WOMEN'S HOCKEY/European Cup Winners' Cup: Loreto make their European competitive debut in Vienna today when they open their Cup Winners' Cup (B division) campaign against hosts Arminen Koller Transporte, followed by two more pool games against Royal Leopold of Belgium and Cardiff Athletic tomorrow and on Sunday.
The tournament concludes on Monday with the cross-overs.
The club has a hard act to follow in the competition, with Irish teams taking three gold and two bronze medals in the last 10 years, the best results coming in 1997 and 2000 when Pegasus and Hermes finished third in the A division.
This year, following a change to the format of the competition, a top two pool finish would guarantee Loreto at least a silver medal, a target that should be within their reach.
While they are new to European hockey, eight of Loreto's probable starters have international experience, five of them at senior level, a factor that should give them the edge over all three of their pool opponents.
Arminen, who last qualified for Europe nine years ago, are more renowned for their indoor hockey while Royal Leopold, who Old Alexandra beat in 1999 to take gold, and Cardiff, who finished fourth in the tournament last year, should both be beatable if Loreto find their form.
The second pool looks the stronger, with Dinamo Sumy (Ukraine) and Cambrai (France), both of whom contribute several players to their international teams, likely to fill the top two places.
If Loreto are to emulate Cork Harlequins' gold-winning campaign in Vienna two years ago they will, then, probably have to beat Sumy or Cambrai in Monday's play-off.
Rather than the two pool winners meeting in a final, as in previous tournaments, this year two gold medals are on offer to the winners of both 'first v second' cross-overs, with both losers taking silver.
When the Loreto squad returns to Dublin next Wednesday they will hope to have a medal, of some shade, in their baggage.
LORETO: L Healy, R Brophy, S Rand, C Grealy, S Scott, N Symmons, A O'Brien, C McKean, S Cooney, S O'Meara, N Lyons (capt), O Ryan, C O'Kelly, N Keegan, W Byrne, M Harkin, E Hickey, T O'Keeffe. Coach: Tom O'Donoghue.
EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP - B Division (at Vienna) - Pool A: Loreto, Cardiff Athletic, Royal Leopold (Belgium), Arminen Koller Transporte (Austria). Pool B: Cambrai (France), Dinamo Sumy (Ukraine), Young Boys Bern (Switzerland), Lorenzoni (Italy). Fixtures - Pool A - Today: Loreto v Arminen, 2.0; Cardiff v Royal Leopold, 4.0. Tomorrow: Loreto v Royal Leopold, 2.0; Cardiff v Arminen, 4.0. Sunday: Loreto v Cardiff, 2.0; Royal Leopold v Arminen, 4.0 . Monday: cross-overs.
