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 men came closer of the two, Timmy Cockram’s goal four minutes from time sending the trophy back north for a third time in four years.

It earned Ulster a 3-3 draw which allied to Saturday’s 7-2 thrashing of Munster, saw them over the line on goal difference.

Leinster had started the tournament with a strong win, topping Munster 4-1, an excellent second half performance transforming a 0-0 half-time scoreline.

Davy Carson and David Keogh both scored on their blues’ debuts while there were also goals for Peter Blakeney and Andy Walker with John Jermyn getting a consolation on Friday night.

But Ulster’s big win in game two but Leinster on the back foot, needing a win to take the title.

Again, Munster were well in the race as the break, fighting back to level at 2-2 courtesy of another two Jermyn goals, despite falling 2-0 behind.

Their foreign-based players were key, Chris Cargo and Mikey Watt doubles and one from Geoff McCabe accounting for five of their goals.

Timmy Cockram also got a pair as Ulster ran riot with five goals in 14 second half minutes to whip past the finishing post.

Leinster made a decent fist of retaining the title, leading 2-1 at the break and 3-2 into the closing stretch, Glenanne trio Gary Shaw, Shane O’Donoghue and Joe Brennan doing the damage.

Garvey pair Greg Thompson and Cockram kept Ulster in range and the latter popped up late on to crown another fine year on a personal level – retaining the top scorer’s tag to go with his Ulster league title.

On the women’s side, a stunning 5-0 romp over Ulster proved to be the highlight of a thrilling ESB Electric Ireland Senior Women’s Interprovincials for Munster, as they annexed the title for the first time since 2003.

A subsequent 1-1 draw with Leinster left the blues an outside chance of snatching the title – needing a 4-1 win over Ulster in the tournament’s final game – but it was not to be.

Having laid down this marker on Friday at Serpentine Avenue. Ger O’Carroll’s southern side ground out the necessary three points in their final match against Connacht on Sunday to top the pool by two points.

With no current Irish squad members on show, due to the proximity of their busy summer season, the presence of former Irish captain Eimear Cregan proved instrumental, as she scored five of Munster’s eight goals over the weekend.

First-half goals from captain Elaine Bromell, Ali O’ Regan and Naomi Carroll, as well as a brace from Cregan, saw Munster ease past shell-shocked defending champions Ulster on Friday, leading 3-0 inside ten minutes via a pair of corners.

Leinster had laid their stall out with a 4-0 victory over Connacht earlier in the afternoon, Holly Jenkinson getting them off to the perfect start after just four minutes.

Railway Union club maters Sinead Dooley (two) and Kate Dillon on the final hooter completed a comfortable win.

Munster and Leinster shared the spoils on match day two thanks to goals Cregan and Kate Dillon, before Cregan, Ireland’s most capped player of all time, showed her class with another double against Connacht as Munster prevailed 2-0.

With one draw and one victory under their belt, Leinster knew nothing but a convincing win over Ulster could snatch victory from Munster. But the defending champions weren’t willing to roll over and held the Leinster to a 1-1 draw, Nikki Keegan getting Leinster’s equaliser in the closing stages.

Leinster conquered the junior men’s title, belatedly notching the goals to beat Ulster 5-0 in a winner-takes-all clash at Grange Road on Saturday. Following the withdrawal of Connacht the tournament was reduced to a one-day event.

And it appeared to play a reasonable factor as the sides involved in back-to-back games faded late in their second fixture.

Leinster showed no such weary legs, though. Having fallen behind against Munster to Alex Newenham’s brilliant diving finish to Eric Callendar’s cross, two second half penalty corners swung the game, making it 2-1 in the morning game – Cain Cooney and Scott Wilkie doing the necessary.

After only an hour’s rest, a fatigued Munster went down 4-0 to Ulster. They fell behind to a Johnny Orr goal just before half-time before Connor Bannister finished off a superbly-worked short corner move featuring six players midway through the second half.

Munster then had captain Eric Callender and John Cudmore yellow-carded in the space of two minutes, and Ulster took full advantage of their numerical supremacy to net further goals through Orr and Stephen McMillon.

The northern province then faced a refreshed Leinster side who ran out easy victors, Scott Wilike notching two of the hosts’ four unanswered goals that came in the final 10 minutes in a 5-0 win.

The women’s side made it a double for Leinster’s Junior outfits, topping the pool by two points. Boasting a 100pc record coming into Sunday’s encounter with Ulster, Leinster knew a draw would be enough to secure the competition, which proved to be the case, the game ending 1-1 with Karen Clarke’s goal crucial, marking another high point this year for the team’s skipper, an IJC, division two and Jacqui Potter Cup winner already in 2011.

