Kuper plans an ambitious campaign

If Irish coach Riet Kuper's plans fall into place, the senior panel will have a demanding nine months ahead as they prepare for September's World Cup Qualifier in France. In Dublin over the weekend for the panel's first get-together of the new year, Kuper's belated Christmas present to her players was a training and fitness programme that will soon blow away any cobwebs lingering from the festive season.

Also planned is a series of matches that would see the team take on some of the world's strongest nations. Kuper hopes to take the squad to Holland in August during the Champions Trophy, when they would play several of the nations in practice matches. "Everything depends on what funding we receive from the Irish Hockey Association, but I would also like to take the squad outside Europe at some stage for a training camp," she said.

"We'll organise some other matches too, probably against Scotland and Wales, and there is a chance we'll play in a four nations tournament at the World Cup Qualifier venue in France, a couple of weeks before the event gets under way."

Injuries, illnesses and unavailability left Kuper with a depleted panel to work with in Belfield over the weekend. Captain Mary Logue and sweeper Arlene Boyles were two of the absentees, having been given a break from the international set-up. Also given permission to be absent was Karen O'Brien, but the Harlequins forward wasn't idle over the weekend, scoring twice in her club's 3-3 Munster League draw with the University of Limerick. The students led 2-1 before O'Brien put the champions ahead, but Eavanne O'Reilly scored her second goal of the game, 10 minutes from time, to snatch an impressive draw for Catherine Bird's team.

Meanwhile, Mary Harkin proved to be Loreto II's heroine in Saturday's Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final tie against fellow Senior B side Corinthian. Harkin saved three strokes in the shootout that was required after the game ended 0-0. Emma Pomphrett and Carol Fanagan converted to give Loreto II a 2-1 win in the shoot-out.