Women's Hockey: It's at times like this that those players called up to Riet Kuper's panel for the first time realise the level of commitment required to be involved at senior international level.
While most of their clubmates will get down to some serious Christmas shopping this weekend, the 30 panellists, 10 of them uncapped, will meet Kuper at Newtownabbey for some light training and fitness testing.
While the bulk of the panel's plans for the new year have yet to be finalised, friendly matches against Olympic champions Germany have been confirmed for Dublin (July 29th-31st) as part of the build-up to the European finals.
The weekend before that the squad will compete in the Celtic Cup in Edinburgh, while Kuper is hopeful that a training camp in Spain at the end of January, where the Netherlands would be available for practice matches, will be given the go-ahead.
It is, then, a quiet weekend on the club front, with Ballymoney's Ulster Shield tie against Knock postponed because of the inclusion of four of their players in the Irish panel.
LEINSTER SCHOOLGIRLS' PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL (at Grange Road) - Today: Mount Anville v Wesley College, 3.0.
IRISH JUNIOR CUP - Tomorrow - Second round: Wexford v Pegasus II, Kilkenny College, 12.0.
JACQUI POTTER LEINSTER CUP - Tomorrow - Second round: Clontarf v Loreto II, Clontarf, 12.30.
ULSTER SHIELD - Tomorrow - Second round: Portadown v North Down, Edenvilla 2.30; Omagh v Cookstown, Omagh Leisure Centre, 2.30; Randalstown v Ballymena, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Ards v Belfast Harlequins, Ards Leisure Centre, 4.0; Ballyclare v Victorians, Valley Leisure Centre, 2.30; Owls v Parkview, Paisley Park, 2.30; Priorians v Pegasus, Strabane, 2.0.