Swords’ woman Breda Orohoe’s single strike was enough to account for Connacht before Tara Powderly and Aoife Dalton inspired the blues to a 4-0 win over Munster.

A 3-0 success over the South East moved the side to the brink and they closed out the tournament with the draw they needed against Ulster.

*** With big thanks to Ian Cusack and Alan Good for the words and Adrian Boehm, Emer Keogh and Pat Sargent for pictures from the weekend.

ESB Electric Ireland Interprovincials, Serpentine Avenue/Grange Road
Senior Men’s results: Munster 1 (John Jermyn) Leinster 4 (Davy Carson, Andy Walker, David Keogh, Peter Blakeney); Munster 2 (John Jermyn 2) Ulster 7 (Mikey Watt 2, Timmy Cockram 2, Chris Cargo 2, Geoff McCabe); Leinster 3 (Gary Shaw, Shane O’Donoghue, Joe Brennan) Ulster 3 (Timmy Cockram 2, Greg Thompson).
Standings: 1 Ulster 4 pts (+5); 2 Leinster 4 pts (+3); 3 Munster 0 pts (-8)

Senior Women’s results: Leinster 4 (Sinead Dooley 2, Holly Jenkinson, Kate Dillon) Connacht 0; Munster 5 (Eimear Cregan 2, Elaine Bromell, Ali O’Regan, Naomi Carroll); Ulster 0; Connacht 0 Ulster 6 (Steph Quinn 2, Jessica Lynch, Jayne Clarke, Hannah McMillan, Scarlett Holdsworth); Leinster 1 (Kate Dillon) Munster 1 (Eimear Cregan); Leinster 1 (Nikki Keegan) Ulster 1 (Rachel Kind).
Standings: 1 Munster 7 pts (+7); 2 Leinster 5 pts (+4); 3 Ulster 4 pts (+1); 4 Connacht 0 pts (-12).

Junior Men’s results: Leinster 2 (Cain Cooney, Scott Wilkie) Munster 1 (Alex Newenham); Ulster 4 (Johnny Orr 2, Connor Bannister, Stephen McMillan) Munster 0; Leinster 5 (Cain Cooney, Scott Wilkie 2, Dave Wilson, Brian Cleere) Ulster 0.
Standings: 1 Leinster 6 pts (+6); 2 Ulster 3 pts (-1); 3 Munster 0 pts (-5).

Junior Women’s, results: Leinster 1 (Breda Orhoe) Connacht 0; Ulster 2 (Jayne McGrillen 2) Munster 1 (Sarah Gray); South East 1 (Louise Fanning) Connacht 2 (Emma Glanville, Georgina Fagan); Leinster 4 (Karen Clarke, Olwen Smith, Tara Powderly, Aoife Dalton) Munster 0; Ulster 3 (Rose Montgomery, Sarah Galbraith, Wendy Bustard) South East 1 (Miriam Lambert); Munster 1 (Lorraine McGowan) Connacht 0; Leinster 3 (Elaine Hall, Fiona O’Donovan, Tara Powderly) South East 0;
Connacht 0 Ulster 0; South East 0 Munster 0;
Leinster 1 (K Clarke) Ulster 1 (S Colgan).
Standings: 1 Leinster 10 pts (+8); 2 Ulster 8 pts (+3); 3 Connacht 4 pts (-1); 4 Munster 4 pts (-4); 5 South East 1 pt (-6).

A couple were forced as Nicci Daly, Pam Smithwick and Jean McDonnell’s elevation to the Irish squad has seen them not involved this time.

Gene Muller has requested the resting of his central panel as Ireland prepare for a busy summer with the Champion’s Challenge coming in June and the Europeans in August.

As such they are three among eleven changes. Both goalkeeping berths are elevations from last year’s U-21 selection with Grace O’Flanagan and Jessie Elliott moving up in place of Smithwick and Siobhan Burke.

O’Flanagan is one of seven Railway players, a measure of the club’s depth of squad shown by the inclusion of two of their Irish Junior Cup winners, Sinead Dooley and Zara Delany.

Orla Fox is another to move up from the U-21s as does Hermes’ Sarah Greene and Loreto’s Ali Meeke while Maebh Horan competed last season in a South East U-21 jersey.

Hermes’ Christine Quinlan is a returnee while UCD pair Rachel Burke and Orlagh O’Shea get first calls for the province’s senior side.

