Although Ireland will have no major assignments at senior level on the hockey front for the next three years, a new Celtic Trophy tournament involving Scotland Wales and France will give the Irish squad some opportunity to regain their shape for the 2003 European Championship in Barcelona.

The new tournament, to be hosted by the IHU next May, was ratified at an executive committee meeting on Saturday when John Smyth succeeded John Dennis as president. YMCA, Railway Union and Pembroke Wanderers share the lead after two rain-lashed Saturdays in the Leinster Senior League. Pembroke, however, did not enjoy the goalfest they might have been expecting at Clontarf's expense at Glasnevin. Indeed, the northsiders scored first through Peter Maybury while Aidan McDonald was inspired between the posts before Paudie Carley, Justin Sherriff and Mike Tijs struck effectively. In Railway Union's 3-2 defeat of Avoca at Park Avenue, Jason Hatcher added two goals to the hat-trick the South African registered against Clontarf. YMCA gained a notable win over Glenanne at Ballinteer with Steve McNeill playing strongly in midfield and Michael Fry sinking a decisive short corner.