Nigel Kingston and Ian Wilkie once again are the management team and they have retained the services of six of the side which won last time out.

John Lazenby dons the captain’s armband, in so doing becoming Athy’s first ever interpro having switched from Kilkenny in the past season.

Ben Epstein (Trinity), Karl Crosbie (Glenanne), Peter Haughton (Avoca), last year’s skipper Shane Dooley (Navan) and last year’s goal-scoring hero Dave Wilson (Pembroke) are also back for another season.

Rathgar Chiefs are another side to have their first ever Leinster call-ups, Brian Cleere and Jonny Orr both selected for the side while the side, once again, has a youthful look.

Recent Sutton Park graduate Shane Diviney, St Andrew’s man Jakim Bernsden along with Avoca up-and-comers Peter and Mark Haughton and Clontarf pair Cain Cooney and Stephen Ludgate bring that energy.

Munster have been the primary challengers in recent times with two wins since 2006 and they draw their panel primarily from Limerick, five from Catholic Institute and four from Limerick HC.

Alan Good (pictured below) brings a high profile presence to the team, the Southern Fried proprietor getting his first representative call-up one of five UCC men included.

With Connacht not competing this year on the men’s side, just three sides compete with Ulster making up the list for the one day competition. Their side drawn from four clubs in Ulster Senior Two. Champions Campbellians offer seven players with Larne, Parkview and Ballymena also involved.

On the women’s side, Keith Crawford and Chris Tyrell named their panel a couple of weeks back, fielding a side with plenty of potential.

Ulster are going in search of a third successive title and they draw most of their side from the second teams of top-tier sides Pegasus, Randalstown, Ulster Elks while IJC finalists Lisnagarvey supply two of the team.

Connacht have a strong south Dublin-feel as a couple of Avoca players have availed of parental roots to see a half-dozen call-ups. Former Kilternan resident and Pembroke woman Emma Glanville is also in while there are two Railway inclusions – Ruth Hutchinson-Clifford and Aileen Burke.

Loreto’s Ciara Howard is in the South East panel while Munster feature Irish Hockey Photographer’s snapper Ondine Roche, the Fermoy woman minding the net.

Leinster Men: Karl Crosbie (Glennane), Brian Cleere (Rathgar chiefs), Scott Wilkie (Avoca), Shane Dooley (Navan), John Lazenby (Athy), Simon Creane (Kilkenny), Jonny Orr (Rathger Chiefs), David Wilson (Pembroke), Peter Haughton (Avoca), Cain Cooney (Clontarf), Mark Haughton (Avoca), Stephen Ludgate (Clontarf), Lee Chadwick (Kilkenny), Jakim Berndsen (GK, YMCA), Ben Epstein (Dublin University), Shane Diviney (Suttonians)
Manager: Ian Wilkie
Coach: Nigel Kingston

Munster men: Tristan Murphy (GK, Catholic Institute), Gary Acheson (Catholic Institute), Matt Shine (Limerick), Damien Buttimer(UCC), Alex Newenham (Cork Harlequins), Tom Clark (Limerick), Brian Egan (UCC), Ed Glesson (Catholic Institute), Gavin Jeffrey (Cork C of I), Eric Callendar (capt, Catholic Institute), John Cudmore (UCC), Aamir Khan (Limerick), Alan Good (UCC), John Peare (Railway Union), Melvin Buttimer(Limerick), Tommy Pratt(Catholic Institute), Conor Shemeld (GK, UCC), Cathal Duggan (Bandon)
Team Manager: Tristan Murphy
Coach: John Meyler
Assistant Coach: Connor O’Kelly

Ulster men: David Stewart (Larne), Jason Worthington (Larne), Robin Smyth (Campbellians), Conor Bannister (Campbellians), Johnny Orr (Larne), Andrew Bassett (Campbellians), Darren Haveron (Larne), Andrew Bell (Ballymena), Andrew Burnside (Campbellians), David Caldwell (Parkview), Joel Easlea (Campbellians), Christopher Sholdis (Campbellians), Aaron McDonald (Parkview), Peter Riddell (Parkview), Stephen McMillen (Campbellians)
Manager: Oonagh Chisholm
Coach: Michelle McMillan

Connacht women: Marilyn Huijgens (GK, Greenfields), Danielle Cummins (GK, Avoca), Catherine Moore (Greenfields), Emma Glanville (Galway), Aifric O’Malley (Avoca), Deirdre McDermott (Greenfields), Aine Gallagher (Avoca), Jean Mackey (Renmore), Ruth McDonagh (Avoca), Rachel Wyre (Greenfields), Cara Kelehan (Avoca), Georgina Fagan (Athlone), Kate Cullen (Avoca), Melissa Curley (Athlone), Louise Thornton (Galway), Ruth Hutchinson-Clifford (Railway Union), Sinead Kennedy (Newbridge), Aileen Burke (Railway Union)
Manager: Carol Conroy
Coach: Owen O’Leary