Ulster very much look the side to beat, winners four of the past five seasons and carrying a weight of international experience which their opponents will find hard to match.

Jimmy O’Connor Memorial Cup IHL player of the year Suzanne Beaney leads the northern line while a couple of her Pegasus’ club mates are on a high after a bumper season.

Pamela Glass is still one of the neatest defenders about, Stephanie Quinn ran the midfield in both recent IHL and ISC finals while Sharon Moffett won IHL keeper of the tournament.

Add in Emma Stewart’s 80-odd caps, allied to a IHA club player of the year nomination, and the rising talents of Vanessa Surgeoner and Scarlett Holdsworth – all marshalled by skipper Susie Martin from recently crowned Ulster champions Ballymoney – and they enter the tournament in the box-seat.

Munster rely heavily on provincial club champions, Catholic Institute, with Eimear Cregan’s international retirement opening the door for her involvement.

A couple of wild geese are called in, Old Alex’s Kate Collins-Smyth and Hermes’ pair Sinead Connery and Eimear Horan joined by Sudbury-based Jen O’Loughlin.

Connacht are captained by UCD fresher Brenda Flannery and have a very youthful look – a number of their players drawn from the recently successful Colaiste Iognaid school’s teams.

Indeed, Lynsey Trainor, Michelle and Elaine Carey are all current students while recent alumni Katie Codyre, Tara Melvin and Orla Callanan also get a call.

Leinster: Grace O’Flanagan (GK, Railway Union), Jessie Elliott (GK, Trinity), Eimear Dolan (Railway Union), Holly Jenkinson (Railway Union), Orla Fox (Railway Union), Maebh Horan (Trinity), Audrey McCormack (Co- Capt, Glenanne), Kate Dillon (Co-Capt, Railway Union), Sinead Dooley (Railway Union), Ali Meeke (Loreto), Nikki Keegan (Loreto), Rachel Burke (UCD), Carol Magowan (Corinthian), Orlagh O’Shea (UCD), Megan Tennant-Humphreys (UCD), Sarah Greene (Hermes), Zara Delany (Railway Union), Christine Quinlan (Hermes)
Coach: Victor Shaw
Manager: Ali Geoffroy
Asst Coach: Joe Brennan/Graham Shaw

Ulster: Sharon Moffett (GK, Pegasus), Emma Teggarty (GK, Randalstown), Emma Stewart (Armagh), Scarlett Holdsworth (Armagh), Suzanne Beaney (Pegasus), Jessica Lynch (Ballymoney), Stephanie Quinn (Pegasus), Alice Garrad (Ulster Elks), Kerry McComish (Hermes), Vanessa Surgeonor (Pegasus), Charlene Hull (Lurgan), Rachel King (Ulster Elks), Hannah McMillan (Queens), Jayne Clarke (Ulster Elks), Janice Vaughan (Ards), Pamela Glass (Pegasus), Claire Buchanan (Queen’s), Susie Martin (capt, Ballymoney)
Coach: Stephen Watt
Manager: Karen Caldwell
Asst Coach: Suzanne Evans
GK Coach: Alison McNeil
Physio: Emma Lynch

Munster: Ciara Ronan (GK, Catholic Inst), Vanessa Sargent (GK, Cork Harlequins), Elaine Bromell (capt, Catholic Institute), Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute), Kate Collins-Smyth (Old Alex), Sinead Connery (Hermes), Eimear Cregan (Catholic Institute), Kym Daly (Catholic Institute), Eimear Horan (Hermes), Johanna Hyland (Cork Harlequins), Rachel McSharry (Cork Harlequins), Yvonne O’Byrne (Cork Harlequins), Jennifer O’Loughlin (Sudbury), Ali O’Regan (UCC), Christine O’Shea (Catholic Institute), Olivia Roycroft (UCC)
Coach: Ger O’Carroll
Manager: Meg Burke
Asst Coach: Sarah Scott
GK Coach: Orla McCarthy
Physio: Jane Fleming

Connacht: Sinead Collins (GK, Greenfields), Emilie Molloy (GK, Galway), Orla Callanan (NUIG), Elaine Carey (Galway), Michelle Carey (Galway), Katie Codyre (Hermes), Maeve Faherty (Galway), Louise Fahy (Galway), Brenda Flannery (capt, UCD), Clodagh Grealy (Loreto), Claire Heskin (Galway), Jess McMickan (UCD), Tara Melvin (Galway), Jane O’Higgins (NUIG), Aoife Smyth (NUIG), Lynsey Trainor (Galway)
Coach: Bryan Madden
Manager: Tony Kennedy
Asst Coach: Brian Downes
GK Coach: Tara Browne
Physio: Elaine Raftery

