International stars, fresh off the plane from South Africa, will be rested meaning squad management is once again a battle for the weekend with Loreto short four stars while the students miss Chloe Watkins.

In her absence, Jeamie Deacon has taken on a powerful role while Deirdre Duke and Anna O’Flanagan make up a forward line with hunger in the circle, banging in 20 goals between them this term.

Loreto’s source of goals is more direct, their corner machine their go-to method should the Rathfarnham venue escape the frost which has caught hold a couple of times this season already.

Railway’s firepower is a big cause for concern for Glenanne, the Park Avenue hosts with an incredible seven of the province’s top 14 scorers, five of whom are available for the tie.

Dean Maguire’s side is a determined one with Susan Byrne aided by a gritty defence but taming the likes of Kate McKenna, Jean McDonnell and the emerging Kate Lloyd could be too tough an ask.

Trinity will be looking to back up their victory over Three Rock with three points at home to Pembroke on the Santry sand to go into next Tuesday’s colours festival in upbeat mood as well as close the gap on the top five.

They currently reside in a no-man’s land between the IHL places and five clear of the relegation battle leaving their season with latent potential for a fifth place push.

Goals are still the main missing element but Kylie Deverell is getting a taste and a secure defence controlled by Vera Taaffe and Jessie Elliott will give Pembroke problems. Rachel McKeon in midfield and youngsters Avril Dooley-O’Carroll and Olivia Smartt will be among those to lead their target of a slight upset.

Hermes have been most affected by international absentees and it played a part in Corinthian grabbing a point in the first league meeting earlier this term. Six still out leaves the reigning champions out of contention at the moment but valuable experience has been garnered by Sadhbh Hoban-Logan, Vicky Walsh and Laura Pinder in their high profile absences.

The reds, though, are in hot form and bullish about their chances after another big win last Sunday, besting Old Alex, with belief high they can rise again on Saturday.

Old Alex, meanwhile, waited until the very last touch of the game to beat Three Rock Ladies with Emma Russell striking late to dash the Grange Road side’s hopes.

The Irish Junior Cup has seven Leinster hopefuls vying for the crown with Hermes and Railway’s derby a highlight along with the local tussle between division two high-flyers Pembroke and UCD. Division three side Dublin Uni travel to Cork to play Bandon, former school of Trin player Jessica Kingston but the students have shown few nerves against higher division opposition as they showed in last year’s run.

Women’s Leinster Division One: Corinthian v Hermes, 2.30pm, St Columba’s College; Loreto v University College Dublin, 2.15pm, Beaufort; Old Alexandra v Three Rock Ladies, 3pm, Milltown; Railway Union v Glenanne, 2.45pm, Park Avenue; Trinity v Pembroke, 4.30pm, Santry
Division Two: Genesis v North Kildare, 2.30pm, Belfield

Women’s Irish Junior Cup, second round: Hermes v Railway Union, 1.30pm, St Andrews; Cork Harlequins v Loreto, 1pm, Harlequin Park; Ballymoney v Cork C of I, 1pm, Joey Dunlop Centre; Galway v Corinthian, 1pm, Dangan; Pembroke v UCD, 3.30pm, Serpentine Avenue; Dromore v Pegasus, 2.30pm, Ferris Park; Bandon v Dublin University, 1pm, Bandon GS; Randalstown v Catholic Institute, 1pm, Antrim Forum

Railway Union 2 (Zara Delany, Isobel Joyce) UCD 1 (Jeamie Deacon)
Railway Union swapped places with UCD as two corner goals from Emer Lucey assists turned the game on its head. Former Railway player Jeamie Deacon gave the Belfielders the perfect start in the third minute from a deflection routine after Grace O’Flanagan had initially saved. Zara Delany got the game back to 1-1 when she used an open-hand touch to guide home from Lucey’s hit and Isobel Joyce repeated the trick when she guided home with her reverse-stick with 15 minutes to go. The result puts the Park Avenue side two points clear, upping the ante for UCD’s back-match with Old Alex, needing a win to return to the summit.

Old Alex 4 (Erika Hinkson 2, Emma Russell, Sarah Canning) Glenanne 0
Old Alex showed a clinical nature to get the better of Glenanne at Milltown as they picked up a healthy, if slightly flattering, scoreline to maintain their push for an automatic IHL place. Erika Hinkson opened the scoring when she rebounded off the post before dragging home low for 2-0 – her seventh of the campaign. Sarah Canning hit in the third of the game before the break from another corner. Emma Russell completed the win in the second half. Glenanne created a number of decent chances, drawing Babs Luke into a couple of good saves in the first half but Alex had more control on the tie in the second. Alex featured Catriona Bailey-Price for the second time, the Australian U-21 arriving from the Canberra Lalor Club Strikers where she was coached by former Annadale man Ian McKeown.

Hermes 5 (Laura Pinder 2, Caitriona McGilp, Vicky Walsh, Christine Quinlan) Pembroke 0
Hermes cut loose in the second half of their tie with Pembroke to get their second win of the week over the Serpentine Avenue side. Laura Pinder nabbed two, in the process becoming the 17^th different Hermes goalscorer this term as well as the 100^th different goalscorer in Leinster women’s senior hockey this term. It was 1-0 at half-time before Hermes notched up the goals in the second period. (Click here to see Deryck Vincent’s video of the second goal)

Loreto vs Corinthian – postponed due to a frozen pitch

Jacqui Potter Cup, quarter-finals
Corinthian set up a semi-final day-out as a goal in each half saw them overcome Old Alex as they dealt better with the downpour which left Whitechurch Park slow and tough to play on. Sally Cory’s good ball forward found Georgina Fagan through to slide home the opening goal. Lyndsey Watson notched the second as she got a touch to Argentine Valentina Galmozzi’s cross to complete another formative win.

