The plan is to host a tournament which will see competitions at three levels, over-40’s, 45’s & 50’s. This will be subject to the level of interest from would-be participants. The tournament will be hosted in Ulster at the end May 2012.

The first Leinster training session will be held on February 12 in Sutton Park School from 3pm to 5pm. It’s a great opportunity for players at these age groups to and renew old acquaintances and a few rivalries, and show what you can still do.

Those interested in playing or who may have queries about the event, please make contact with any one of the following:
Stewart Atkinson (087 9876102), Frank Byrne (087 8207078), Peter Conway (086 2744238), Paul Kennedy (087 6815802) or Colm O’Hare (087 9475755).

In running the tournament, the Masters aim to help consolidate their Irish squads and open up their panels to a wider catchment and are seeking entries to the competition from Leinster, Connacht, Munster and Exiles from the wider UK.

Currently, the organisers are seeking expressions of interest from clubs looking to host the event and the Masters hope to be in a position to deliver fuller details about the venue, hotel options and so forth.

In the meantime, the organisers are hoping to get the message out about the competition and are looking for people to volunteer as provincial representatives Should you have any questions or suggestions, e-mail Irish Masters Co-ordinator Andy Nye at nye_andy@hotmail.com.

The national body’s competitions and interprovincial working groups have been asked to review the staging of the senior and junior tournaments for future years in conjunction with national coaches Paul Revington and Gene Muller, and high performance director David Passmore.

The staging of the U21 interprovincials, currently scheduled for Easter having been scrapped last season in a cost-saving measure, is to be reviewed “as a matter of urgency”.

The IHA board say they are keen for this tournament to take place to facilitate preparation and selection of the U-21 national teams, which were re-established in October having been discontinued in 2004.

IHA chief executive Angus Kirkland yesterday said: “The IHA has consulted widely on the challenges of scheduling all hockey this season.

“The board considered carefully the opinions of the branches and have agreed that the best decision for hockey this season is not to not hold these tournaments.”

Detractors argue that the intensification and expansion of the Irish national setups to include more sessions and development panels has rendered the interpros – first played out in 1897 and once a treasured chance to see all the country’s top players lock horns at once – irrelevant.

Aside from Olympic commitments, the presence of current internationals in interpro tournaments has dwindled in recent years, with the senior women focused on their central preparation programme (CPP) while the majority of the men’s side play the sport semi-professionally abroad.

The junior interpros does not feed into any national representative side, but remains a popular outlet for non-elite players to aim for provincial honours, although Connacht were unable to field a side in the 2011 men’s tournament.

The 18s captain’s side were all but out of the competition after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ulster – Ross Canning cancelling out an Adam Fallis goal – despite a 9-1 victory over Munster.

It left just one sequence of results which would break Ulster’s three year winning streak; the red hands falling to Munster and the blues getting a second success over the southern province.

But that transpired in incredible fashion as Munster’s U-18 boys picked up a memorable 1-0 victory to set up the day.
Andrew Colton’s drag-flick from his side’s only corner of the game late in the game, awarded after Nathan Eacrett was cleaned out, proved the winner.

For so long, Ulster looked to be in control, winning several first half penalty corners but were continually denied by Daniel Moore who performed heroics between the posts. Colton and Richard Sweetnam were also excellent as they continued to frustrate the northern side before taking the lead from a rare counter.

Both post and bar came to their rescue before Fred McElroy’s body twice came between Ulster and a winning equaliser. It led to a penalty stroke with less than ten seconds left on the clock but the pressure-fuelled environment saw the shot skim off the post and out to hand Munster the win and Leinster the lifeline.

It was duly grasped with both hands as Jordan Sutton got Leinster off to a flier against a flagging Munster in their second tie of the day. Jonathan Roberts rebounded after Duncan broke through and David Cole dragged in a third to ease any nerves. Sutton added another pair while Cole got his second to copper-fasten the victory in the second half before Nathan Eacrett and David Whitaker got consolation goals in a 9-2 final result.

Earlier in the day, Leinster’s U-16s continued their excellent form at youth level with a fifth title in six years. On Saturday, their title hopes looked to be rocked as Ulster produced a brilliant performance to run up a 2-0 victory but they were ultimately left to rue Hugh Lavery’s superb performance.