Senior Interprovincial schedule (all at Serpentine Avenue)
Friday – Men: Munster v Leinster (8pm); Women: Leinster v Connacht (4pm); Munster v Ulster (6pm);
Saturday -Men: Munster v Ulster (5pm); Women: Connacht v Ulster (1pm); Munster v Leinster (3pm).
Sunday – Men: Leinster v Ulster, 4pm; Women: Connacht v Munster (12pm); Munster v Ulster (2pm)

** For more information on the Leinster men’s panel, click here and the Junior Interpros here. The Hook is on holiday this weekend and so will not be in a position to post updates on the tournament until Monday. If you have information from the tournament regarding results or match reports, please email stevie_findlats@yahoo.com. Comments will not be posted for the duration of the weekend.

Seven of their number make up the panel as David Keogh and Shane O’Donoghue are set for their first senior tournament.

Graham Shaw and Joe Brennan take on the captain and vice-captaincy duties while Stephen Doran comes in for Dave Fitzgerald in one of the goalkeeping berths with recently capped Gary Shaw retaining his place and Richie Shaw also included, , the latter having skippered the U-21 side a couple of seasons ago.

Elsewhere, there are plenty of other changes as the European-based contingent of Stephen Butler, Alan Sothern, Ronan Gormley and Andy McConnell not available from last season’s line-up while Chris Pelow is now in Australia.

Alan Giles is away for the weekend as well while Gareth Watkins is also not involved, leading to a number of changes in personnel.

David Robinson – after a fine tournament was cut short in the 2008/09 season – is available after missing the latter part of the season through injury while Mark English’s reward for a fine season is a step up from last year’s U-21 selection, joining Railway’s Kenny Carroll.

New international Davy Carson, likewise, moves up a level while Corinthian club mate Andrew Sutton brings their contingent to two players.

Three Rock internationals Peter Blakeney and Mick Maguire have been augmented by Ali Haughton who returns after a couple of years away from the panel while Pembroke’s Mick O’Connor gets a call, too.

Munster’s line-up features a smattering of Leinster-based talent with YM sharp-shooter Johnny Bruton returning to the fray while Karl Lynch (Pembroke), Stephen O’Keeffe (Railway) and Ben Dobson (UCD) all included in a side loaded with Cork C of I talent.

Ulster’s men enter the competition with a formidable line-up with ten internationals in tow including Santander-based pair Mikey Watt and Geoff McCabe along with Reading’s Chris Cargo while Cork native Jason Lynch lines out for a third year with his adopted province.

Senior Interprovincial panels:
Leinster: Iain Walker (GK, YMCA), Steven Doran (GK, Glenanne), Graham Shaw (capt, Glenanne), Joe Brennan (vice capt, Glenanne), Richie Shaw (Glenanne), David Robinson (YMCA), Andrew Sutton (Corinthian), Kenny Carroll (Railway Union), Gary Shaw (Glenanne), Mick Maguire (Three Rock Rovers), Andrew Walker (YMCA), Mick O’Connor (Pembroke), Davy Carson (Corinthian), Mark English (Railway Union), Peter Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers), Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne), David Keogh (Glenanne), Ali Haughton (Three Rock Rovers)
Coach: Ger Butler
Assistant Coach: Stephen Barry
Manager: Tom Hipwell
Physio: Ali Keogh

Munster: Billy Lynch (GK, Capt, Cork C of I), John Hobbs (Cork Harlequins), Phil Smith (Cork C of I), Ben Dobson (UCD), Karl Lynch (Pembroke Wanderers), Andy Gray (UCC), David Harvey (Cork C of I), Andrew Daunt (Cork C of I), Dave Hobbs (Cork C of I), Clinton Sweetnam (Cork C of I), John Jermyn (Cork C of I), Alec Moffett (Cork C of I), Allister Smith (vice-capt, Bandon), Aaron Beamish (Bandon), Fionn O’Leary (UCC), Jonny Bruton (YMCA), Darren Farrell (Cork Harlequins), Stephen O’Keeffe (Railway Union)
Coach: Alan Dobson
Manager: Ivan Coombes
Asst Coach: Neil Welch