UCD, meanwhile, were made to work hard for victory over Railway Union seconds. Cecelia Joyce’s classy opening goal had Railway in the lead and they held on until the break. Deirdre Duke, though, powered through to level before Anna O’Flanagan grabbed a couple with Joyce getting her second in the closing stages.

Railway’s first team, however, fared better as they cruised to an 8-0 win over Genesis with Jean McDonnell bringing her seasonal tally to 19, six clear of her nearest rival in these standings, with a hat-trick while Kate Lloyd also netted three times.

They join Hermes, 3-0 winners over Pembroke seven days ago with Jenny Burke, Eimear Horan and Rachel Burke on target.

Clontarf, meanwhile, are the last Leinster side standing in the Irish Hockey Trophy as they got the better of North Kildare on penalty strokes as YMCA and Naas bowed out.

Jacqui Potter Cup, quarter-final results: Corinthian 2 (Georgina Fagan, Lyndsey Watson) Old Alex 0; Railway Union 8 (Jean McDonnell 3, Kate Lloyd 3, Julia O’Halloran, Emer Lucey) Genesis 0; Railway Union 2 (Cecelia Joyce 2) UCD 3 (Deirdre Duke, Anna O’Flanagan 2)

Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round three: Omagh v Portadown, postponed; Greenfields 1 (Alma Whelan) Ashton 1 (Caroline McCarthy, Greenfields won 4-2 on penalties; Galway 3 (Louise Conlon, Tara Melvin, Lynsey Trainor) Victorians 1 (Rachel McMillan); Bandon 5 (Ciara McCarthy 4, Louise O’Flynn) YMCA 1 (Sarah Bradshaw); Naas 0 Wexford 3 (Lisa Codd, Deirdre Bolger, Ciara O’Leary); North Kildare 1 (Jen Keating) Clontarf 1 (Shelly Spillane), Clontarf won 4-3 on penalties; NICS 0 Larne 0, NICS won 5-4 on penalties; Ballymena v Dromore, postponed

The draw for the fourth round will be made on Monday, January 30 at 10.30am in the Irish Hockey Offices

Eight of those places will come from Leinster with plenty of intrigue still to be played out in the four groups, starting from game one in Loughlinstown. There, Clontarf and Railway Union’s perfect records will be put to the test (11am) with a winner all but confirming their place in the finals weekend.

Railway are on a high after their Neville Cup victory but there initial indoor entry gave few hints as to Kenny Carroll’s side’s form this time around. They were handed a 5-0 victory due to Dublin Uni’s suspension and, with little at stake, they experimented without a goalkeeper at times to record a 5-4 friendly victory against the students.

A 5-2 win over Suttonians followed in their first competitive match but Clontarf look to be their first major test with Maverick Yow and James Gurbiel making for a lively, Anitpodean-inspired front-line while fellow Aussie Dan Scott could add to their strike-power.

Railway, meanwhile, will be without Donal O’Mearain, indoor and outdoor, for the rest of the season as his studies have taken him to Singapore. YMCA are the side lying in wait for the second play-off place from group two, completing their group stage with one game this weekend against Railway on Sunday while Suttonians are out of the running.

In group one, Three Rock have the sole perfect record but have played just twice and their fate will be decided in a three-hour period as they face two big games in quick succession. First is top of the table clash with Glenanne at midday before meeting Corinthian at 2pm. They do so without Peter McConnell who has returned from injury but is now exam-tied.

The Glens cannot call on the injured pair of Filip Jaros and Joe Brennan – who underwent surgery just before Christmas – but were more than handy on the first weekend of play with two wins and a loss.

Corinthian have an outside chance of progression but must win their tie with Three Rock and hope for favours elsewhere. Pembroke, meanwhile, currently lie in second place and a win over Weston on Saturday could set up a major showdown with the Glens for a final six place.

Ulster’s group also tips off this weekend with Irish Senior Cup holders Cookstown getting some tips from Beeston indoor player David Ames in recent times in their return to the competition. Annadale, Instonians, NICS and Mossley compete with them for two playoff places.

On the women’s side, in group two, Glenanne and Hermes look virtually home and hosed following three wins a piece on the first weekend of competition, the former running up an emphatic plus 22 goal difference. The pair meet on Sunday in their respective final group game but will likely be confirmed in the finals weekend by that stage.

Group One, though, is very much up for grabs with Old Alex, Railway and Trinity all with 100pc records and their encounters with each other in Greystones this weekend will decide their fate.

It means the proposed Leinster league date between Alex and UCD is pushed back but there are four division two games outdoors to start the New Year with Pembroke aiming to keep their place at the top division with a date with Genesis.

