No worries for Kuper

Irish coach Riet Kuper, in Dublin over the weekend for the Irish Hockey Association's reception in honour of the senior squad's qualification for next year's World Cup finals, has expressed her belief that Ireland will survive Lithuania's appeal to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) against the decision to replay their penalty strokes "victory" at the qualifier.

"I am absolutely confident, in my opinion there is no way they can overturn what was decided at the tournament. How they will deal with Lithuania breaking the rules I don't know, but that is nothing to do with us," she said in reference to the Lithuanian's refusal to replay the strokes shoot-out.

"Remember, this has gone to a disciplinary committee, not a 'protest' committee, so because Lithuania were disqualified from the tournament it means there may be other consequences for them - that is normally what happens."

IHA President Joan McCloy also spoke of her confidence in Ireland retaining their World Cup place but several players and some officials privately admitted that they feared the outcome of the November 28th appeal, suspecting that the FIH would attempt to give Lithuania another chance at qualifying because of the outcry in some quarters over their treatment.

On the club scene it proved a difficult weekend for Leinster's top three teams, with Hermes beating Railway Union by just a single goal, Old Alexandra drawing 0-0 with Genesis and Loreto losing 1-0 to Pembroke Wanderers, thanks to a Sarah Clarke goal.

Linda Caulfield got Hermes' winning goal late in the first half, but Railway, for whom schoolgirls Beth Maguire, Kate Dillon and Emma Smyth rose to the occasion, battled courageously.