Rathdown, 12.0; Railway Union v Pembroke Wanderers, Sandymount, 12.0; UCD v Loreto, Belfield, 1.0; Old Alexandra v Hermes, Milltown, 1.15; Glenanne v Corinthian, Tallaght, 3.0.
JUNIOR INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT (at Grange Road) - Tomorrow: Leinster v Ulster, 10.0; Connacht v South East, 11.30; Munster v Ulster, 1.0; Leinster v South East, 2.30; Munster v Connacht, 4.0. Sunday: Munster v South East, 9.30; Connacht v Ulster, 11.0 ; Leinster v Munster, 12.30; South East v Ulster, 2.0; Leinster v Connacht, 3.30.
MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Harlequins v UCC, Farmer's Cross, 10.30; Church of Ireland v Waterford, Garryduff, 3.0.
MUNSTER CUP - Bandon v Univ of Limerick, Bandon, 1.30.
