Hook Hockey

Railway Union – Women’s Division One

Last Season: Third, Division One; IHL semi-finalists; Jacqui Potter Cup winners; National Indoor finalists

Coach: Mick McKinnon

Players In: Kate McKenna (Erasmus, Spain)
Players Out: Jeamie Deacon (UCD), Hannah de Burgh-Whyte (UCD)

Summary: A season of near misses for Mick McKinnon’s side, Railway Union went deep in a number of competitions but just a Jacqui Potter Cup was secured. This time, they might be better equipped to handle the regular absences of their Irish players as Jean McDonnell will be 100pc involved locally while Ireland A player Zara Delany has been flying since recovering from 18 months on the sidelines.

Kate Lloyd is one of the brightest prospects from their futures section and showed as much on tour against Bath Buccaneers, Firebrands and Clifton from which Railway drew two wins. Kate McKenna is back from a year in Spain while Orla Macken could emerge further, too, as a handy member of the squad.

Prior to that series in England, getting players together due to other sporting commitments was tough while Emma Smyth, Julia O’Halloran and Alex Speers will not be back from their active rest period until October 15 as the Park Avenue club have an Irish Senior Cup bye.

Jeamie Deacon to UCD is a loss while Isobel and Cecelia Joyce could miss some dates with Irish cricket responsibilities but they are likely to remain near the summit with McKinnon’s charges “raring to go”. UCD in week two looks set to be an early scene-setter for both sides in how they cope without their top players.

Early season fixtures
First Leinster league games: Sept 17 vs Old Alex (h); Sept 24 vs UCD (a); Oct 1 vs Glenanne (a)
Irish Hockey League: Oct 15 vs Lurgan (a); Nov 5 vs Ballymoney (h)
Irish Senior Cup: bye to round two

Twitter: @RailwayUnionLHC