Leinster women: Karen Clarke (capt, Railway Union), Fiona O’Donovan (Pembroke Wanderers), Amy Anslow (Clontarf), Clare Hearnden (vice-captain, Monkstown), Roisin Ryan (Loreto), Sarah Lovett (Monkstown), Elaine Hall (Pembroke), Sarah Butler (Corinthian), Aimee Powderly (YMCA), Kate Hurley (Pembroke), Olwen Smith (Trinity), Joanne O’Reilly (North Kildare), Aoife Dalton (Glenanne), Breda Orohoe (Swords), Tara Powderly (YMCA), Lauren Kingston (Genesis), Babs Luke (GK, Old Alex), Anna Egan (GK, Trinity)
Coach: Keith Crawford
Assistant Coach: Chris Tyrell

Munster women: Ondine Roche (GK, Fermoy), Erica Breen (UCC), Aoife Kearney (Catholic Institute), Kay Gaffney (Cork Harlequins), Nicola Sterrit (Catholic Institute), Lorraine McGowan (Limerick), Laura Davis (UL), Steph Peters (UL), Aoife McGovern (Dungarvan), Nicky Kingston (UCC), Sarah Gray (Bandon), Andrea Bickerdike (UCC), Roisin Briggs (Dungarvan), Meave Murphy (Clonmel), Fenagh Smith (Limerick), Elaine O’Flynn (GK, UL)
Team Manager: Dale Burkley
Coach: Richard Barrett
Co-coach: Graham Catchpole

South East women: Hillary Griffin (GK, Wexford), Catherine Kavanagh (GK, Newbridge), Avril Jones (Wexford), Laura Dowling (Portlaoise), Jane Peppard (Enniscorthy), Miriam Lambert (capt, Wexford), Leonie Grant (Wexford), Marie Buttle (Gorey), Louise Fanning (Gorey), Lynn Darling (Kilkenny), Laura Stotesbury (Enniscorthy), Louise Sheil (Newbridge), Ciara Howard (Loreto), Ailbhe Boothe (Portlaoise), Alison Holmes (Kilkenny), Joanne Grant (Wexford), Jenny Wallace (Kilkenny), Marti Rudd (Enniscorthy)
Team Manager: Ciara O’Leary
Coach: David Williamson

Ulster women: Jessica Perry (GK, Pegasus), Shelley Geddis (Randalstown), Lyndsay Neish (Ulster Elks), Jenna Flynn (Lisnagarvey), Catherine McGrillen (Randalstown), Kerry Coulter (Randalstown), Wendy Bustard (Raphoe), Sarah Galbraith (Ulster Elks), Jayne McGrillen (Randalstown), Rachel Patterson (captain, Raphoe), Sarah Colgan (Lisnagarvey), Sara-Jayne McClung (Ulster Elks), Rose Montgomery (Lurgan), Phoebe Preston (QUB), Kathryn Graham (Randalstown), Kathryn Higgins (GK, Ulster Elks)
Team Manager: Raymond Miller
Coach: Richard McGaw
Assistant Coach: Charlene Watson
Physiotherapist: Fiona Lee

Junior Interprovincial schedule (all at Grange Road):
Saturday:
Men: Munster v Leinster (10am); Ulster v Munster (1pm); Leinster v Ulster (4pm). Women: Leinster v Connacht (9.30am); Ulster v Munster (11.15am); South East v Connacht (1pm); Leinster v Munster (2.45pm); Ulster v South East (4.30pm)

Sunday:
Women: Munster v Connacht (9.30am); Leinster v South East (10am); Connacht v Ulster (12pm); South East v Munster (1pm); Leinster v Ulster (3pm).

Allied to the introduction of their fifths squad in October and their fourth teams consolidation following relegation to division four a year ago, it is being looked on as a season of serious achievement.

The Blackrock club’s seconds, new to Division 9 with George Roberts still at the coaching helm, again proved to be the team to beat.

They notched up a massive league goal tally of 57 goals, with just four conceded, remaining unbeaten in their 17 games to date with 15 wins to their name.

A double was denied at the last, however, as they made it to the final but met division ten side, Corinthians V who pulled off an impressive 4-3 win.
Avoca’s Rachel Murphy was the top goalscorer, hitting the backboard 12 times since Christmas to help her side up to the heights of division eight.