Leinster Men’s (all at Loughlinstown Lesiure Centre)

Men’s Group One standings (played): 1. Glenanne (3) 7pts (+10) 2. Pembroke (3) 6pts (+11) 3. TRR (2) 6pts (+7) 4. Corinthian (4) 5pts (0) 5. Fingal (3) 1pt (-10) 6. Weston (3) 0pts (-17)

Group Two: 1. Clontarf (3) 9pts (+7) 2. Railway (2) 6pts (+8) 3. YMCA (3) 6pts (+6) 4. Suttonians (3) 3pts (+1) 5. Dublin University (4) 0pts (-20)

Saturday fixtures: Clontarf v Railway Union, 10am; Pembroke v Weston, 11am; Glenanne v TRR, 12pm; Fingal v Weston, 1pm; Corinthian v TRR, 2pm; Suttonians v Dublin Uni, 3pm

Sunday: Glenanne v Pembroke, 12pm; YMCA v Railway, 1pm; Fingal v TRR, 2pm

Ulster men’s (Lagan Valley Leaisure Centre)

Saturday: Instonians v Mossley, 10am; Annadale v Cookstown, 11am; NICS v Mossley, 12pm; Instonians v Cookstown, 1pm; NICS v Annadale, 2pm

Sunday: NICS v Cookstown, 10.30am; Annadale v Mossley, 11.30am; NICS v Instonians, 12.30pm; Mossley v Cookstown, 1.30pm; Annadale v Instonians, 2.30pm

Women’s Leinster groups (all at the Shoreline Leisure Centre, Greystones)

Women’s Group One standings (played): 1. Old Alex (2) 6pts (+11) 2. Railway Union (1) 3pts (+9) 3. Trinity (1) 3pts (+2) 4. Genesis (2) 0pts (-9) 5. Pembroke (2) 0pts (-13)

Group Two (played): 1. Glenanne (3) 9pts (+22) 2. Hermes (3) 9pts (+9) 3. Corinthian (2) 3pts (-2) 4. Clontarf (3) 3pts (-6) 5. Avoca (3) 3pts (-8) 6. Newbridge (3) 0pts (-14)

Saturday fixtures: Newbridge v Glenanne, 3.30pm; Trinity v Old Alex, 4.15pm; Newbridge v Avoca, 5pm; Hermes v Corinthian, 5.45pm; Avoca v Clontarf, 6.30pm; Genesis v Railway, 7.15pm

Sunday: Old Alex v Railway, 10am; Trinity v Pembroke, 11am; Corinthian v Clontarf, 12pm; Trinity v Railway, 1pm; Hermes v Glenanne, 1.45pm; Genesis v Pembroke, 2.30pm

Connacht group (all at NUI Galway): Greenfields v Galway, 11.15am; Galway v Greenfields, 12.30pm; Galway v Greenfields, 2pm

Leinster Women’s Division Two (Saturday): Pembroke v Genesis, 11am, Serpentine Ave; Newbridge v Corinthian, 11.30am, St Mary’s, Naas; North Kildare v UCD, 11.45am, Kilcock; Railway Union v Loreto, 2.15pm, Park Ave

They snatched a dramatic victory over YMCA in their first game, a chaotic tie which was won 4-3 in an incredible last minute showing. YM led three times with Trevor Dagg, Phil Powderly and Richard Margetson putting them ahead. In between times, Iain Walker – playing outfield – brilliantly took a Daniel Scott corner-flick off the line.

Scott – an Australian living in London but guesting this weekend – did nab the first equaliser while James Gurbiel poached a pair. His second tied it at 3-3 in the closing minute with Clontarf down a man due to Maverick Yow’s green card.

And the unlikely comeback was complete when the Bulls won a corner on the hooter which Gareth Borland duly flicked home, meaning their day was completed early with a pair of wins to their name.

Midway through the game, word came through that Trinity were not able to field for their date with Clontarf. A walkover was conceded and, with goal difference likely to be key, the organisers decided the students were disqualified upcoming results would all be counted as 5-0 losses.

Those three points, added to a tight 3-2 win over Suttonians, leave the Bulls on nine points from their three games.

As a result of Trinity’s plight, Railway’s first competitive game came in the second last tie of the weekend in which they had too much know-how for Suttonians, winning out 5-2. It leaves them in second place in the pool, level on points with YM but with a game in hand.

The date between YM and Railway will prove pivotal in the shake-up for the finals berths. With Bandon and UCC both withdrawing from the competition, it means that the top two from the two Leinster groups go through to those playoff phases with the initially planned wildcard round now redundant.

Group One is wide open with just reigning champions Three Rock Rovers with a 100pc record having overcome Weston 6-0, grabbing two late goals when they swapped out their goalkeeper in search of more goals.

They added a 2-1 victory on Sunday against Pembroke in what looked to be one of the group’s key games. The 2010 champions Pembroke shaded a scoreless first half of play but Rovers stepped up in the second half with Peter Blakeney netting from play before Garry Ringwood scored a penalty stroke. Kirk Shimmins got one back with four minutes to go but an equaliser was not forthcoming.

Earlier in the competition, Irish outdoor captain Ronan Gormley was among Pembroke’s ‘guest’ players along with UCD man Nick Burns as a very young selection had too much in the tank for Fingal as they won both halves 5-2 for a total 10-4 win. Mick O’Connor grabbed the first hat-trick of the day.

Corinthian came from 4-1 down to tie as a three goal blitz at the start of the second half had Glenanne in the box seat but Glen Holmes, Andrew Sutton and Dan Treacy responded, the latter pair both scoring in the 31^st minute, to earn a point.

Both would later pick up wins to head up the group overnight with the reds disposing of Weston courtesy of Glen Holmes four goals and a Neil Young hat-trick, transforming a tight 4-3 into a more comfortable 8-3 by the final hooter.

