THEY may have restored some Munster pride on the national stage, but Cork Church of Ireland and Cork Harlequins will nonetheless be wondering how they left two-goal leads slip in their 2-2 Irish Hockey League draws with Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne respectively.

UNIVERSITY College Cork will contest their first ever national senior final after coming from behind to see off Clontarf 2-1 in a fraught Irish Hockey Trophy semi-final at the Mardyke on Saturday.

COOKSTOWN pulled off the shock of the first round of the men’s Irish Senior Cup on Saturday, dumping 2009 champions Pembroke Wanderers out with a 2-0 win at Coolnafranky.

ALL five of Munster’s Irish Hockey League representatives need to collect points this weekend, if they are to harbour realistic semi-final ambitions.

AUDREY O’FLYNN faces into the biggest test of her fledgling international career next month after she was yesterday named in Gene Muller’s 18-strong Ireland squad for the World Cup Qualifiers in Chile.

IRELAND will be once again on the outside looking in at a major tournament after Argentina dashed their slim hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup with a crushing 4-0 win in Quilmes.

THE opening weekend of this season’s women’s ESB Irish Hockey League will have a distinctly local flavour to it on Leeside, where perennial rivals Cork Harlequins and Cork Church of Ireland will lock horns in Pool A tomorrow (Harlequin Park, 2pm).

IRISH senior women’s vice-captain Ciara O’Brien has announced her retirement from the international game, having amassed 156 caps over nine years.

Police are today investigating an attack on an Orange Hall that plays a central role in the Order’s July 12 parades in Belfast.

THE picture regarding one of the most fascinating women’s title races in Munster should be a lot clearer as champions Cork Harlequins meet pretenders Cork C of I at Garryduff tomorrow (2.30pm).

HOCKEY fans in Cork are spoilt for choice this weekend as eight of the country’s top sides do battle on Leeside in round three of the Irish Hockey League.

David Drysdale followed up his opening-day 65 by carding a six-under round of 66 to lead a rain-affected Joburg Open by one stroke at the halfway stage today.

NEW Ireland senior men’s hockey coach Paul Revington gets his first chance to see his new charges in action later this month as Scotland arrive for a three-game series.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS were given a stern test by Cork Harlequins in the opening round of the Irish Hockey League at Serpentine Avenue yesterday, but Alan Sothern’s second-half strike gave the hosts a 2-1 win and all three points.

THE quarter-finals of the ESB Irish Senior Women’s Cup this weekend sees all the top sides in the country in action, but both Cork Church of Ireland and Cork Harlequins facing extremely difficult away games.

CORK Church of Ireland’s John Jermyn has been named men’s hockey player of the year.

The Irish Women's Hockey team drew 0-0 with Azerbaijan today, (2.45pm Irish time), in their final pool match, their third in as many days, at the World Cup Qualifying tournament in Rome.

THE improving form of the Cork Church of Ireland women’s side is perhaps due its biggest test of the season at Garryduff tomorrow when they face the powerful northern outfit Pegasus in the quarter-final of the ESB Senior Cup (hit-off 2 pm).

TEENAGE hockey sensation Emma Stewart has been named in the final Irish squad for the European Championships in Dublin in less than two weeks time.

RTÉ will be the host broadcaster for the 2005 Women’s Hockey European Nations Cup in August.

ORLA RYAN and Pamela Orr were yesterday dropped by Irish ladies hockey coach Riet Kuper, as she announced her squad for the forthcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand from March 19 to 28.

Ireland’s women moved, albeit briefly, to the top of Pool B at the European Nations Cup after a 2-1 win over Italy maintained their 100% record.

Ireland women’s coach Riet Kuper has handed first call-ups to five players for a three-day Easter training camp.