If there's an extra spring in the step of the 12 senior Irish panellists who will be in action for their teams this weekend in the All-Ireland club championship quarter-finals it might have something to do with the draw for September's World Cup qualifier, which was announced on Wednesday.
Even if most recent attempts at qualifying for major tournaments have ended in disappointment for the Irish the relatively kind draw they have received for the first stage of the qualifier makes it difficult to resist feeling cautiously hopeful about their chances of reaching the 2002 finals in Australia.
Ireland have beaten two of their first stage opponents in their most recent tournament meetings - France (in 1999) and India (last year) - while Kenya are expected to be one of the qualifier's weakest teams. "It's not a bad pool when you compare it to the other three," said assistant Irish coach Peter Darley, "and it gives us a good chance of reaching the second stage where seven of the eight teams will qualify. It will still be tough, though, because France, as hosts, will have a lot of money poured into their preparations and India are always difficult for us because of their style of play. But we've avoided teams of the strength of England, Ukraine, Scotland, USA and Russia so, in that respect, it's a good draw." One senior Irish panellist who won't be in action this weekend is Ballymoney player-coach Lynsey McVicker, who discovered after last Saturday's Irish Senior Cup heroics against Pegasus she had broken her hand, even though she scored one of her team's strokes in the shootout at the end. McVicker expects to be out for four to six weeks and will have to watch from the sidelines tomorrow as Ballymoney take on Leinster champions Hermes in the first leg of their quarter-final. Loreto should go in to their tie against Portadown at Beaufort in high spirits after their Leinster cup final win over Hermes last weekend, while Old Alexandra host Cork Harlequins at Milltown. Pegasus have received a bye in to the club finals after the withdrawal of NUIG from the competition due to exam commitments.