Glenanne did for Fingal in the final game of day one, Shane O’Donoghue’s hat-trick of first half corners helping them to a 5-1 win.

And the Tallaght side ended day two top of the pile with a second victory, getting the better of Weston 7-1. Pembroke’s 6-1 dismissal of Corinthian means it looks a three-horse race for the play-off places with one point separating the Glens, Pembroke and Rovers.

On the women’s side, Armagh’s reign as indoor champions came to an end in the Ulster pool in dramatic fashion. They went out on the goals scored divider as Ards won their closing game 3-0 to draw level with the Orchard women on goal difference but with two extra goals to their name.

The Ulster Elks went unbeaten to head up the group with wins over Portadown, Armagh and Queens. Ards and Armagh got into a goalscoring race after both fell to a loss and a draw each in their six-team pool.

Five sides in Leinster have perfect records in two groups which got underway at the new venue in the Shoreline leisure centre in Greystones. Glenanne were the most impressive, taking three large wins to head up Group Two with large wins over Clontarf, Avoca and Corinthian.

Hermes were run closer, particularly by Avoca in a 3-2 result, to record their three wins to leave the sides looking good to take their chance of progressing. Group One is less progressed with Old Alex on two wins from two, Trinity and Railway Union on one each to leave Pembroke and Genesis playing catch-up.

Men’s National Indoor Trophy results
Group One: Glenanne 4 (P Fitzpatrick 2, S Brownlow, S O’Donoghue) Corinthian 4 (G Holmes 2, A Sutton, D Treacy); Pembroke 10 (M O’Connor 3, N Burns 2, K Shimmins 2, K Crawford 2, G Dagg) Fingal 4 (A Shekleton, G Shekleton, S Dempsey, S McKeever); TRR 6 (G Ringwood 3, P Blakeney 2, G Bourke) Weston 0; Weston 3 (S Pearson 2, P Baron) Corinthian 8 (G Holmes 4, N Young 3, D Treacy); Glenanne 5 (S O’Donoghue 3, R Shaw, D Keogh) Fingal 1 (G Shekleton); TRR 2 (G Ringwood, P Blakeney) Pembroke 1 (K Shimmins); Pembroke 6 (K Crawford 3, N Burns, D Kane, K Shimmins) Corinthian 1 (J Roberts); Glenanne 7 (R Shaw 2, G Shaw, C Kennedy, E O’Malley 2, S O’Donoghue) Weston 1 (K Goodwin)
Group One standings (played): 1. Glenanne (3) 7pts (+10) 2. Pembroke (3) 6pts (+11) 3. TRR (2) 6pts (+7) 4. Corinthian (4) 5pts (0) 5. Fingal (3) 1pt (-10) 6. Weston (3) 0pts (-17)

Group Two: Clontarf 5 (w/o) Dublin University 0 (scr); Clontarf 4 (J Gurbiel 2, D Scott, G Borland) YMCA 3 (T Dagg, P Powderly, R Margetson); Railway Union 5 (w/o) Dublin University 0 (scr); YMCA 5 (w/o) Dublin Univsersity (scr); Clontarf 3 (A Poynter, G Borland, M Yow) Suttonians 2 (K O’Sullivan, D Reamsbottom); Suttonians 2 (C Gillett 2) YMCA 4 (S Walker, T Dagg, I Walker, A Dale); Railway 5 (E MacArthur 2, P English, K Carroll, B Thompson) Suttonians 2 (K O’Hare, C Gillett); Suttonians 5 (w/o) Dublin University 0 (scr)
Group Two standings: 1. Clontarf (3) 9pts (+7) 2. Railway (2) 6pts (+8) 3. YMCA (3) 6pts (+6) 4. Suttonians (3) 3pts (+1) 5. Dublin University (4) 0pts (-20)

Women’s National Indoor Trophy
Group One: Old Alex 7 Genesis 0; Pembroke 1 Railway Union 10; Old Alex 4 Pembroke 0; Trinity 4 Genesis 2
Standings (played): 1. Old Alex (2) 6pts (+11) 2. Railway Union (1) 3pts (+9) 3. Trinity (1) 3pts (+2) 4. Genesis (2) 0pts (-9) 5. Pembroke (2) 0pts (-13)

Group Two: Glenanne 7 Clontarf 0; Clontarf 1 Hermes 4; Newbridge 0 Clontarf 4; Hermes 3 Avoca 2; Corinthian 1 Avoca 2; Hermes 5 Newbridge 0; Avoca 0 Glenanne 8; Corinthian 1 Glenanne 8; Corinthian 5 Newbridge 0
Standings (played): 1. Glenanne 9pts (+22) 2. Hermes (3) 9pts (+9) 3. Corinthian (2) 3pts (-2) 4. Clontarf (3) 3pts (-6) 5. Avoca (3) 3pts (-8) 6. Newbridge (3) 0pts (-14)

Group Four: Portadown 2 Lurgan 8; Armagh 4 Ards 2; Portadown 1 Ulster Elks 5; Queens 1 Lurgan 4; Ulster Elks 2 Ards 2; Armagh 4 Queens 1; Portadown 2 Ards 8; Ulster Elks 4 Queens 3; Ulster Elks 3 Armagh 1; Ards 7 Queens 2; Armagh 2 Lurgan 2; Portadown 3 Queens 7; Ulster Elks 3 Lurgan 3; Portadown 0 Armagh 9; Ards 3 Lurgan 0
Final standings: 1. Ulster Elks 11pts (+7) 2. Ards 10pts (+12) 3. Armagh 10pts (+12) 4. Lurgan 8pts (+6) 5. Queens 3pts (-5) 6. 0pts (-29)

The Belgian winter break has allowed Michael Maguire to return to the fray while indoor specialist Stephen Bredin is back from Qatar, too, boosting their options around the boards.

