WOMEN'S HOCKEY/Rule Changes: The FIH executive board, meeting in Perth, has approved two rules changes. The first allows a defender to stick-save a shot at goal which is above shoulder height. (At present only goalkeepers are permitted to do this).
The second change means it will no longer be necessary for attackers to stop the ball before taking a shot at goal at a penalty corner. However, the ball will still have to travel outside the circle before a shot can be taken.
Formally, these changes are mandatory experimental rules. This means their impact on the game will be closely monitored. They will be introduced for international competitions for one year with effect from January 1st.
National associations will have the discretion to decide when to implement the changes in their domestic competitions.
The main focus at home this weekend will be on the Under-18 Interprovincial Championship at Mervue, Galway, where Ulster open the defence of their title against Connacht this morning. Who knows, perhaps some of these girls might become Ireland's first semi-professional players, if the mood from Australia prevails.
Or will things meander on in Ireland as heretofore, as, for example, the extremely awkward hours arranged for two matches this week - 8.30 p.m. last night for a key Leinster League game involving UCD and Loreto at Belfield, and 10 a.m. for Trinity v UCD at Santry tomorrow.
UNDER-18 INTERPROVINCIALS (Mervue, Galway): Today: Connacht v Ulster, 9.30; Leinster v Munster, 11.0; Connacht v South East, 12.30; Ulster v Munster, 2.0; South East v Leinster, 3.30. Tomorrow: Munster v South East, 9.0; Connacht v Leinster, 10.30; Ulster v South East, 12.0; Connacht v Munster, 130; Ulster v Leinster, 3.0.
CONNACHT: N McKeown, K Brannelly, E Barrington, S Corbett, M Faherty, E Fitzmaurice, E Geraghty, Z Hough, D Joyce, S McDonald, S McGovern, D McGuinness, K Murphy, S Murphy, L O'Donnell, E Kilkelly.
LEINSTER: S Fry, E Balbirnie, S Cooney, K Dillon, J Heggie, L Johnston, C Maguire, L Murphy, C Ni Chearbhaill, C Quinlan, A Smith, E Smyth, C Waddell, J White, R Smithwick.
MUNSTER: K Roche, M Twomey, R Murphy, A Quinlan, M O'Dwyeer, N Barrow, S Carey, C Mulcahy, J Long, H Moffett, L Crowley, S Gleeson, E Bohan, C Hickey, F Burke, V Smyth.
SOUTH EAST: S Kehoe, C Pembroke, F Bradish, K Costigan, T Gahan, S Hogan, C Howard, L Jacob, M Laub, O Lawlor, D McGlinchy, D Minogue, A O'Donogue, E O' Neill, O Power, L Roe.
ULSTER: E Lesley, C Reid, H Bowe, E Clarke, K Elkin, J Harvey, K McCollum, K McComish, A McGowan, K McGowan, D McKinstry, S Patton, C Robb, C Russell, J Stewart, R Winnington.
LEINSTER LEAGUE: Division One (tomorrow): Trinity v UCD, Santry,10.0. Division Two: Pembroke II v Loreto II, Serpentine Avenue, 12.15; Clontarf v Our Lady's Dardistown, 2.0.