But for the Sandford goalkeeper, the damage might have been much greater as Ulster created plenty of chances. Thanks to Friday’s 1-0 win over Ulster and a rampaging 6-0 win over Munster on Saturday morning, it left Leinster ahead going into day three on goal difference by three goals.

Again, there was a helping hand from Munster as Julian Dale continued his fine scoring form with a fourth of the tournament as his side fell to a 6-3 loss but did enough to leave Leinster needing any sort of win over Munster in the tournament’s final game.

Doubles for Luke Madeley and Jack Ryan – two of the key men all weekend along with a towering show from David Nolan in midfield – saw them net a 4-1 victory to claim the title.

Madeley’s pair brought his tally to four drag-flicks in the competition while Ryan also got four, his pair in the final game were expertly taken, roofing the first sharply while his second – the side’s third – came from the narrowest of angles as he spotted a gap as Munster scrambled to realign their defences.

** Adrian Boehm took nearly 200 high quality pictures from the weekend’s action at St Andrew’s; you can see all of them on The Irish Hockey Photographers website

U-18 Interprovincials (day two and three results): Ulster 0 Munster 1 (Andrew Colton); Leinster 9 (Ross Canning 3, David Cole 2, Jonathan Roberts 2, Lee Cole, Ian Stewart) Munster 1 (Ben Scott); Leinster 1 (Ross Canning) Ulster 1 (Adam Fallis); Leinster 9 (Jordan Sutton 3, David Cole 2, Jonathan Roberts 2, Ian Stewart, Brian O’Malley) Munster 2 (Nathan Eacrett, David Whitaker)
Final standings: 1. Leinster 8pts (+14) 2. Ulster 8pts (+3) 3. Munster 3pts (-17)

U-16 Interprovincials (day two and three results): Leinster 4 (Luke Madeley 2, Jack Ryan 2) Munster 1 (Julian Dale); Ulster 6 (Matthew Sullivan 2, Chris Heath 2, Jack Wilson, Adam Marshall) Munster 3 (Julian Dale, David Cardy, Philip Brownlow); Leinster 0 Ulster 2 (Rowan Poots, Matthew Sullivan); Leinster 6 (Freddie Morris 2, Luke Madeley 2, Jack Ryan, Neil Byrne) Munster 0
Final standings: 1. Leinster 9pts (+8) 2. Ulster 9pts (+5) 3. Munster 0pts (-13)

In game one, they got the best of a five-goal battle at against the blues as Matthew Allister’s instincts in the circle proved the difference between the sides. He gave the northern province a deserved lead when he applied a simple finish after Annadale club mate Michael Robson scrambled a cross from the left baseline.

Kirk Shimmins tipped in Ravin Nair’s ball to brilliantly make it 1-1 from Leinster’s first major attack but Ulster restored the advantage from a corner, James Cox banging home the third phase after two Stefan Gallagher saves.

David Cole smashed the post on the half-time hooter before Leinster produced a much stronger second half performance. They came unstuck, though, when a long overhead was caught by Adam Fallis and he powered into the left side of the circle and Allister was on hand to slide onto his reverse-stick shot across the face of goal.

Ross Canning got one back when he batted home following a five-metre free bounced his way but the blues were unable to force an equaliser to give the red hands a much celebrated win.

Ulster backed up that result up with a 3-0 victory over Munster in a tie which turned in the 50^th minute. James Lorimer’s corner goal had Ulster one up but Munster pushed on in the second half and should have levelled with ten minutes to go when David Treacy’s square ball was fresh-aired with the goal gaping, agonisingly hitting a foot instead.

From the ensuing counter, Ulster broke and Michael Robson laid on set up Allister for a second time on the day to slam home. Andy Allen whipped in another corner to complete the win late on.

At U-16 level, Jack Ryan finished off a sublime move in the 50^th minute to win the day’s opener for Leinster with the only goal of the game. It was beautifully crafted, starting from a free out which Luke Madeley diagonally flicked to Johnny McCormack on half-way. His reverse-stick pass found the over-lapping Aaron Bailey who drove forward and cracked into the circle for Ryan to ramp over the Ulster goalkeeper.

It was the high point of a lively second half after a first period characterised by half chances and saw Gareth Borland’s side get off to a strong start.

