EHF may have to cancel event

The European Hockey Federation is on the verge of having to cancel the A Division of the women's European Club Championship, due to be held at Easter next year, following the withdrawal a fortnight ago of their invitation to Irish champions Muckross to host the event.

When none of the eight national champions, who had qualified for the A Division, was prepared to host the most prestigious club event in European hockey, the federation's competitions committee offered Muckross, who were scheduled to play in Division B, the place of the Ukrainian champions if they agreed to stage the tournament in Dublin.

Muckross accepted the offer and secured the sponsorship to pay the hosting fee of £4,400, but the invitation was then withdrawn when the EHF, belatedly, decided it would be unfair to relegate the Ukrainians back to Division B from where they had just won promotion.

The EHF have now set October 31st as the deadline for one of the teams to offer themselves as hosts - if no one comes forward, the championship will be cancelled. English champions Slough, for whom Irish international Sarah Kelleher plays, and Edinburgh Ladies say they cannot afford to host the event, with only Spain's Real Sociadad expressing any interest.

Meanwhile Joan McCloy, honorary secretary of the Irish Ladies' Hockey Union, has confirmed that, following consultation with the four provincial branches, a short list of candidates for the post of Irish senior coach will be drawn up and interviews will then be held. She could not say, as yet, whether or not a foreign coach would be considered for the post.

Munster Squad (for next weekend's Senior Interprovincial Championship): C Mahony (Harlequins), S Sweeney (Harlequins), A Buckley (Church of Ireland), J Chapple (Harlequins), F Connery (UCC), A Falvey (Harlequins), J Hyland (UCC), K Johnson (Muckross), A Keane (Hermes), J Kehelly (Harlequins), S Kelleher (Slough), R Kohler (Harlequins, capt), K O'Brien (Harlequins), M O'Sullivan (UCC), K O'Sullivan (Harlequins), EJ Walsh (UCC).