McKean spearheads Leinster's challenge to retain their title

WOMEN'S HOCKEY INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP:AFTER ENDING Ulster's hopes of a senior interprovincial four-in-a-row in Garryduff last year, Leinster will attempt to retain their title at Grange Road over the weekend, opening their defence this evening against Munster.

With the World Cup Qualifier in Santiago just a month away, none of the members of the Irish squad named by Gene Muller earlier this week will be involved in the tournament, but several former internationals and players who just missed out on selection for Chile will feature.

Cathy McKean, who ended her Irish career last year after winning 130 caps, spearheads Leinster’s challenge, the core of the squad made up of Railway Union players, six of whom have been selected by coach Simon Filgas.

There’s plenty of experience, too, in the Ulster panel with the prolific Suzanne Beaney and Hannah McMillan, the Queen’s player who is the province’s top scorer this season, likely to pose a serious goal threat to their opponents.

Greenfields and Galway make up the bulk of the Connacht squad, coached by Sarah Scott, with seven players from Leinster clubs also included, while Munster, seeking their first senior title since 2003, feature six of the UCC squad that remains unbeaten in the province’s first division after 10 games.

The under-21s are also in interprovincial action at Grange Road this weekend, with Ulster seeking a three-in-a-row in the tournament.

Senior Interprovincial tournament (at Grange Road) – Today:Ulster v Connacht, 6.0; Munster v Leinster, 8.0. Tomorrow: Leinster v Connacht, 12.0; Ulster v Munster, 4.0. Sunday: Connacht v Munster, 12.0; Ulster v Leinster, 4.0.

Under-21 Interprovincial tournament (at Grange Road) – Tomorrow:Leinster v Munster, 10.0; Ulster v South East, 10.0; Munster v South East, 3.30. Sunday: Leinster v South East, 10.0; Munster v Ulster, 10.0; Ulster v Leinster, 3.30.

CONNACHT:E Molloy, T Melvin, G Melvin, F Timmons (all Galway HC), D Kiernan (Glenanne), B Flannery, N McGettigan, A Collins, A Smyth, M Healy (all Greenfields), A Harte (Hermes), C Grealy (Loreto), L O'Connor (NUIG), S McDonald, S Walsh (both Railway Union), I O'Gorman, O Callanan (both Trinity), R Corrigan (UCD). Coach: Sarah Scott.

LEINSTER:C Murray, L O'Neill (both Bray), S Burke, C McGowan (both Corinthian), M Waldron, A McCormack (both Glenanne), C McKean, N Keegan, N Daly (all Loreto), P Smithwick (Old Alexandra), H Jenkinson, I Joyce, E Dolan, K Dillon, C Joyce, J McDonald (all Railway Union), M Tennant Humphreys (UCD). Coach: Simon Filgas.

MUNSTER:C Ronan, E Bromell, R Pratt, K Daly (all Catholic Institute), S Hackett, S Connery, E Connery, O McCarthy (Church of Ireland), S McCarthy, R McSharry (both Cork Harlequins), A Connery (Hermes), O Crowley, M Crowley, A O'Connor, E O'Donoghue, O Roycroft, A O'Regan (all UCC), J O'Loughlin (Univ of Limerick). Coach: Paudie Hartnett.

ULSTER:N Elliott, K Fraser, E Horan, J Vaughan (all Ards), H Bowe, S Holdsworth, S Quinn (all Armagh), S Martin (Ballymoney), J Clarke, D Topley (both Lisnagarvey), S Beaney, K McConnell, S Moffatt, S Sloan (all Pegasus), H McMillan (Queens), E Teggarty (Randalstown), K McComish (UCD), A Garrad (Ulster Elks). Coach: Stephen Watt.