UK Sport accepts NI funding anomaly

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: As the Irish squad prepare to leave for Argentina next Monday for a series of games against some of the world's leading teams, UK Sport, the British equivalent of the Irish Sports Council, has commented on what it admits is the anomaly of its support for eight of a squad which will be playing against Britain at March's Olympic qualifier.

Earlier this week the Daily Telegraph pointed to this anomaly, noting that the eight Ulster players in the Irish squad use facilities - including coaching and physiological and nutritional support - at the Northern Ireland Institute of Sport, which is funded by British taxpayers through their national lottery. Sally Bell, the assistant Irish coach, is also the hockey high performance manager at the institute.

"The situation is part of the devolved world and we are happy to live within it," a UK Sport spokesman said yesterday. "The Good Friday Agreement is the political reality and this is just one of many anomalies in British sport."

Several Ulster players, of course, represented Britain in hockey at the Olympics in the past, the last being Jackie McWilliams who won bronze in 1992, but a change in the rules has meant they must declare for Ireland or Britain and cannot switch between the two.

The squad, then, head for Cordoba next week where games against Argentina (their senior and under-21 teams), Holland, Korea and a local club side have been lined up. From there they will travel to Madrid for matches against Spain, before returning to Dublin ahead of their departure for New Zealand.

On the club front, Leinster Cup holders Pembroke Wanderers must beat Hermes if they are to progress to the semi-finals of this year's competition, while Railway Union stand between Pembroke's second team and a place in the last four. Old Alexandra and Corinthian, neck and neck in the league, meet at Milltown, while Glenanne play host to Loreto in Tallaght.

A victory over Pegasus tomorrow would significantly boost Randalstown's hopes of winning their first league title since 1997, while a defeat would increase the likelihood of Pegasus retaining their crown.

Ulster, meanwhile, will defend their under-16 interprovincial title in Galway this weekend, opening the tournament against Connacht today. They won all four of their games last year without conceding a goal (and scoring 18), a tough act to follow for this year's squad.

LEINSTER JACQUI POTTER CUP - Quarter-finals: Old Alexandra v Corinthian, Milltown, 1.15; Pembroke Wanderers v Hermes, Ballsbridge, 1.30; Glenanne v Loreto, Tallaght, 3.30; Railway Union v Pembroke Wanderers II, Donnybrook, 3.45.

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Trinity v Genesis, Santry, 1.30.

MUNSTER DIVISION ONE CUP - Semi-finals: Cork Harlequins v UCC, Harlequin Park, 12.30; Bandon v Waterford, Bandon Grammar School, 1.30.

ULSTER SENIOR LEAGUE - Section One: Randalstown v Pegasus, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Portadown v Ballyclare, Edenvilla, 2.30; Belfast Harlequins v Ballymoney, Deramore, 2.30; Victorians v Coleraine, Olympia Leisure Centre, 4.0.

UNDER-16 INTERPROVINICIAL TOURNAMENT (at Mervue, Galway) - Today: Leinster v Connacht, 9.30; Munster v South East, 11.0; Ulster v Leinster, 12.30; Connacht v South East, 2.0; Munster v Ulster, 3.30. Tomorrow: South East v Ulster, 9.0; Leinster v Munster, 10.30; Connacht v Ulster, 12.0; Leinster v South East, 1.30; Connacht v Munster, 3.0.