They will be without the injured Peter McConnell at the back but Colin Huet will seek to guide the side to a fourth title in five years. They face what looks the tougher of the two pools with last season’s semi-finalists Glenanne and 2010 winners Pembroke competing for the one confirmed finals weekend place on offer from the initial phase.

Corinthian always throw up a decent challenge and their opening game against the Glens in Loughlinstown on Saturday morning offers an early insight into both of their credentials.

Weston and Fingal take on the outsider’s tag with each side playing between two and three games over this initial weekend before finishing the preliminaries on January 7 and 8.

YMCA will hope to finally make the breakthrough after a couple of near misses. Ian McHugh, with his low to the ground style, has been touted as a valuable addition while Will Powderly could be included and has the silky skills to find unlikely routes to goal.

Railway Union are the main challenger while Clontarf went well in their debut season. Division Two sides Suttonians and Dublin University complete the group.

The winners from these two Leinster pools advance automatically to the final’s day, together the Ulster winners and runners-up. UCC will play-off against the runners-up in the two Leinster pools for two wildcard entries in the finals.

On the women’s side, the format is the same, making the initially phases full of pitfalls. Railway Union showed their ability in winning the fourth tier of European competition last Spring.

Kate Dillon is their queen of the boards, a dominant performer on the circuit and source of a huge amount of goals. Shutting her down will be the key to Old Alex’s bid to break them down in the manner in which Armagh did in last season’s final.

Newbridge make their debut in Group Two with sides from division three and four also involved in the six-team pool. Armagh’s defence begins against Ards in an extended Ulster pool with six teams in the mix.

Emma Stewart was sensational last term, aided by younger sister Amy and Lucy McKee. Leah Ewart has since moved to UCD outdoors but could be coaxed back in as a guest for the competition as the students have not entered a side.

Outdoors, Loreto’s late game with Railway Union – set for a 9.15pm tip-off on Wednesday – was called off due to the frost and is now likely to be played in the New Year.

It leaves two games still on the calendar for 2011 in women’s division one. In the relegation battle, tenth plays ninth at Grange Road as Three Rock Ladies host Pembroke with the former needing a result to stay in touch.

Defensive rigidity has been their watchword with Louise Lehane and Claire Fitzpatrick to the fore. Should Anna Fabra provide the creative instinct, they could cause problems for Pembroke.

Getting past Avril Dooley-O’Carroll and Lisa O’Rourke, though, will prove troublesome and if the likes of Lizzie de Araugo get going, they could nab the vital spoils.

Should it beat the weather at the second attempt, Monday night’s game between Trinity and Loreto could see the Beaufort side move closer to contention in the title race in pursuit of UCD.

Men’s National Indoor Trophy
Group 1 (Leinster): Glenanne, Corinthian, Fingal, Pembroke Wdrs, Three Rock Rovers, Weston
Group 2 (Leinster): YMCA, Clontarf, Suttonians, Railway Union, Dublin University
Group 3 (Munster/Connacht): UCC
Group 4 (Ulster): Belfast Harlequins, NICS, Annadale, Instonians, Mossley, Cookstown

Leinster groups:
Saturday (all at Loughlinstown): Glenanne v Corinthian, 10am; Fingal v Pembroke Wdrs, 10.55am; Three Rock Rovers v Weston, 11.50am; YMCA v Clontarf, 12.45pm; Corinthian v Weston, 1.40pm; Glenanne v Fingal, 2.35pm; Clontarf v Dublin Univ, 3.30pm

Sunday: Corinthian v Fingal, 10am; YMCA v Dublin Univ, 10.55am; Clontarf v Suttonians, 11.50am; Pembroke Wdrs v Three Rock Rovers, 12.45pm; Railway Union v Dublin Univ, 1.30pm; Corinthian v Pembroke Wdrs, 2.35pm; YMCA v Suttonians, 3.30pm; Glenanne v Weston, 4.25pm; Suttonians v Railway Union, 5.20pm

Women’s National Indoor Trophy
Group 1 (Leinster): Old Alex, Genesis, Pembroke Wanderers, Railway Union, Trinity
Group 2 (Leinster): Newbridge, Hermes, Corinthian, Avoca, Glennane, Clontarf
Group 3 (Munster/Connacht): Greenfields, Galway
Group 4 (Ulster): Portadown, Ulster Elks, Armagh, Ards, Queens Uni, Lurgan

Leinster groups
Saturday (all at the Shoreline SC, Greystones): Glenanne v Clontarf, 3.30pm; Old Alex v Genesis, 4.15pm; Newbridge v Hermes, 5pm; Pembroke v Railway Union, 5.45pm; Corinthian v Avoca, 6.30pm
Sunday: Corinthian v Glenanne, 10am; Newbridge v Clontarf, 10.45am; Hermes v Avoca, 11.30am; Old Alex v Pembroke, 12.15pm; Hermes v Clontarf, 1pm; Trinity v Genesis, 1.45pm; Newbridge v Corinthian, 2.30pm; Avoca v Glenanne, 3.15pm