Division 12’s 3rd XI had similar success, taking the league title and gaining promotion for the second year running since the squad was introduced. Again, the side notched a massive league goal tally of 62.

Katie Moore is currently the squad’s top scorer with 14 and still a game to play. The side – under the reins of coach Kate Rushe – made it as far as the Division 11/12 cup semi final lost out to Navan.

In Division 13, the 4ths squad were under the reins of first team top-scorer Ruth McDonagh and they went unbeaten to top of the league at Christmas.

They were eventually overhauled by Skerries IV who took the title but, with Victoria Kelly and Milly Barnwell sharing the scoring duties, they finished in the promotion spot in second.

The club’s first team, with former UCD and Genesis coach Ronan Hickey taking the coaching duties, the side grew into the season after a slow start.

They gained momentum after a 2-0 win over pre-Christmas table toppers Weston. With confidence growing, results began to go their way making it to the Division 3/4 Cup quarter finals and finishing sixth in Division 4, with an equal goal difference of 0.

Ruth McDonagh claiming top goal-scorer after hitting the backboards eight times out of the total of 18 scored. Their goalkeeper Danni Cummins, meanwhile, took the Hook Junior Women’s Player of the Year Award at last week’s end of season celebration.

Newcomers to the Blackrock club and the Leinster Leagues, Avoca’s fifths were under the helm of Declan Ryan. Again, Milly Barnwell also took top goalscorer for this squad with her pre-Christmas run in the team. The fifths will stay in Division 14 next season, after finishing in 6th place.

Finally, Avoca ladies also entered an indoor squad in the National Indoor Trophy for a second time with YM’s Will Powderly taking on the role of coach/manager.

Their squad consisted of players from Avoca’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd squads and were unlucky not to make it through the qualifying round after a narrow last minute loss against Division 1’s Trinity. A draw in this game would have given Avoca a place in the finals even after losing 1-5 to eventual Trophy winners Armagh.

The Glasnevin team notched up a whopping 57 goals over the season which afforded them the vital goal difference to clinch the title on the last day of the season after they finished level on points with an identical record with the Westmeath team.

The game itself was decided by a well taken penalty flick after a foot on the goal line. It was a hard fought match in torrential rain at times but the team, captained by Kathy Daly, and coached by Gillian McAuliffe & Maeve Madigan, brought home the league title for the club by the final whistle.

It’s the first time in eight years Botanic has won a league title and, after a 16-game unbeaten run and a very tight-at-the-top league the whole way, it was well deserved.

For Mullingar, meanwhile, their second place finish secured a fifth successive promotion showing their rising status.

Roy Horsfield took the coaching reins from Chris Beere who had done a great job for the previous two years, bringing many years of experience and increased the commitment within the squad that is required to progress through the leagues.

His side won Division 7 with three matches to spare and have a cup final to come on April 10 against Railway Union.

They completed the title with a 2-0 midweek win over Old Alex was a tough 3-2 away day victory early in March at Tullamore which put them well and truly in the driving position.

They reached the quarter finals of the Irish Challenge Cup, in which they were defeated by Dungarvan away on grit, who went on to be finalists in the competition.

The team is built on a solid defense where Claire Hearnden has been outstanding at right back, with her pace and skill she commands our own half and attacks well down the flank.

Before joining Monkstown, she was captain of Trinity 1s so has brought a wealth of experience to a very young team.

Helen Taaffe (the Ladies club captain) and corner-striker Aileen Kiely also strong in defense while contributing a number of goals.

Captain Sarah Lovett (ex UCD) and Courtney Watkins (of the famous Monkstown family) have controlled midfield while, up front, Fiodhna Burke, Vicky Taylor, Katie Hutch and Laura Maher have been banging in the goals.

The team has had a number of goalies this season as the regular goalie has had availability issues with work.

Outside of the first team, Monkstown ladies have developed a Fillies section at U-12 and U-14 levels and are expecting the programme will be expanded to include other age groups in the coming season.

The hope is to further add to the adult section with the club currently fielding two teams, the second team currently competing well in division 13.

Monkstown ladies 1st squad: Evie Larkin, Claire Hearnden, Helen Taaffe, Sophie Gamble, Elaine Hughes, Aileen Kealy, Fiodhna Burke, Sarah Lovett, Courtney Watkins, Marie Hynes, Vicky Taylor, Katie Hutch, Laura Maher, Klara Schuster, Suzie Murray

** Thanks to David Varian for the details

The club are expecting the move up to Division 5 next season will provide an excellent growth platform and ensure a strong support framework for the club’s 1st team who have secured promotion to Division 2.

