Blow for Munster title hopes as Dunne pulls hamstring

MUNSTER’S hopes of retaining the men’s senior hockey Interprovincial Championship at Harlequins’ Park were dented by a training injury that yesterday ruled former international Alistair Dunne out of their squad.

Dunne was certain to be handed a major role in central midfield by Munster coach Stephen Jackson, but the bad luck with injuries that has ruined the experienced Dunne's season was extended when he pulled a hamstring during Munster's preparations.

Dunne played for Ireland in more than 60 internationals from 1993 and he came back after injury to help C of I in their Irish Senior Cup semi-final at Lisnagarvey last weekend. Now Munster must improvise in a situation where they have no room for error.

Ulster and Leinster have the edge over Munster after the opening series of matches. Both beat Munster 2-1 before Christmas and drew their own clash 1-1 so with four points each they are in a strong position.

Munster must beat both in Cork this week-end and then hope Ulster and Leinster draw again to allow them win the championship for the third time in four years.

Said Jackson: "The standard in Ireland is very close between the three provinces. There is seldom more than one goal between the teams in any match. Because Munster won two of the last three there is an extra incentive for the others."

Jackson pointed to differences in the playing surfaces as a problem Munster lost to Ulster on a water-based synthetic pitch and a similar pitch does not exist in Munster.

The current Munster squad already rank as the most successful in history with their victories in 2000 and 2002. Munster's previous wins in a championship that was first contested in 1923 were recorded in 1965 and 1981.

Said Jackson: "We have a very good chance. We have a very strong panel of players with seven or eight senior internationals available to us."

Munster's internationals are 'keeper Wesley Bateman, Jason Black, Karl Burns, Nigel Buttimer, David Eakins, David Hobbs, John Jermyn and Paul Lombard.

Ulster will put an end to Munster's hopes if they avoid defeat in tonight's match at 8 pm. And with the emerging Lisnagarvey team supplying their coach Terry Gregg with a clutch of talented players, they are well capable of going on to take the title and the magnificent Leinster Regiment Cup.

"They have a very strong team," said Jackson. "Mark Raphael is an outstanding player for them and played very, very well in the Cup match against C of I and he would be one I would be wary of. He plays very well alongside Brian Waring and I know them both well because I coached them when they were playing for Ireland's underage teams."

Both are internationals and Raphael is carrying on a proud family tradition. He is a son of the legendary Ian. They will be surrounded by talented players like team captain Errol Lutton, an established international, Julian Stevenson on the left wing and their penalty corner expert Chris Barnes.

Leinster will be without first-choice goalkeeper and Ireland captain Nigel Henderson but they have a very capable deputy in his brother Charlie, who played for Corinthians against Harlequins in the Cup semi-final.

The squad is powered by six players from the Glenanne club who won the Irish Cup two years ago. Graham Shaw is sure to be given a responsible role in central midfield and Ian Allen, of Monkstown, expected to lead their attack.

Fixtures at Harlequins Park: Today - Shamrocks v Leinster 2 pm. Munster v Ulster 8 pm.

Tomorrow: Munster v Shamrocks 12 noon; Leinster v Ulster 4 pm.

Sunday: Ulster v Shamrocks 11 am. Munster v Leinster 3 pm.