The Irish Hockey Association have had a prolonged honeymoon following the merger of the IHU and the ILHU, and now it's time for the conception of an international programme.

There seems to be very little pencilled into the calendar. At least dates for this season's Celtic Cup tournaments (senior and under-21), as well as moves on the coaching front, would be encouragement for those who played so wholeheartedly in last weekend's Interprovincial Championship.

A number of injuries were sustained by leading figures in that arduous competition, including international strikers Justin Sherriff (ankle strain) and Gordon Elliott (hamstring). This pair - who both scored on their Ireland debuts last season with three and two goals respectively - are doubtful starters for Pembroke Wanderers' Leinster Senior League game against Aer Lingus at ALSAA tomorrow.

Furthermore, Ireland goalkeeper Nigel Henderson, who led Leinster to success last Sunday, is unavailable for Pembroke this weekend and while Stephen Doran is an agile deputy, he faces the challenge of maintaining Henderson's record of not conceding a goal in any of the four matches so far.

The fact, indeed, that Pembroke's record reads 19-0 will be a dual target for Aer Lingus to blemish. No doubt the Bane brothers, David and Eamonn, as well as Adrian Sweeney, will be determined to inflict some damage, although it may not be enough to take the points from a powerful squad in which Francis de Rosa is returning to full fitness.

Elsewhere, the AvocaMonks town derby at Rathdown will be closely fought, especially with Avoca having been boosted by their defeat of Glenanne and spurred by Colm Brady, who played with typical resolve in the interprovincials.