Ulster: Ian Hughes (GK, Cookstown), Richard Johnston (GK, Mossley), John Jackson (vice-capt, Mossley), Jonathon Bell (Lisnagarvey), Ewan Butler (Cookstown), Peter Caruth (Annadale), Jason Lynch (Lisnagarvey), Philip Brown (Banbridge), Geoffrey McCabe (Santander, Spain), Steven Redpath (Instonians), Christopher Cargo (Reading), Timothy Cockram (capt, Lisnagarvey), Paul Gleghorne (Instonians), Drew Carlisle (Banbridge), Bruce McCandless (Banbridge), Michael Watt (Santander, Spain), Dane Ward (Banbridge), Greg Thompson (Lisnagarvey)
Coach: Drew Campbell
Manager: Peter Jackson
Physio: Mark McDonald

Match schedule: Friday – Munster vs Leinster, 8pm; Saturday – Munster vs Ulster, 5pm; Sunday – Leinster vs Ulster, 4pm

IHA chief executive Angus Kirkland this week informed branch representatives that one men’s and one women’s interpro competition will be held on March 26 and 27.

All players over the age of 18 will be eligible for selection, effectively meaning the senior and U-21 events have been amalgamated.

The decision follows a consultation process between the interpro working group, which was comprised of national and provincial branch representatives, and national coaches Paul Revington and Gene Muller.

The IHA’s high performance working group has also been tasked with finding a fourth team to compete in the men’s event. The identity of a fourth side has yet to be confirmed, but candidates could include the Irish U-18 side or a foreign club/representative/invitational outfit.

Initial discussions had pointed towards the formation of a new U-23 tournament to replace the senior and U-21 formats but, in a letter circulated to the interpro working group, Kirkland outlined the decision taken following an IHA board meeting on Sunday.

“I am sure you will appreciate that this has been debated long and hard by the interpro working group, national coaches and the board, and with the varying views around the groups arriving at a solution that suits everyone just has not been possible – however having taken into accounts all viewpoints the board believe this to be the best way forward for this season,” Kirkland wrote.

Revington and Muller will determine the availability of international players for selection.

Leinster came within ten minutes of completing an interprovincial clean-sweep at Grange Road last weekend but three from four titles represented a more than decent return.

The one that got away proved the women’s senior title as former international Suzanne Beaney struck ten minutes from time to cancel out Cathy McKean’s earlier opener to earn the draw Ulster needed to take the women’s title.

Friday night’s win over Munster had been supplemented by Nicci Daly’s single-goal winner over Connacht on Saturday.

The game-breaker, though, proved to be Alice Garrad’s fortuitous effort for Ulster against Munster to make it 2-0. It was the only tie of the tournament to be decided by more than one goal and came in the wake of southern hesitation after a lifted shot into Sinead McCarthy’s body.

The Ulster women reacted quickest to roll goalwards and Garrad nipped in for a simple touch to secure the goal which ultimately proved vital.
On the men’s senior side, Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw enjoyed what is likely to be their interpro swansong as they jointly lifted the cup.

Friday’s big win over Ulster, combined with Munster and the northern province’s 2-2 draw on Saturday meant the blues needed only a draw on Sunday.

They went one better as Andy McConnell got in around the back of club mate David Harte to grab the winner after Gareth Watkins had earlier grabbed his fourth goal of the tournament.

At U-21 level, the equation was a similar one on Sunday as just a draw was needed to claim the title. Goals from Davy Carson, Brian Doherty and Stephen Cole outdid Dan Hobbs’ pair of corners in their 3-2 win over Munster.

And Leinster’s U-21 women matched that feat in style. They overcame a tough opening battle against Munster to ease past South East on Saturday, captain Anna O’Flanagan leading from the front with a hat-trick before taking the laurels in the winner-takes-all decider with Ulster on Sunday, Railway duo Nikki Evans and Kate McKenna grabbing the goals.

Senior and U21 Interprovincials, Grange Road, Dublin

Senior Men
Ulster 1 (T Cockram) Leinster 4 (G Watkins 3, P Blakeney); Ulster 2 (B McCandless, S Todd) Munster 2 (J Jermyn 2); Munster 1 (J Jermyn) Leinster 2 (G Watkins, A McConnell)
Final standings (pts/goal diff): 1 Leinster 6 pts (+4); 2 Munster 1 pt (-1); 3 Ulster 1 pt (-3).

U21 Men
Ulster 1 (N Hamilton) Leinster 2 (B Doherty, J Kane); Ulster 3 (N Hamilton 3) Munster 2 (D Hobbs 2); Leinster 3 (D Carson, B Doherty, S Cole) Munster 2 (D Hobbs 2);
Final standings (pts/goal diff): 1 Leinster 6 pts (+2); 2 Ulster 3 pts (0); 3 Munster 0 pts (-2).

