Weakened Ulster continue to chase a hat-trick

Women's Hockey: Having endured, by their lofty standards, a fallow senior interprovincial spell between 2002 and 2005, when Leinster and Munster took the honours, it's been business as usual for Ulster in the tournament the last couple of years, and the province are looking to complete a three-in-a-row at Grange Road over the weekend.

Shorn of their internationals, who are busy preparing for April's Olympic Qualifier, Ulster have still been able to name a squad that features several players who have represented Ireland or have been included in recent senior panels.

Leinster include a four-strong contingent from Railway Union and the Keegan sisters from Loreto, as well as Old Alexandra old girl Jeamie Deacon, who has made quite an impression in college hockey in the US since moving to Michigan State.

The 21-year-old from Wexford, who was a prolific goalscorer for Waterford and Alexandra, was included, as a midfielder, in the Big Ten conference 2007 team of the year, one of just three unanimous choices by the panel of judges.

Munster's squad includes six who play their hockey outside the province, three each at Pembroke Wanderers and Railway who, between them, have 21 representatives in the Munster, Connacht (10) and Leinster (five) panels this weekend.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

SENIOR INTERPROVINCIALS(at Grange Road) - Today: Leinster v Munster, 6pm; Ulster v Connacht, 8pm. Tomorrow: Connacht v Leinster, 11am; Ulster v Munster, 3pm. Sunday: Connacht v Munster, 11am; Ulster v Leinster, 3pm.

CONNACHT: A Smyth (Greenfields), K Brannelly, A Harte (both Hermes), O Ryan, S Scott (both Loreto), B Fitzgerald (Old Alexandra), O Canavan, S Clarke, S Doyle, E McNicholas, S Ryan, H Maguire (all Pembroke Wanderers), J Coyne, C Friel, S McDonald, S Walsh (all Railway Union), C Murphy (Trinity), R Carrigan (UCD). Coach: I Clark.

LEINSTER: L O'Neill (Bray), C McGowan, S Walker (both Corinthian), A Budd (Genesis), E Gray, L Costello (both Hermes), N Keegan, R Keegan (both Loreto), J Deacon (Michigan State), L Hill (Pembroke Wanderers), E Dolan, S Dooley, E Lucey, J McDonnell (all Railway Union), E Fitzsimons (Three Rock), D Costigan (Trinity), F Flinn, C Quinlan (both UCD). Coach: R Wortmann.

MUNSTER: J O'Leary, J O'Loughlin (both Belvedere), A Kenny, K Daly (both Catholic Institute), D Casey, S Hackett, O McCarthy (all C of Ireland), A O'Neill, R McSharry (both Cork Harlequins), A McCarthy (Hermes), K Hales, E Brommell, S Hall (all Pembroke Wanderers), C Kenefick, J Kenefick, E Dillon (all Railway Union), H Moffett, A O'Flynn (both UCC). Coach: P Hartnett.

ULSTER: K Fraser (Ards), R Mulligan, S Quinn (both Armagh), S Martin, N McCaughern (both Ballymoney), S Wilkinson (Belfast Harlequins), S Moffett, S Beaney, L Mallon, K McCollum, K McConnell, A Speers (all Pegasus), A McFarland (Queens), E Teggarty, K Elkin, K McComish (all Randalstown), M Harvey (Victorians). Coach: S Watt.

INTERNATIONALS(at Manchester) - Today - Under-16: England v Ireland, 11am. Under-18: England v Ireland, noon.

LEINSTER LEAGUE- Division Two - Tomorrow: Suttonians v Corinthian II, Sutton, 11am; Railway Union II v Clontarf, Sandymount, 12.45; Hermes II v Glenanne, Booterstown, 1.15; Old Alexandra II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Booterstown, 2.45; Loreto II v Bray, Beaufort, 3pm.