Indeed, 2011 could prove an even more memorable year for the club who are looking forward to moving games back to their home town in September when Newbridge College completes its astro turf development, having spent the season sharing grounds with Naas.

Aside from the Division 6 trophy, Newbridge have also secured silverware through their junior members who won the U-14C title in their first year in Leinster hockey and who are competing in the final of the West Leinster U-14 cup.

Ciaran Downey, 2^nd team coach at Newbridge , is delighted with the efforts of his charges, saying: “Completing the season undefeated is certainly a huge achievement from any side and I’m particularly pleased with the commitment and determination of my team since we started back to training last August.

“The whole squad put in a great effort  and this was reflected in an excellent defence who conceded so few goals as well as our ability to put the game away at the other end of the pitch.”

** With thanks to Michelle O’Connor for the words

On the other side of the draw, Muckross’ reward for their 3-1 win over Pembroke is a date with Railway Union, 2-0 victors against Our Lady’s.

The final has been set for Grange Road on St Patrick’s Day at 10am as the curtain-raiser for a bumper day at the Rathfarnham venue with the boy’s U-16 final on at 12pm with the respective men’s and women’s Leinster senior cup competitions making for a cracking quadruple-bill.

The organisers of the U-16 girl’s competition are also hoping to confirm that the plate final will be held on the back pitch at 11.15am to add to the festivities.

In that competition, Avoca were narrow winners in the second round, prevailing on penalty strokes against Loreto after normal time left the sides inseparable at 1-1. Three Rock also advanced while two fixtures remain to be decided. Our Lady’s face Naas on Febraury 13 and Hermes meet Suttonians on Sunday.

Jacqui Potter U-16 Cup, second round results: Corinthian 5 Genesis 0; Muckross 3 Pembroke 1; Railway Union 2 Our Lady’s 0
Semi-final draw: Muckross vs Railway Union; Corinthian vs Old Alex/Newbridge
Jacqui Potter U-16 Plate, second round results: Three Rock Ladies 8 Bray 0; Loreto 1 Avoca 1, Avoca won 3-0 on penalty strokes

In the open draw for the second round, they will now go on to play Dublin 4 rivals Pembroke on January 30 as they got the odd goal in five at Suttonians last week.

Other winners were Corinthian, Genesis, Newbridge, Old Alex and Railway Union and they will be hopeful of building toward the final which is due to played on March 17.

Suttonians – along with TRL, Hermes, Bray, Naas, Avoca and Loreto – go into the newly formed Plate competition which sees those knocked out of the Cup battle it out with the other sides who missed out in round one.

Our Lady’s cup or plate fate remains to be determined. As the one side that did not contest a first round tie, they received a bye to play Railway Union for a place in the semi-final. Should they lose that tie, they will have a second chance in the first round of the Plate against Naas. If they win, Naas will receive a Plate semi-final berth.

These competitions are open, unlike the club leagues, to any player aged under 16 on January 1, 2011. By contrast, leagues are related to class year in school and clubs may not play girls who are on first or second division teams in their clubs.

Jacqui Potter Cup, round One results: Suttonians 2 Pembroke 3; Three Rock Ladies 0 Corinthian 6; Muckross 1 Hermes 0; Bray 0 Genesis 8; Naas 1 Newbridge 3; Old Alex 7 Avoca 0; Railway Union 3 Loreto 0
Bye: Our Lady’s
Jacqui Potter U-16 Cup, round two draw (January 30): Genesis vs Corinthian; Muckross vs Pembroke; Old Alex vs Newbridge; Our Lady’s vs Railway Union
Jacqui Potter U-16 Plate draw (January 30): Loreto vs Avoca; Hermes vs Suttonians; Bray vs Three Rock Ladies; Naas vs Bye/Our Lady’s

In all, the IHL round three, the majority of the men’s and women’s Irish Junior Cup, the women’s Irish Hockey Trophy round one and the Irish Hockey Challenge first round fixtures were all victims.

Inez Cooper, in her role as Chair of the Competitions Working Group, explained in an email to the clubs today the new layout of fixtures, stating: “We have sought to draw up a new timetable for IHA Competitions as soon as possible to give a framework for you to do likewise to build Branch Competitions around.

“We have sought to use the next round to fulfill the earlier round and to stick in a later date where possible.

“However, given that we lost early rounds with a lot of matches, we are not able to double up competitions fully as would typically happen when we get to Round 2, due to a shortage of umpires. Therefore, for the women we have split Round 2 over two dates for the Trophy and IJC.”