Ulster bounced back in dramatic fashion in the evening game when they came back from a horror start to win 3-2 against Munster. Julian Dale struck twice inside the first three minutes to put the southerners in dreamland, bullying the first over the line before roofing a spectacular drag-flick.

They held that lead until half-time by virtue of a brilliant rearguard action, Jack Ryan pulling off a string of saves while Colin Kingston was outstanding at the centre of defence. Adam Marshall hit the post with the best move but the second half saw the comeback enacted as captain and vice-captain, respectively, got them back in the game, Matthew Sullivan and Jack Henderson on the mark.

Ryan pulled off another couple of good saves before Andrew Smyth calmly finished six minutes from time for the winner. Dale almost changed that in the closing seconds but his flick crashed the bar and away to safety to see Ulster over the line.

U-16 Interprovincials results: Leinster 1 (Jack Ryan) Ulster 0; Ulster 3 (Matthew Sullivan, Jack Henderson, Andrew Smyth) Munster 2 (Julian Dale 2)
Standings (played): 1. Leinster (1) 3pts (+1) 2. Ulster (2) 3pts (0) 3. Munster (1) 0pts (-1)
Fixtures, Saturday: Leinster vs Munster, 11am; Leinster vs Ulster, 3pm
Sunday: Munster vs Ulster, 10am; Leinster vs Munster, 2pm

U-18 Interprovincials results: Leinster 2 (Kirk Shimmins, Ross Canning) Ulster 3 (Matthew Allister 2, James Cox); Ulster 3 (James Lorimer, Matthew Allister, Andy Allen) Munster 0
Standings (played): 1. Ulster (2) 6pts (+4) 2. Leinster (1) 0pts (-1) 3. Munster (1) 0pts (-4)
Fixtures, Saturday: Leinster vs Munster, 1pm; Leinster vs Ulster, 5pm
Sunday: Munster vs Ulster, 12pm; Leinster vs Munster, 4pm

The former’s injury from prior to the EHL is still in effect, meaning the province’s U-16 captain two years ago will not be able to lift a trophy once more while Brown – an Irish U-18 in the summer – is also out. The blues have a side with a strong amount of division one experience under their belt.

But Ulster will be backed by the outstanding Michael Anderson in goal while Matthew Rollins and James Lorimer exude confidence as ball-playing centre-backs. Adam Fallis and Ben Cosgrove provide the creativity going forward while a cohort of five Annadale youngsters underpin Andy McBride’s panel.

Munster’s challenge draws on five of the Midleton side who came seconds away from getting a result against Banbridge Academy in the All-Ireland schools with Andrew Colton supplying a corner option. Richard Lynch and Gary Wilkinson’s ball handling skills will be a threat moving forward while Limerick man Nathan Eacrett is one of the province’s prospects.

At U-16 level, Leinster are going for a fourth success in five years but have a reasonably new-look side to hand.

The knock-on effect of the interpros has seen a reduction in Leinster league fixtures though arguably the sides with most need for postponements are the ones in action with Pembroke, Three Rock and Corinthian affected significantly.

It comes at a slightly inopportune time for both Pembroke and Three Rock who have a number of injuries to contend with. The visitors to Grange Road have had to rejig their back-line as a result and also can’t use Kirk Shimmins or the emerging Mark Loughrey while Rovers will be without Ross Canning, Luke Madeley and Harry Morris.

Alan Bothwell starts a four-week suspension, too, serving the maximum time out for a red card received against YMCA.
Pembroke have coped much better in recent times, though, and look to have a formidable panel this year and celebrated last weekend’s Irish Senior Cup flicks win over Monkstown vigourously. Victory will lengthen their place at the top of the pile to at least three points.

Corinthian have the biggest Leinster representation off books as the likes of Jordan Sutton, Ian Stewart and Robbie Clarke – who have all been incorporated into the first team at times – represent their province. It thins Lucas Piccioli’s options for their game against a YMCA side without concerns on a similar level.

Railway’s game with Glenanne has been pulled as the Park Avenue side are in Prague playing at an indoor competition and will play their refix now on November 29.

Clontarf receive a refix against Monkstown due to player-coach Gareth Borland’s dual role as Leinster U-16 coach while Rory O’Dononghue’s similar plurality at U-18 level and UCD has pushed back the league tie with Fingal to December 4. Sunday’s Neville Cup semi-finals, meanwhile, both have been pushed back with the students facing Glenanne on Monday night in Belfield.