Ulster group
Saturday (all at Queen’s University): Portadown v Lurgan, 9.30am; Armagh v Ards, 10.30am; Portadown v Ulster Elks, 11.30am; Queens Uni v Lurgan, 12pm; Ulster Elks v Ards, 1.30pm; Armagh v Queens Uni, 2.30pm; Portadown v Ards, 3.30pm; Ulster Elks v Queens Uni, 4.30pm

Sunday: Ulster Elks v Armagh, 10am; Ards v Queens Uni, 11am; Armagh v Lurgan, 12pm; Portadown v Queens Uni, 1pm; Ulster Elks v Lurgan, 2pm; Portadown v Armagh, 3pm; Ards v Lurgan, 4pm

Women’s Leinster Division One (Saturday): Three Rock Ladies v Pembroke, 1pm, Grange Road

Monday: Trinity v Loreto, 8pm, Santry
Division Two (Saturday): Old Alexandra v Corinthian, 12.15pm, Milltown; Loreto v Newbridge, 1.45pm, Beaufort; Pembroke v North Kildare, 3.30pm, Serpentine Ave

Trinity vs Loreto – postponed due to frozen pitch

Division Two: North Kildare 3 (Shelly Spillane, Liz Hasset, Louise Kelly) Hermes II 0; Railway Union 0 Newbridge 0; Corinthian 0 Genesis 1 (Laura Barrie); Pembroke 3 (Rachel McGrath 2, Anna O’Grady) Old Alex 1 (Hannah McDermott)

Jacqui Potter Cup, second round:

Helen Roche proved the unlikely heroine for Railway Union II as the club’s regular fourth team goalkeeper stepped in to save three penalty strokes against Trinity and earn a place in the Jacqui Potter Cup quarter-finals. Railway had led from a 40^th minute corner which Mary O’Dwyer deflected in. Eanna Horan levelled five minutes later from another corner and Rachel Scott thought she had put the students in front when she hit home a corner but it was disallowed as Maebh Horan had encroached into the circle before the push out to see a retake given. It led to extra-time and subsequently strokes with Roche saving three times to make it 2-2 after regulation strokes before Railway won it in the first round of sudden death.

Elsewhere, UCD were the big winners as former Alex students Nicola Gray and Deirdre Duke netted in a 2-1 victory over Loreto. Corinthian beat Glenanne 2-0 with both Jenny Heggie and Helene Peters getting their first goals of the season. Railway’s firsts  were comfortable victors over North Kildare with Orla Fox getting her first ever goal for the first team. It was a similar story for Hayley Sarratt as she netted in a 7-1 win over Loreto II while Pembroke had too much in the tank for Corinthian II, Joanna McDonald firing a double.

Results: Railway Union II 1 (Mary O’Dwyer) Trinity 1 (Eanna Horan), Railway won 3-2 on strokes; North Kildare 0 Railway Union 7 (Jean McDonnell 2, Orla Fox, Sinead Walsh, Julia O’Halloran, Emma Smyth, Zara Delany); UCD 2 (Nicola Gray, Deirdre Duke) Loreto 1 (Cathy McKean); Corinthian 2 (Jenny Heggie, Helene Peters) Glenanne 0; Hermes 7 (Lisa Jacob 2, Hayley Sarratt, Sadhbh Hoban Logan, Eimear Horan, Gillian Pinder, Jenny Burke) Loreto II 1 (Sarah Scott); Corinthian II 0 Pembroke 4 (Joanna McDonald 2, Claire Picard, Ciara Howard)

With both sides down their international contingents, though, it makes for a tricky one to predict though Hermes coped the better of the two last week in beating Trinity.

Alex’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Corinthian was the first major setback of an impressive campaign to date with Sarah Canning adding goals to her repertoire and leadership from the back.

Their youth is countered by the Booterstown hosts’ experience with Jenny Burke, Jenny Kinch and Mary Goode with a world of experience while there is still plenty of senior interpro talent in the likes of Sinead Connery and Christine Quinlan. Coping with a teenage strike-force in the middle of exam period is their major concern.

Second placed Railway can reduce the gap to two points when they go across the dart tracks to Pembroke and they do so with a number of players coming back. Kate Dillon scored last Sunday in the Jacqui Potter Cup on her return from a holiday in New York while Holly Jenkinson was also back after a hairline fracture in her hand. Emer Lucey, though, is a slight doubt while they also have international players away.

Loreto are in a similar boat as they are on the early shift in Santry, tipping off at 10.30am against Trinity, without Nicci Daly, Lizzie Colvin and Niamh Small.

Genesis’ young charges, meanwhile, were the first side to make it into the quarter-finals of the Jacqui Potter Cup as they picked off a surprise win over Pembroke II.

Chloe Hamill netted a deft first half deflection from Clare Walsh’s crash ball while Catriona Lavelle got a reverse-stick touch to another powerful ball into the circle, this time from Laura Barrie’s ball.

A couple more ties in this competition will be played on Sunday with Loreto playing UCD in the tie of the ground at Beaufort while there is a double-header at Whitechurch Park on Sunday with Corinthian playing Glenanne before their seconds meet Pembroke.

