Pressure on as UL launch defence of title
Going into their opening game, Coach Tony Hehir, will be fully aware of the fact that the Killarney side were the only team to beat UL last year and they are an all-action side with the ability to pressurise any team.
And the pressure is already on UL who go into the new season with three titles to defend and seven teams gunning for them.
They will be without Deirdre Leahy and Margaret Daly for their campaign. Deirdre Leahy’s work commitments have brought her back to Cork and she has transferred to Vienna Woods Glanmire while Margaret Daly has completed her studies in Limerick.
Under National Competition Committee regulations, each club in the women’s Superleague is allowed to sign one player who has not been resident in the State for the last year and UL Coach Tony Hehir has signed six foot Bethany Schott from Davidson College who, along with Player of the Year Michelle Aspell, will make it difficult, if not impossible, for any team to dislodge the triple champions over the coming months.
That is why the spotlight will be on the UL Arena tomorrow night where St Paul’s will offer their challenge with the confidence of what turned out to be a rare win over UL last year behind them.
They have made a few changes to their squad for the new season. Sarah Cartmill returns from the US for her second season with the Killarney club while they have an interesting new signing in 5’11” Daire Barrett from Listowel.
Vienna Woods Glanmire have gone through the Superleague initiation and now want to make an impression. A new sponsor, a new coach and some new faces on the bench have brought an air of excitement to Little Island where they play host to Dart Killester tomorrow night.
Sean O’Regan, a former world and European kick-boxing champion, who has savoured success as a schools coach and coached Tipperary Talons last season, takes over at the helm
He has signed 6’1” post Adriana Spears from Boston College and other new recruits include junior internationals, Marie Breen from Mallow and Patricia O’Sullivan from Carrigaline, as well as Deirdre Leahy and Wildcat’s Helen McSweeney.
Aoife O’Dwyer returns to the team after a year with Tipperary talons and Saragh Jane O’Connell returns from injury to captain the side.
Killester will be the only club in the women’s Superleague this season who have opted against bringing in a foreign player but, with the addition of Suzanne Maguire, Maeve Coleman’s team should be quite capable of holding their own.
Emer Brophy’s younger sister, Paula, has been promoted to the squad and should be an interesting addition.
Bausch & Lomb Wildcats, who once dominated the women’s Superleague, are coming to terms with the loss of Trish Nolan and Catriona White, who have retired while Jenny Kelly has committed herself to her studies this year and will not be playing.
Nicole Conway, a 5’11” guard has been recruited from Boston College but there is a doubt about her fitness going into their opening game away to ZLR8 Drimnagh Dynamos on Sunday evening.
She picked up a shoulder injury playing an the UL pre-season tournament and has been out of action for the past while.
And they have added another exciting player to squad in the talented Senior Schoolgirl of the Year, Grainne O’Dwyer, who is pursuing her studies at WIT this year.
Drimnagh Dynamos have signed Sharyn Kelly from Tolka Rovers and Coach Jimmy Clarke has imported Sonia Cotton from Miami.
As well as Sharyn Kelly, Tolka Rovers will be without Suzanne Maguire who has gone to Killester and they will be hoping to have Rachel Kelly back for the second half of the season.
For their derby clash with Peugeot Meteors tomorrow evening they will parade new signing Kat Sungy, a 6’1” forward from Jacksonville, Texas, along with Division One Player of the year, Marla Candon.
The ESB Men’s Superleague also gets under way at the weekend.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