Division two continues unabated with the playoff intentions of Rathgar and Weston an intriguing sub-plot. Preseason intentions were high but Avoca’s form has seen them trailing in their wake to date. Both have tricky maestros in the form of Paul Tuthill and Simon Pearson up their sleeves for what could be a key tie in the first of three meetings between the sides this term. Avoca’s latest test is a tie with Dublin University at Grange Road while Mullingar will aim to get off the mark when they meet Suttonians in Tullamore.

** For all twitter updates over the weekend from all divisions and competitions, please use #leinsterhockey hashtag to help with collation of results. Follow The Hook on twitter.com/hookhockey

U-18 Boy’s Interprovincials (all in St Andrew’s College, Booterstown)
Friday, November 18: Leinster v Ulster, 3pm; Munster v Ulster, 7pm
Saturday, November 19: Leinster v Munster, 1pm; Leinster v Ulster, 5pm
Sunday, November 20: Munster v Ulster, 12pm; Leinster v Munster, 4pm

U-16 Boy’s Interprovincials
Friday, November 18: Leinster v Ulster, 1pm; Munster v Ulster, 5pm
Saturday, November 19: Leinster v Munster, 11am; Leinster v Ulster, 3pm
Sunday, November 20: Munster v Ulster, 10am; Leinster v Munster, 2pm

Men’s Leinster Division One (all Saturday): YMCA v Corinthian, 2.45pm, Alexandra College; Three Rock Rovers v Pembroke Wanderers, 1pm, Grange Road
Division Two: Mullingar v Suttonians, 3.30pm, Tullamore; Dublin University v Avoca, 2.30pm, Grange Road; Rathgar v Weston, 2pm, High School

Neville Cup Semi final (Monday): UCD vs Glenanne, 8pm, Belfield

The experience is spread throughout the team with goalkeeper Stefan Gallagher back with David Cole possibly lining up in front of him as a more than accomplished sweeper. Robbie Clarke can provide a lively overlapping option from either full-back position.

In midfield, there is plenty of purpose in the form of Kirk Shimmins – already with EHL experience to his credit – and Jeremy Duncan while Ross Canning leads the line. Four players step up from the U-16s, Pembroke pair David Kane and Mark Loughrey moving up a grade with Glenanne’s Ryan O’Malley and Lee Cole teams up with his brother.

Harry Morris makes his first Leinster appearance having missed out at U-16s last term with Alvaro Garcia – one of two St Killians players included – another to make his debut in blue. The competition will be played in St Andrews next week from November 18 to 20.

Leinster U-18 panel: Stefan Gallagher (GK, Newpark/Avoca), Alan Brown (GK, Wesley College/Corinthian), David Cole (St Andrews/Monkstown), Harry Morris (St Columbas/Three Rock Rovers), Ravin Nair (St Andrews/Railway Union), David Kane (St Killians/Pembroke), Kirk Shimmins (Wesley College/Pembroke), Jeremy Duncan (capt, Kilkenny College/Railway Union), Lee Cole (St Andrews/Monkstown), Ross Canning (St Columbas/Three Rock Rovers), Jordan Sutton (Wesley College/Corinthian), Ian Stewart (Wesley College/Corinthian), Jonathan Roberts (Wesley College/Corinthian), Robbie Clarke (Wesley College/Corinthian), Ben Chadwick (Wesley College/YMCA), Mark Loughrey (St Andrews/Pembroke), Brian O’Malley (Castleknock CC/Glenanne), Alvaro Garcia (St Killians/Railway Union)
Team Manager: Peter Chadwick
Coach: Rory O’Donoghue
Asst Coaches: Luke Chadwick, Shane O’Donoghue
Fitness Coach: Brian Winn
Physio: Helena Campbell

Just four of last year’s panel remain with captain and vice-captain Luke Madeley and Jack Ryan among the returnees along with goalkeeper Hugh Lavery and St Andrew’s David Nolan. Madeley played in the centre of defence for Wesley at the school’s event while Ryan was one of three to line out for Sutton Park along with impressive defender Gavin O’Brien and lively front runner Keith O’Hare.