Senior Women
Ulster 1 (S Quinn) Connacht 0; Munster 0 Leinster 1 (J McDonnell); Leinster 1 (N Daly) Connacht 0; Ulster 2 (S Beaney, A Garrad) Munster 0; Connacht 1 (T Melvin) Munster 2 (A Connery, S McCarthy); Ulster 1 (S Beaney) Leinster 1 (C McKean);
Final standings (pts/goal diff): 1 Ulster 7 pts (+3); 2 Leinster 7 pts (+2); 3 Munster 3 pts (-2); 4 Connacht 0 pts (-3).

U21 Women
Leinster 3 (N Farrell, H Matthews, N Evans) Munster 2 (K Campbell 2); Ulster 4 (K Hewitt, E Thornbury, S McClure, J Kyle) South East 0; Munster 1 (K Murphy) South East 2 (M Byrne, C Murphy); Leinster 3 (A O’Flanagan 3) South East 0; Munster 0 Ulster 6 (E Thornbury 2, K Lammey, K Steenson, J Kyle, K Hewitt); Ulster 0 Leinster 2 (N Evans, K McKenna)
Final standings (pts/goal diff): 1 Leinster 9 pts (+6); 2 Ulster 6 pts (+8); 3 South East 3 pts (-6); 4 Munster 0 pts (-8).

* All the photos from Saturday and Sunday’s action can be viewed at the following links:

Interprovincial Trophy Presentations – Adrian Boehm
Senior Women: Leinster vs Ulster – Adrian Boehm
Senior Women: Munster vs Ulster – Adrian Boehm
Senior Men: Munster vs Ulster – Adrian Boehm
Senior Men: Munster vs Ulster – Simon MacAllister
Senior Men: Munster vs Leinster – Adrian Boehm
U21 Men: Munster vs Leinster – Adrian Boehm
U21 Women: Munster vs Leinster – Adrian Boehm

Gareth Watkins’ hat-trick gave Leinster the major impetus on the opening night of the men’s senior interprovincial championships as they smashed a listless Ulster 4-1 at Grange Road last night.

The Monkstown striker bashed home on his open side in the seventh minute following a long-straight ball worked its way through the heart of the northern province’s defence.

He doubled up with an improvised reverse-stick strike with half-time closing in. Peter Blakeney swept home to make it 3-0 early in the second half before Watkins got the simplest of tap-ins to Alan Sothern’s cross for a comfortable lead.

Ulster offered little but pulled one back in the final via Timmy Cockram’s drag-flick.

Earlier, the Leinster U-21s came from a goal behind to beat their Ulster counterparts 2-1. Neal Hamilton opened the deadlock in the fourth minute but a concerted second half effort saw Brian Doherty level with a drag-flick and Jonathon Kane squeeze in the winner while Ulster were down to nine players.

In the women’s competition, Ulster and Leinster were both pushed all the way before scoring second half winners.

Stephanie Quinn swept home a 42nd minute corner switch to out-gun a game Connacht outfit who came close to forcing an equaliser late on.

Leinster, meanwhile, had to wait until the 58th minute before Jean McDonnell grabbed the winner against a Munster side who shaded the possession stakes but could not break down the home defence. Pamela Smithwick pulled off a pair of fine saves late on to keep hold of the points.

Senior Men
Leinster 4 (Gareth Watkins 3, Peter Blakeney) Ulster 1 (Timmy Cockram)

Senior Women:
Ulster 1 (Stephanie Quinn) Connacht 0; Leinster 1 (Jean McDonnell) Munster 0

U-21 Men:
Leinster 2 (Brian Doherty, Jonathon Kane) Ulster 1 (Neil Hamilton)

* For more of Deryck Vincent’s photos from the women’s Leinster vs Munster fixture click here and for the men’s Leinster vs Ulster match, click here.

While some quarters call for their disbandment, the men’s and women’s Senior and U-21 interpros all making for a more than intriguing weekend of hockey at Grange Road.

Leinster’s senior men go in search of a 44th title, and end Ulster’s reign as champions. They do so with a panel featuring 12 internationals in their 16 man line-up with YM’s Andy Walker and Railway’s Kenny Carroll the only two not currently involved in some sort of Irish panel, making this a major opportunity to impress.

Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw, as reported by David Metcalf in the Irish Independent, are included, called up before they made their retirements from international hockey.

Ulster have nine Irish players with former Cork C of I man Jason Lynch again opting for his adopted home. Pembroke trio Adam Pritchard, Conor and David Harte along with Patrick Shanahan, though, will represent their province of origin. Indeed, it could be a busy weekend for the Three Rock man as he has also been named in Munster’s U-21 panel.

