Ireland’s women have been dealt a reasonably favourable pool in the women’s World Cup next July with their date with India looking to be the crucial one if they are to make the knock-out phases.

Relegation trouble looms for two of Munster’s EY Hockey League sides after a pivotal weekend in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

CORK’S Julia O’Halloran is the big absentee from Gene Muller’s latest Irish centralised training panel announced yesterday.