There are a half-dozen from Three Rock Rovers in the panel, St Columba’s Freddie Morris and Newpark’s Jonny McCormack also at the tournament in Cork while there are five from St Andrew’s – David Nolan back for a second campaign – as they enjoy playing on home turf.

He was part of an experienced side that managed to win the U-16 crown last term, a third success in four years at this grade. Glenanne’s Neil Byrne is the one player from a non-hockey playing school, coming from St Colmcilles in Knocklyon where Irish international Aine Connery is a teacher.

Borland and Geoff Walker maintain their coaching partnership while Rob Abbott has managed the build-up to the tournament with former Leinster senior manager Ronan Walsh helping out during the competition itself.

Meanwhile, on the girl’s side, 14 Leinster players have gone forward for trials for the Irish U-18s while there are 11 from the U-16 selection who won the interprovincials recently.

Leinster U-16 boys: Hugh Lavery (GK, Sandford Park/Pembroke), Leo Micklem (GK, Wesley/YMCA), Luke Madeley (Capt, Wesley/TRR), Gavin O’Brien (Sutton Park/Suttonians), Ben McCrea (Wesley/TRR), Jazze Henry (St Andrews/Monkstown), Isaac Agnew (St Andrews/Avoca), Aaron Bailey (St Andrews/Monkstown), Scott Dagg (Wesley/TRR), Jordan Larmour (St Andrews), Jack Ryan (vice-capt, Sutton Park/Suttonians), Jonny McCormack (Newpark/TRR), Freddie Morris (St Columba’s/TRR), David Nolan (St Andrews/Monkstown), Keith O’Hare (Sutton Park/Suttonians), Andrew Ramsey (Newpark/Avoca), Darragh Walsh (Wesley/TRR), Neil Byrne (St Colmcilles/Glenanne)

Coach: Gareth Borland
Manager: Rob Abbott/Ronan Walsh
Assistant Coach: Geoff Walker
GK coach: Stephen O’Keeffe

Irish U-18 girls trialists from Leinster: Carolyn Crampton (GK, Wesley College/Old Alex), Claire Foley (St Gerards), Emma Russell (Holy Child Kiliney/Old Alex), Hannah McDermott (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Jenny Long (High School/Corinthian), Jessica McGirr (Loreto Beaufort/Loreto), Kate Lloyd (Loreto Dalkey/Railway Union), Laura Gray (St Andrews/Old Alex), Millie O’Donnell (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Molly Lamb (Loreto Foxrock/Railway Union), Orla Macken (Rathdown/Railway Union), Sarah Evans (Rathdown/Loreto), Sarah Hawkshaw (Mount Sackville/Railway Union), Juliet Beatty (Alexandra College/Old Alex)

Irish U-16 girls trialists from Leinster: Rhona Conway Kenny (GK, Loreto Foxrock/Hermes), Rachel Gray (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Amber Gleeson (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Jenna Volpert (Hermes), Elena Tice (St Gerards), Bryony Biggam (St Gerards), Louise Gilmore (St Gerards), Anna Roopnarinesingh (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Sara Quill (Wesley/Corinthian), Ailbhe Marsh (Mt Anville/Corinthian), Philippa Cotter (Mt Anville/Muckross)

Marsh was also on target twice in the opening game of the day against Connacht in a 7-0 rout which, along with Ulster’s 6-0 dismissal of the South East, set up a winner take all tie between the two provinces in the penultimate game of the competition.

Indeed, having both drawn with Munster on day one, there was precious little between both sides going into the tie, starting with the same goal difference though Leinster had the slight edge on goals scored. In a tight battle, Marsh’s goal proved the only one which Ulster were to concede over the entire weekend.

At U-18 level, the title decider also came down to a Leinster-Ulster battle, this time in the final game of the competition, with Kate Dillon’s side needing three points to grab the trophy. However, this is a fine Ulster side who have already enjoyed top level competition at the recent British school’s championships and they ran out 3-0 winners.

Youth Olympian Katie Mullan was on the mark for the eighth time in the tournament while Chloe Brown and Penny Joyce were also on the mark to confirm their victory.

Defensively superb, they kept a clean sheet from their four games while notching 18 at the far end in a truly dominant showing. Leinster secured second by virtue of their earlier 2-0 win over Connacht, Emma Russell and Kate Lloyd following up their Saturday goal-scoring exploits to take silver.

