HOCKEY:NOT SURPRISINGLY, Glenanne make up the bulk of the Leinster team that takes on Ulster and Munster in this weekend's senior Interprovincial championship. Graham Shaw, who captains and coaches Glenanne as well as coaching Loreto, has club colleague Joe Brennan as vice-captain and five other Glenanne players in the 18-man panel.
The tournament kicks off tonight at Serpentine Avenue at 8pm. Traditionally a stage that allows the national coach a chance to see the top players in one place, a number will be missing, notably Neville Cup-winning Gareth Watkins of Monkstown. Non-available players include some professionals who remain in Europe, although Ulster have enticed a couple back from Spain.
Railway Union have been rewarded for a fine season with Mark English coming into the Leinster panel to join Kenny Carroll, while Stephen O’Keefe lines out for Munster. Munster is the traditional amalgam of players largely from Harlequins and C of I, with a few from Bandon and UCC and a clutch from Leinster clubs breaking up that monopoly.
Holders Leinster kick off against Munster before meeting Ulster on Sunday after a day’s rest. Ulster have drafted in Michael Watt and Geoff McCabe from Spanish side Santander as well as Reading’s Christopher Cargo.
The Irish Hockey Association’s annual ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Awards will take place on Saturday, May 21st in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.
FIXTURES(all matches Serpentine Avenue) – Interprovincial series – Friday: Munster v Leinster 8pm; Saturday: Munster v Ulster, 5pm; Sunday: Leinster v Ulster, 4pm.
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