To create space for the new dates, the Senior and Junior Interprovincials have been moved out of March to May.

The IHL rounds move to the weekend of March 12 and 13 and will now be the fourth series of the competition with an agreement made with the High Performance team to allow players be released for this series of games.

The first and second rounds of the Junior Cups will all take place in January and early February with the first round refixes on January 15 and the second round for the men on January 22 and the women’s second round follows in two parts on January 29 and February 5.

The men’s IHT second round will be played on January 22 with the third round now pushed to February 12 with the women’s first round now on January 22 and the second round of the February 12. The Irish Hockey Challenge first round was pushed back to December 18.

** To see the new national fixture list, go to the IHA homepage and select the 2010/11 Fixtures List icon on the right-hand side of the page.

** Trinity hockey club are hosting a “A Twisted Table Quiz” on Saturday, November 13 at 7.30pm in MacTurcaills Pub on Townsend St.

There will prizes, surprise bonus rounds, finger food and drinks promotions available on the night with all welcome.
The price is €10 entry per person and teams will be made up of four people. For more information, click here.

The men’s Leinster league restructure will see the return of division nine while division two will remain in its existing format for the upcoming season, rising to seven in numbers following the formation of a new club, the Rathgar Chiefs.

Based in High School’s idyllic Danum grounds, the Chiefs were formed this summer from a group of recent university graduates looking to continue playing together after using up their ‘years of grace’.

The club has set up links with Diocesan hockey club – who celebrate their 50th anniversary in the coming season. For the first season, they will enter two teams, the first of which will play in division two while the second team will compete in the revamped division nine. A youth setup is planned for in the coming years.

The club draw their nickname from the one ever-present in Dublin University Hockey Club, the American-Indian chief who has been the club’s unofficial mascot since being installed in the Trinity hockey rooms over a decade ago.

Elsewhere, the restructure sees divisions four to eight revert back to the regular, ten-team format after a couple of years of increased numbers, mainly precipitated by sides dropping out of division two and into the junior leagues.

As such, eleven first teams will compete across these divisions with Irish Hockey Challenge winners St Brendan’s/PP, Naas, Portrane, Mullingar and Kilkenny all contesting division four.

Corinthian III, Three Rock Rovers III and YMCA III join already relegated Avoca II in regarding as division five sides and the fourth teams of that former trio are also repositioned into division six.

Skerries go with them as one of four teams moved down. None come the other way with table-toppers Fingal III and Dublin University III remaining in situ while Bray II, Avoca III, St Brendan’s/PP II, Railway Union IV and YMCA V are all moved to division seven.

YMCA VI, Navan III, Pembroke VII, Dublin University IV, Glenanne V and St Brendan’s/PP III will now make up the new division nine and will be joined by new second teams from the Rathgar Chiefs and North Kildare.

Divisions one and three will get underway on September 18.

Leinster Men’s Hockey Leagues 2010/2011
Division 1: YMCA, Weston, Corinthian, UCD, Three Rock Rovers, Glennane, Fingal, Monkstown, Railway Union, Pembroke Wanderers

Division 2: Suttonians, Navan, Rathgar Chiefs, Clontarf, Dublin University, Bray, Avoca

Division 3: Corinthian II, Pembroke Wanderers II, Glennane II, UCD II, Railway Union II, Dublin University II, Monkstown II, Fingal II, Three Rock Rovers II, YMCA II

Division 4: St Brendan’s/PP, Pembroke Wanderers III, Railway Union III, Clontarf II, Naas, Portrane, Mullingar, Monkstown III, Kilkenny, Glennane III

Division 5: Three Rock Rovers III, Pembroke Wanderers IV, Monkstown IV, Corinthian III, Suttonians II, YMCA III, Weston II, Avoca II, North Kildare, St James Gate

Division 6: Glennane IV, Three Rock Rovers IV, Pembroke Wanderers V, Skerries, Dublin University III, Monkstown V, Corinthian IV, Navan II, YMCA IV, Fingal III

Division 7: Bray II, Railway Union IV, St Brendan’s/PP II, Athy, UCD III, Avoca III, Kilkenny II, Mullingar II, Weston III, YMCA V

Division 8: Naas II, Corinthian V, St James Gate II, Pembroke Wanderers VI, Three Rock Rovers V, Wicklow, Clontarf III, Smithfield, Fingal IV, Railway Union V,

Division 9: YMCA VI, Navan III, Rathgar Chiefs II, Pembroke Wanderers VII, North Kildare II, Dublin University IV, St Brendan’s/PP III, Glenanne V