Interpro titles up for grabs

THE focus turns to interprovincial action a little earlier in the season than usual this weekend as the U16 and U18 boys and girls pit their wits against each other at Grange Road and UCD.

With bad weather playing havoc with some of the interpro tournaments last season, the competitions were moved away from their traditional winter dates, meaning players and coaches alike have been busy preparing throughout the summer off-season.

Leinster invariably start as favourites for the boys’ tournaments, though they have a habit of being less than the sum of their parts. Nonetheless, on paper, the U18 side, captained by Glenanne tyro Shane O’Donoghue, appear to possess the strongest squad once again.

Ulster will look to Banbridge marksman Stephen Dowds to provide their goals, while Munster’s Nick Burns will be seeking to embellish his reputation as one of the country’s most exciting young talents.

However, it is the U18 girls tournament which is set to provide the most intrigue; this was an incredibly close-run thing in Cork last year, with Ulster first past the post, just ahead of Leinster and Connacht.

The westerners once again are very strong at this grade, with Freddie Timmins, Lynsey Trainor and the gifted Dora Gorman anchoring their challenge. Hermes’ Chloe Watkins is again the star name for Leinster, alongside clubmates Deirdre Duke, and skipper Gillian Pinder.

Munster possess one of the country’s most uncompromising defenders in Yvonne O’Byrne, with Naomi Carroll – who, like Duke, is also an Irish underage soccer international – providing the threat at the other end.

With a number of players announcing themselves to the wider hockey public for the first time, the U16 interpros generally have an unknown quantity to them.

Ulster are the holders in the girls’ tournament, but Munster could be the surprise package this season, with Cork Harlequins duo Leanne Mullins and Acacia Taylor rated among the best prospects in the country.

Monkstown starlet David Cole will be hoping to lead Leinster to a third successive boys title, with Irish international team-mates Scott Sullivan and Josh Moffett leading the challenge for Munster and Ulster respectively.

Elsewhere, Ireland’s men play a three-game series against Scotland in Banbridge as they continue their preparations for the World Cup qualifying campaign in Argentina.

With international and interprovincial action dominating the agenda, club games are few and far between across the provinces. However, the ESB women’s Irish Senior Cup will get underway a week early in Tallaght, as Glenanne host Ulster Elks in a match moved due to the host club’s EuroHockey League trip to Barcelona.