Dave Passmore has received clearance to run an ongoing women’s U21 programme from Hockey Ireland.

Cliodhna Sargent is set to return to action for the first time since January following the birth of her first son, Dylan, in August with a World Cup spot very much the long-term aim.

The Irish U21 women’s side had their status in the top tier of European competition assured thanks to an EHF executive board decision this week which keeps alive their hopes of playing in the 2020 Junior World Cup.

With the détente between the Irish Hockey Umpires Association and Hockey Ireland in place, the EY Hockey League will tip off this weekend after two weeks of cancellations.

Roisin Upton is hoping to make up for lost time with the Irish women’s team as they look to land a 2018 World Cup spot over the course of the next two weeks.

Ursulines Thurles’ hopes of a first Subway All-Ireland Schoolgirls title since 1996 are all but dead as Kilkenny College and Banbridge Academy led the way on the first day of the national championships at Havelock Park yesterday.

Graham Shaw has his sights set on World Cup qualification after his Ireland side cruised to a World League 2 title in Kuala Lumpur.

Ards matched UCC every step of the way over a turbulent EY Hockey League double weekend to leave the Cork students battling to avoid relegation.

Cork Church of Ireland were left wondering what might have been after being pegged back from winning positions against powerhouses Monkstown and Banbridge in the EY Hockey League this weekend.

The first Munster derby of the EY Hockey League between Cork Harlequins and UCC pits many friends and former team-mates against each other at Harlequin Park tomorrow (2.30pm).

Two of Cork Harlequins’ newbies proved the difference as they lowered the colours of EY Hockey League holders Pegasus with a 4-2 success on Saturday.

Darren Smith will hope to sign off with a flourish as Ireland’s women begin their Olympic qualification campaign in Valencia today.

Hockey: Three Rock Rovers are the first side to book their place in the men’s Irish Hockey League semis after a Jonny Bruton-inspired win at Lisnagarvey. 

Hockey: Cork Church of Ireland’s promising season in cup competitions season continues after their seconds won a Leeside derby to advance to the last eight of the women’s Irish Junior Cup.

Jason Lynch will again attempt to thwart the ambitions of his childhood club when his Lisnagarvey side host Cork C of I in the Irish Senior Cup tomorrow (2.45pm).

Munster sides landed three national titles from a possible four over a memorable weekend at Belfield.

Cork Church of Ireland’s men and Cork Harlequins’ women both got their Irish Hockey League campaigns back on track with vital wins on Saturday.

Leinster showed remarkable energy and resilience to retain the U18 boys interpro title, playing all four of their games in just 30 hours.

A first home draw in a decade has UCC’s men hoping they can finally make waves in the Irish Junior Cup.

The demise of Cork Harlequins as a national force was ruthlessly exposed by Banbridge on Saturday, as they claimed a facile 8-0 Irish Senior Cup first round win at Farmer’s Cross.

Ireland may not have a representative in next season’s EuroHockey League after Cork Harlequins’ European adventure turned into a nightmare in Vienna.

Cork Harlequins’ quest to win the Energiecomfort EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy in Vienna started badly with a 4-3 defeat to Italian champions HC Bra yesterday.

Conor O’Kelly, outgoing president Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association (MBIHA), has warned the province cannot afford to neglect the running of the game after it took two meetings to elect new management.

Saturday is ‘moving day’ for the Masters at Augusta but this was ‘moving weekend’ in the Irish Hockey League with several sides making big statements of intent.

If there was any doubt that Cork Harlequins’ time as top dogs in Munster is over for the time being, Saturday’s Munster Senior Cup final provided it.

Cork Harlequins’ hopes of retaining their Munster men’s title will likely rest on their crunch clash with Cork Church of Ireland at Farmer’s Cross tomorrow (12.30pm).

Catholic Institute stormed back into title contention as they shattered Cork Harlequins’ 100% record with a 5-1 win at Rosbrien on Saturday.

Cork Church of Ireland gave UCC a lesson in clinical finishing as their 3-1 win at the Mardyke all but extinguished the students’ flickering title hopes.

Cork Church of Ireland’s miserable recent Irish Senior Cup record doesn’t look any better today as they recover from a shock 4-1 loss away to Kilkeel.

Cork Harlequins’ Irish Senior Cup triumph last month could prove the swansong for a number of the side’s stalwarts after they saw their EuroHockey League dream go up in smoke.

Cork Harlequins’ clinical finishing helped them retain the Munster Senior League crown with a 2-0 win over Cork Church of Ireland last night.

Thankful for Turkey? Your average American at Thanksgiving might be, but Three Rock Rovers certainly aren’t.

BANDON will look to be the fly in Cork Harlequins’ ointment in a clash that is likely to end the losers’ faint title hopes at Harlequin Park tomorrow (12pm).

CORK C of I and Harlequins both picked up significant victories in their respective bids to become the first Munster sides to reach the men’s Irish Hockey League play-offs last Saturday on home soil.

A MEMORABLE weekend could be in store for Munster hockey with three sides seeking maiden Irish cup titles, while there are a slew of pivotal ties as the leagues approach their finales.

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE can take a giant step towards breaking Cork Harlequins’ Munster women’s league hegemony if they defeat UCC at Rosbrien tomorrow (1pm).

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE will reprise their recent rivalry with UCC on a novel stage tomorrow, as the sides lock horns in the first round of the Irish Hockey Trophy at the Mardyke (3pm).

EIMEAR CREGAN admits she has had plenty of lucky breaks along the way as she stands on the cusp of becoming the most capped Irish hockey player of all time.

EIMEAR CREGAN could overtake fellow Munster woman Rachael Kohler as the most capped Irishhockey player of all time this month.

IRELAND’S senior women’s squad touched down in Nice, France yesterday ahead of this weekend’s Celtic Cup tournament, knowing many are in the last-chance saloon as they bid to secure a place in the squad for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Chile.

MUNSTER’S hockey community has rallied around the University College Cork (UCC) club after the students’ pitch was left unplayable for “the foreseeable future” following the catastrophic floods that hit Cork last week.