Women’s Division One (Saturday): Trinity v Loreto, 10.30am, Santry; Hermes v Old Alexandra, 1.30pm, Booterstown; Pembroke v Railway Union, 3.30pm, Serpentine Ave

Division Two: North Kildare v Hermes, 11.30am, Kilcock; Railway Union v Newbridge, 12pm, Park Ave; Corinthian v Genesis, 2.45pm, Whitechurch Park; Pembroke v Old Alexandra, 5pm, Serpentine Ave

Jacqui Potter Cup, round two: Corinthian II v Pembroke, 3.30pm, Whitechurch Park; Loreto v UCD, 3pm, Beaufort; Corinthian v Glenanne, 1.30pm, Whitechurch Park

Round Two result (Wednesday): Genesis 2 (Chloe Hammill, Catriona Lavelle) Pembroke II 0

The tie was initially pushed back due to the intervarsities earlier this month, a situation which had the upshot of leaving both sides in a position to seriously strengthen their push for a playoff place.

The Booterstown hosts have saved their best form for the showpiece competition this term having already fallen by the wayside in the Senior Cup while three losses in the Leinster league see them well off the pace.

Goalscoring issues pervaded both campaigns but in the IHL they have had a carefree spirit, dismissing Armagh and Old Alex on 3-0 scorelines. As such, they lead the way by virtue of a bonus point ahead of UCD – along with Catholic Institute and Pegasus – on seven points.

Mary Logue, against the club she coached to the Senior Cup in 2009, will be looking to learn from the experience of nine days ago when the students nabbed a goal in each half to run up a 2-0 win.

For particular video analysis will be the corner moves as Hermes earned eight set pieces but could not finish. Sinead McCarthy should be allowed more pitch time, her recuperation limiting her to 30 minutes against TRL last Saturday, while Audrey O’Flynn is also back in the fray.

Again, taming the former Hermes’ stars Anna O’Flanagan and Chloe Watkins is key with the students’ confidence level sky-high after an amazing run of results.

In the other IHL tie to played this weekend, Railway Union will be without Cecelia and Isobel Joyce as they make their way back from Bangladesh where they helped the Irish women’s cricket team maintain one-day international status.

UCC graduate Julia O’Halloran will seek to plot the demise of some old friends as she welcomes her former colleagues to Park Avenue. O’Halloran, 24, was a mainstay of the College side during something of a golden period from 2007-2010, but now plies her trade with Mick McKinnon’s troops in Dublin.

Having recently withdrawn from the national setup, O’Halloran is now free to express herself more often at club level, and will be hoping she can guide her side to a repeat of Railway’s 3-0 win at the Mardyke in 2009, when she was on the losing side. While former team-mates Ali O’Regan and Ali O’Connor are still in situ at UCC, the majority of the side has a youthful look and is on a steep learning curve at this level.

With Loreto storming clear in Pool B, Railway will target a bonus point to put some daylight between themselves and Ballymoney in second place.

Domestically, Loreto and Old Alex is the marquee tie with the pair jostling for second place in the division behind UCD. It is a big moment for Alex having run up four successive wins against sides from the bottom half of the division without conceding a single goal. And they can make another big statement – to go with the Senior Cup win over Hermes – against a Loreto side for whom Katie Evans has finished up her short tenure in Dublin.

Nikki Symmons remains out but Loreto have coped reasonably well in her absence, winning each game to date, showing the strength in depth.

Trinity play Corinthian in a game which could lift the students into a share of fifth place with Hermes ahead of a game between the sides on December 3, having managed to garner seven points despite scoring just two goals to date.

For Pembroke and Glenanne, victory for either will push them to a relatively safe position at this point in the season. Pembroke fronted up well against Alex last week with Lizzie de Araugo leading their attacking options while Glenanne await the return of their cricket internationals.

Elsewhere, Pegasus received a big boost as Ireland was once again handed the hosting of a major tournament. The IHL and Senior Cup champions will host the EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy – the second tier of women’s club hockey on the continent – over the Easter weekend.

They have been drawn in a pool with Belgium’s La Gantoise, Russia’s Metrostroy St Petersburg and Lithuanian Gintra Strekte Universitas while the other group has Belarussian, Scottish, Ukranian and Italian teams.

Railway hosted the competition last term in Dublin while Galway brought European club indoor to the country. With a men’s Olympic qualifier soon to follow this summer’s Champions Challenge I, it continues a recent run of high quality tournaments coming to these shores.

It could also be the catalyst to see Ireland earn a place in the recently rejigged women’s Club Champion’s Cup for a first time. Railway and Loreto’s performances last spring have seen Ireland move up to ninth in the standings, just half a ranking point behind Russia who occupy eighth – the lowest place to be included in the top competition.

Ten Leinster sides, meanwhile, take on the Irish Hockey Trophy first round with North Kildare the highest ranked from the province following an excellent start to women’s division two. They host Mourne side Kilkeel at The Maws.

