New coach’s presence ‘should lift players’
Delighted the interpros were taking place at all, after months of wrangling, O’Siochain said last night it was good for the players that the disputes surrounding the competition had been sorted out and it was better again that Passmore would be in attendance to run the rule over the players from whom he will be selecting his international squad.
“The interpros are an institution and to have lost them would have been awful. As a player it is always great to represent your province, just one step below international recognition, and I know my players feel that way.
“But, with the new coach in attendance in Dublin over the weekend, it will give players an added incentive to perform.”
O’Siochain added it was not necessarily a disappointment to have lost international players such as Stephen Butler and Justin Sherriff to clubs in Europe, because it allowed him to give opportunities to younger players.
“I would like to have had a little more time to prepare for the interpros, but I am quietly confident nonetheless, even if this is the start of a development plan for Leinster hockey.”
Elsewhere, Lisnagarvey’s Mark Robinson has been called up to the Ulster squad ahead of the weekend’s action.
Mark, following in the footsteps of his uncle - Olympic gold medallist Jimmy Kirkwood - got the call from coach Terry Gregg after the withdrawal of international Chris Jackson.
The Annadale midfielder pulled out due to business commitments, which means he misses the chance of playing against club colleague Graham Shaw, who is in the Leinster camp.
Ulster are the interpro title-holders and were instrumental in ensuring the series did go ahead this season.
Munster boss Denis Pritchard has a full squad to choose from, including international John Jermyn who plays with Pembroke in Dublin.
Munster play their opening match tonight at 8pm against Leinster and follow that up with a game against Ulster tomorrow at 3pm.
The last match of the championship takes place between Ulster and Leinster at 12pm on Saturday.
The focus in Munster will be on the first round of the Charity Cup tomorrow and the Cork Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
The Charity Cup will be contested by six teams - Bandon, Belvedere, Cork Church of Ireland B, Cork Harlequins B, Catholic Institute and University College Cork - who will play off on a league basis for the title.
Tomorrow the first series of league matches will be played, with holders Catholic Institute taking on Cork Harlequins B at Rosbrien and Cork Church of Ireland B playing UCC at Garryduff.
In the other first round match, Bandon play Belvedere at Bandon Grammar School. In the Cork Cup on Sunday there should be a great tussle at Midleton College between Midleton and Bandon B.
In the second semi-final, which is an all-Cork Church of Ireland clash at Garryduff, Cork Church of Ireland C should be too strong for Cork Church of Ireland D.
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