The women’s senior competition offers players outside the current Irish panels a huge opportunity to shine as Gene Muller’s panel are unavailable for regional selection.

Simon Filgas’ Leinster squad is largely based on a core of Railway Union players with a half-dozen making the cut. Bray’s former international pair Linda O’Neill and Catherine Murray provide midfield power as part of a quartet of Loreto, Bray All-Ireland School’s winners from 200 in the panel while Cathy McKean lends her experience, too.

Across the provinces, there is plenty of Leinster-based representation with Railway’s Sarah McDonald captaining Connacht taking over from club mate Sinead Walsh. The western province is bolstered by Hermes, Loreto, UCD and Trinity players to go with a large, youthful contingent from Greenfields and Galway.

Hermes’ Aine Connery lines out for Munster while UCD’s Kerry McComish wears Ulster’s colours for a side featuring former Ireland star Suzanne Beaney.

With the senior and U-21 tournaments running concurrently, there must have been a wealth of debates in the various provinces over which squad players were to represent.

This is perhaps more apparent on the Leinster women’s side with several Ireland A players named. Connacht opted just to compete in the senior interpros so the competition is reduced to four teams this year with South East, coached by former Hermes duo Linda Caulfield and Catriona Carey, featuring Trinity trio Kylie Deverall, Maebh and Eanna Horan.

On the men’s side, Niall Denham keeps ten players from last year’s panel with three times capped Brian Doherty hoping to make his debut at this level after missing last year through injury.

There is also the chance to see how Stu Loughrey has progressed after his first year at Loughborough University.

Senior and U21 Interprovincials, Grange Road, Dublin
Senior Men: Ulster vs Leinster (Tonight, 8pm); Ulster vs Munster (Tomorrow, 2pm); Munster vs Leinster (Sunday, 2pm).

Leinster Men’s Senior squad: Iain Walker (YMCA), David Fitzgerald (Monkstown), Gareth Watkins (Monkstown), Stephen Butler (Glenanne), Joe Brennan (Glenanne), Graham Shaw (Glenanne), Ronan Gormley (Pembroke), Alan Giles (Pembroke), Alan Sothern (Pembroke), Andy McConnell (Pembroke), Michael Maguire (Three Rock Rovers), Chris Pelow (Corinthian), Peter Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers), Kenny Caroll (Railway Union), Andrew Walker (YMCA), Gary Shaw (Glenanne)
Manager: Tom Hipwell, Coach: Ger Flannery

ESB Senior Women: Ulster vs Connacht (Tonight, 6pm); Munster vs Leinster (Tonight, 8pm); Leinster vs Connacht (Tomorrow, 12pm); Ulster vs Munster (Tomorrow, 4pm); Connacht vs Munster (Sunday, 12pm); Ulster vs Leinster (Sunday, 4pm).

Leinster Women’s squad: Pamela Smithwick (Old Alex), Siobhan Burke (Corinthian), Catherine Murray (Bray), Holly Jenkinson (Railway Union), Isobel Joyce (Railway Union), Eimear Dolan (Railway Union), Carol Magowan (Corinthian), Cathy McKean (Loreto), Mary Waldron (Glenanne), Linda O’Neill (Bray), Kate Dillon (Railway Union), Cecelia Joyce (Railway Union), Megan Tennant-Humphreys (UCD), Audrey McCormack (Glenanne), Jean McDonnell (Railway Union), Nikki Keegan (Loreto), Nicci Daly (Loreto)
Coach: Simon Filgas, Manager: Catherine Brock, Asst coaches: Jonathon Cole, Joe Brennan

U21 Men: Ulster vs Leinster (Tonight, 6pm); Ulster vs Munster (Tomorrow, 12pm); Munster vs Leinster (Sunday, 12pm)

Leinster Men’s U-21 squad: Stephen O’Keeffe (Railway Union), Ross Murray (Corinthian), Brian Doherty (Corinthian), Jonathan Kane (Glenanne), Rob Whelan (YMCA), Davy Carson (Corinthian), Geoff Walker (YMCA), Richard Pedreschi (YMCA), Nick Dee (Monkstown), Andrew Ward (Monkstown), Billy McEnery (Monkstown), Stephen Cole (Monkstown), Shane O’Donnell (UCD), Mark English (Railway Union), Luke Hayden (Clontarf), Sean Flynn (Dublin University), David Keogh (Glenanne), Stuart Loughrey (Loughborough Students)
Coach: Niall Denham, Manager: Rob Abbott, Asst Coach: Maarten Bos

ESB U21 Women: Leinster vs Munster (Tomorrow, 10am); Ulster vs South East (Tomorrow, 10am); Munster vs South East (Tomorrow, 3.30pm); Leinster vs South East (Sunday, 10am); Munster vs Ulster (Sunday, 10am); Ulster vs Leinster (Sunday, 3.30pm).

