Hook Hockey

Old Alexandra – Women’s Division One

Last Season: Fifth, Division One; IHL Group Stages; Irish Senior Cup quarter-final; Jacqui Potter Cup quarter-final

Coach: Ivan Ovington/Miles Warren

Players In: Emma Russell (Hermes), Laura Gray (Hermes), Megan Tennant-Humphreys (UCD), Danielle Costigan (Australia – travelling), Lauren Kingston (Genesis)
Players Out: Kate Collins-Smyth (UCD), Nicola Gray (UCD), Ciara Noble (UCD), Aoife Budd (retired), Sarah Gleeson (work commitments)

Summary: Five in, five out is the balance sheet for Old Alex and they have done reasonably from the exchanges but they will hope that their goal threat remains the same. Nicola Gray’s corner shot and top field goal option Sarah Gleeson are no longer around and so the introduction of Emma Russell’s predatory instincts will be a big component of a youthful and pacy forward line.

Russell will work with the likes of Aisling Naughton, Emily Beatty and Juliette King-Hall with Genesis import Lauren Kingston – a schools winner with St Andrews – and Danielle Costigan also in the mix.

Defensively, Megan Tennant-Humphreys offers a superb number one runner option and was a centre-piece of the UCD defence which won the 2009 Irish Senior Cup. Laura Gray is a top prospect, too, who can fill in midfield or defence.

Roisin Flinn is still a big influence when she takes the field and, with a young panel, Ivan Ovington and Miles Warren have a work in progress. Shirley McCay and Pamela Smithwick are huge influences but, especially the former’s dynamism, will likely be curtailed on the domestic front barring a change in the CPP’s stipulations and so retaining an IHL place will probably be considered a reasonable return in light of the strengthening of some of the Milltown club’s closest rivals.

Early season fixtures
First Leinster league games: Sept 17 vs Railway Union (a); Sept 24 vs Glenanne (a)
Irish Hockey League: Oct 15 vs Hermes (h); Oct 29 vs Pegasus (h)
Irish Senior Cup: Oct 8 vs Pembroke (a)

Twitter: @OldAlexHC