ESB Electric Ireland U16 Interprovincial Tournament (all at Stormont)
Sunday results: Connacht 0 Leinster 7 (S Quill 2, A Marsh 2, S Patton, S O’Donoghue, P Cotter); Ulster 6 (T Doherty 2, K Edgar 2, F Kidd, J Moore) South East 0; Connacht 0 Munster 2 (E Nyland, H Redden); Ulster 0 Leinster 1 (A Marsh); Munster 0 South East 1 (K Raeburn)
Final standings: 1. Leinster 10pts (+14) 2. Ulster 7pts (+12) 3. South East 6pts (-4) 4. Munster 5pts (+1) 5. Connacht 0pts (-17)

ESB Electric Ireland U18 Interprovincial Tournament
Sunday results: Munster 3 (V Burns 2, C Hayes) South East 1 (A Haslam); Leinster 2 (E Russell, K Lloyd) Connacht 0; Ulster 2 (C Brown, K Morris) South East 0; Connacht 2 (A Codyre, H Gormley) Munster 2 (C Hayes, R Upton); Ulster 3 (K Mullan, C Brown, P Joyce) Leinster 0
Final standings: 1. Ulster 12pts (+18) 2. Leinster 7pts (+1) 3. Munster 4pts (-5) 4. Connacht 4pts (-8) 5. South East 1pt (-6)

At the younger age level, they are ahead by just a single goal on goal difference in a competition which could be decided by the second last tie when Leinster and Munster. Anna Roopnarinesingh’s four goals have helped the blues secure a draw against Munster (2-2) and an impressive 7-1 win over the South East to be in good shape.

But the red hands are one better as Zoe Wilson’s four saw them head off Connacht 7-0. They also drew with Munster who could profit from any possible draw between their rivals as they face the South East and Connacht on Sunday as one of three unbeaten sides.

In the U-18s, Leinster were held to a 1-1 draw by the South East which sees them with a lot of ground to make up on Ulster. A 2-0 success over Munster has given them a chance but the northern province thrashed Connacht (8-0) and Munster (5-0) to build an imposing goal difference and a two-point wedge at the top of the standings.

ESB Electric Ireland U16 Interprovincial Tournament (all at Stormont)
Saturday results
Leinster 2 (Anna Roopnarinesingh, Saoirse O’Donoghue) Munster 2 (Clodagh Moloney, Niamh O’Donnell); South East 1 (Aisling Cronin) Connacht 0; Ulster 0 Munster 0; South East 1 (Ruth Harrington) Leinster 7 (Anna Roopnarinesingh 3, Amber Gleeson 2, Sara Quill 2); Connacht 0 Ulster 7 (Zoe Wilson 4, Faye Kidd, Taite Doherty, Jessica Moore)

Overnight standings: 1. Ulster 4pts (+7) 2. Leinster 4pts (+6) 3. South East 3pts (-5) 4. Munster 2pts (0) 5. Connacht 0pts (-8)
Sunday fixtures: Connacht v Leinster, 9.30am; Ulster v South East, 11am; Connacht v Munster, 12.30pm; Ulster v Leinster, 2pm; Munster v South East, 3.30pm

ESB Electric Ireland U18 Interprovincial Tournament
Saturday results: Connacht 0 Ulster 8 (Katie Mullan 5, Jill Edgar 2, Amy Cooke); Leinster 2 (Emma Russell, Kate Lloyd) Munster 0; South East 2 (Susan Shirley, Ruth Bowe) Connacht 4 (Elaine Carey 2, Rebecca Dillon, Aisling Dunne); Ulster 5 (Katie Mullan 2, Chloe Brown 2, Chloe McCann) Munster 0; South East 1 (Marie-Claire Morrissey) Leinster 1 (Laura Gray)

Overnight standings: 1. Ulster 6pts (+13) 2. Leinster 4pts (+2) 3. Connacht 3pts (-6) 4. South East 1pt (-2) 5. Munster 0pts (-7)
Sunday fixtures: Munster v South East, 9.30am; Leinster v Connacht, 11am; Ulster v South East, 12.30pm; Connacht v Munster, 2pm; Ulster v Leinster, 3.3pm