Leinster U-21 squad::Jessie Elliott (Trinity), Aisling Campion (Loreto), Nikki Evans (Railway Union), Noelle Farrell (Pembroke), Orla Fox (Pembroke), Sarah Greene (Hermes), Hannah Matthews (Loreto), Caitriona McGilp (UCD), Kate McKenna (Railway Union), Alison Meeke (Loreto), Hayley O’Donnell (Pembroke), Anna O’Flanagan (Hermes), Leigh Pelow (UCD), Rachel Scott (Trinity), Val Sexton (UCD), Alice Ward (Pembroke), Grace O’Flanagan (UCD)

* A couple of vacancies for team managers for the Leinster senior and U-21 sides ahead of the upcoming interprovincial tournaments to be held in Grange Road on March 26 to 28.

If you are interested in taking on either of these roles, please contact the Branch secretary Ronan Pelow on ronanpelow@leinsterhockey.org.

* The draw for the Leinster Senior Jacqui Potter semi-finals was confirmed this morning with Hermes set to play Pembroke and Old Alex facing off against Corinthian. The fixtures are currently set to be played on February 21.

* According to Wednesday’s Examiner, Irish captain Eimear Cregan (left) is set to move to Catholic Institute from Cork Harlequins. She spent four years at the Cork club, winning a string of league titles. She will not be eligible, though, for the Limerick club’s IHT fixture this weekend in Knock but could be in their line-up as Institute are in a strong position to end Harlequins’ 14-year reign as Munster champions.

*This weekend’s men’s outdoor fixtures: Division One (Sat): Corinthian vs UCD, TBC, Whitechurch Park; Division Two (Sat) – Bray vs Weston, 2pm, Loreto Bray; Irish Senior Cup: Mossley vs Annadale, 1pm, The Glade; Instonians vs Banbridge, 1pm, Shaw’s Bridge

Irish Hockey Trophy: Portadown vs Three Rock Ladies, 2.30pm, Edenville; Ashton vs Wexford, 2.30pm, Ashton; Knock vs Catholic Institute, 1pm, St Colman’s Park; Greenfields vs Galway, TBC

They were given a severe fright, though, by a John Jermyn-inspired Munster who three the kitchen sink at Ulster – who rested Saturday heroes Eugene Magee and Timmy Cockram – in their efforts to grab an unlikely victory.

Jermyn opened the scoring with first of ten goals in the fifth minute, flicking high to the top left corner. Bruce McCandless’ effort was blocked by Mark Ruddle soon after but Chris Cargo bagged the rebound – the converted defender reveling in his forward role for his second in two games after a late call-up.

But two Munster goals in 30 seconds had a famous upset on the cards. Conor Harte’s crash ball found it’s way into veteran Nigel Buttimer’s path and he duly netted and Gareth Lennox could only get have a touch to Jermyn’s reverse for the ball to dribble over the line for 3-1.

Ulster, though, were not finished yet and managed to end a cracking first half on level terms. Colin Donaldson played in Jonny Quigley for 2-3 and Mark Gleghorne found room to play in Peter Caruth and the sides went in at the break all-square – advantage Ulster.

After the scorers were given a brief respite, Munster hit the front for the third time twenty minutes into the second period when David Hobbs finished tidily after a series of short corners.

Gleghorne’s low drag made it even yet again in the 60th minute before Jason Lynch (pictured, right) was sin-binned against his old colleagues for a stick tackle, followed by preventing a quick-free by knocking the ball away.

During his absence, Quigley found Caruth to give Ulster their first lead in the 65th minute and look certainties to take the competition. Quigley then replaced Lynch in the sin-bin as Munster piled on the pressure. The offence led to a free-in upgraded to a corner.

Conor Harte ballooned one effort over the bar and another corner ensued which Jermyn ripped into the net to tie up as lively game as your likely to see at 5-5.

Final Standings (points/goal difference):
1. Ulster 4pts (+2) 2. Leinster 3pts (0) 3. Munster 1pt (-2)

* For more of Eoin Tyrell’s pictures from this weekend’s Interprovincials, click here