Leinster set out to retain title

WOMEN’S HOCKEY: A WEEK after UCD won their first Leinster Division One title eight of their squad will be in action at the under…

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:A WEEK after UCD won their first Leinster Division One title eight of their squad will be in action at the under-21 interprovincial tournament in Garryduff over the weekend, with five of the players providing the core of Leinster's panel.

The tournament returns after being scrapped last season for cost-cutting reasons and because of the packed club and international fixture schedule.

Leinster, having ended Ulster’s three-in-a-row hopes the season before last, will be attempting to defend their title, while Munster will be hoping that home advantage helps them to their first success in the event since back in 2001.

Connacht, with the bulk of their squad made up of Galway and NUIG players, open the tournament today against Leinster, with Munster taking on Ulster in the second game.

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UNDER-21 INTERPROVINCIAL SQUADS

CONNACHT:N Cooke, T Melvin, F Timmins, L Fahy, E Carey, R Bradley, D Hatton (all Galway), K Codyre (Hermes), E Molloy, H Jenkinson, R Butler, R McInerney, A Rossiter, A O Connor, O Callanan, N Whelan (all NUIG), B Flannery, J McMickan (both UCD).

LEINSTER: N O'Connor (Genesis), G Pinder (Hermes), H Matthews (capt), A Meeke, S McGirr, H Mulcahy (all Loreto), E Hinkson (Old Alexandra), S Conway, A O'Grady (both Pembroke Wanderers), O Fox, R Barnett (both Railway Union), E Horan, C Taaffe (both Trinity), S Greene, N Gray, C Hill, D Duke, N Atcheler (all UCD).

MUNSTER: N Laarhoven (Almeerse), C Hayes (Bandon), E Reidy (Church of Ireland), R Barry, K Campbell, N Carroll, R Upton (all Catholic Institute), O Cotter, Y O'Byrne (Cork Harlequins), R Shanahan (NUIG), J Coyne, A Curran, N Kerr, K Murphy, E O'Leary, S Peters, O Roycroft, A K Trevor (all UCC).

ULSTER: N McKnight (Ards), C Warnock, K McDonald (both Armagh), H Dawson (Belfast Harlequins), S J Greer (Leeds), N Barr, S McClure, L Murray, K Scott (all Lurgan), S Rose (Nottingham Univ), J Alison, J Orr (both Queens), E Reid (Randalstown), L Ewart (UCD), K Lammey, Dawn Axon (both Ulster Elks).

FIXTURES(at Garryduff) – Tomorrow: Leinster v Connacht, 12.0; Munster v Ulster, 4.0. Sunday: Ulster v Connacht, 2.0; Munster v Leinster, 4.0. Monday: Ulster v Leinster, 9.30; Munster v Connacht, 3.30.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times