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey League Round 3 (Saturday): Hermes v UCD, 3pm, Booterstown; Railway Union v UCC, 5pm, Park Avenue

Leinster Women’s Division One
Saturday: Old Alexandra v Loreto, 3pm, Milltown; Trinity v Corinthian, 4.30pm, Milltown; Pembroke v Glenanne, 5pm, Serpentine Ave
Division Two: Pembroke v UCD, 11am, Serpentine Ave; Old Alexandra v Railway Union, 1.15pm, Milltown
Sunday: Loreto v Hermes, 2.30pm, Beaufort

EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy
Pool A: HC Victorya Smolevichi (BLR), Grove Menzieshill (SCO), MSC Sumchanka (UKR), HF Libertas San Saba (ITA)
Pool B: ARA La Gantoise (BEL), Pegasus (IRL), HC Metrostroy St Petersburg (RUS), Gintra Strekte Universitas (LTU)

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Trophy, round two: Weston v Dromore, 3pm, Griffeen Valley Park; Portadown v Genesis, 2.30pm, Edenvilla Park; Waterford v Naas, 2.30pm, Newtown School; Our Ladys v Greenfields, 2pm, Templeogue; North Kildare v Kilkeel, 2.30pm, The Maws; Bandon v Cork C of I, 12pm, Bandon GS; Suttonians v Wexford, 2pm, Sutton Park; Cookstown v Galway, 1pm, Coolnafranky; Ashton v Knock, Knock withdrawn – Ashton receive w/o; North Down v NICS, 2.30pm, Comber LC; Victorians v Greenisland, 4pm, Queens; Bray v Clontarf, 1.15pm, Loreto Bray; YMCA v UL, 2.30pm, Claremont Road; Ballymena v Newbridge, 2.30pm, Ballymena; Omagh v Muckross, 4pm, Campsie; Fermoy v Larne, 12.30pm, Loreto Fermoy)

It was quite the turnaround for the northern university who lost out 1-0 in the intervarsities to Trinity. It is the sole second round tie to take place in Leinster as Portrane, Suttonians, Weston and division two table-toppers Avoca are sent to different corners of the country.

Avoca’s looks the most winnable trip off the back of their early season form as they travel to the seaside to play Bangor, recently relegated and struggling in Senior One without a win to their name.

Suttonians make the journey to Donegal to play Raphoe, never an easy place to travel, having pushed Monkstown close in recent times, while Portrane go to Limerick to face Catholic Institute.

Portadown is Weston’s task, a really tough tie following an impressive start to the campaign. UCC finally received a home tie as they were paired with Antrim while holders South Antrim play an Ulster derby against Campbellians.

It was one of four competitions drawn at the IHA offices on Monday. On the women’s side of the competition, Bray face Clontarf in an all-division three clash.

North Kildare are currently Leinster’s second highest ranked side in this competition and look a decent bet against Ulster Senior Two outfit Kilkeel on home turf.

Newbridge’s impressive start in division two sees them bring form into a trip to face Ballymena while YMCA debut in the competition against Munster division one side UL who recently shocked Cork Harlequins for a famous win.

2011 Challenge finalists Kilkenny have been paired with Saintfield while St James’ Gate’s reward for ousting Portrush – Dave Smith on the mark – sets them against PSNI at the Iveagh Grounds in the final eight.

Two Leinster sides contest the quarter-finals of the women’s Challenge, too, with Botanic welcoming Cashel New Inn for the first time in their history. Monkstown, though, continue to pick up tough draws, travelling to Parkview who are going reasonably well in Senior Three.

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round two (November 26): Raphoe v Suttonians; Cliftonville v Armagh; Portadown v Weston; South Antrim v Campbellians; Bangor v Avoca; Rathgar Chiefs v Queens University; UCC v Antrim; Catholic Institute v Portrane

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Trophy, second round (November 26): Weston v Dromore; Portadown v Genesis; Waterford v Naas; Our Lady’s v Greenfields; North Kildare v Kilkeel, Bandon v Cork Church of Ireland; Suttonians v Wexford; Cookstown v Galway; Ashton v Knock; North Down v NICS; Victorians v Greenisland; Bray v Clontarf; YMCA v UL; Ballymena v Newbridge; Omagh v Muckross; Fermoy v Larne

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, Round 2 draw (November 19): Ballynahinch v Larne; Kilkenny v Saintfield; St James Gate v PSNI; Limerick v Omagh

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge, quarter-final draw (November 19): Botanic v Cashel New Inn; Dungarvan v Clonmel; Enniscorthy v Kilkenny; Parkview v Monkstown

Some big guns will fall by the wayside in the men’s IJC as Leinster sides – after a harrowing 2010/11 season – face tough trips up north. 2010 winners travel to Annadale to face the current Ulster Junior One leaders while Pembroke go to Shawsbrige on December 3 to play Instonians in another high quality encounter.

Glenanne and YMCA have been among the more impressive sides domestically thus far and so they serve up the most eagerly awaited tie in Dublin while Fingal make a short hop to Suttonians. Lisnagarvey enter the competition at home against Belfast Harlequins while last season’s semi-finalists Three Rock are on the road for a sixth successive game in this competition, drawn at South Antrim.

On the women’s side, Railway are through to the second round without having to lift a stick in earnest as one of four teams to get a bye – potential threat UCD are another, along with Ballymoney and Galway. Perhaps the tie of the round pits the Ulster Elks against Randalstown in a repeat of their 3-3 draw two weekends ago while Old Alex’s hosting of Catholic Institute is another to vye for that mantle.

Dublin Uni are the only side to enter the men’s Irish Hockey Trophy at the first round stage as they face Queens just a couple of weeks after the intervarsities. Avoca, Portrane, Suttonians, Weston and Rathgar lie in wait in round two.

On the women’s side, Rathgar travel to Ashton in their first national competition since renaming from Diocesan. Avoca host Bandon in the other round one game as Bray, Clontarf, Genesis, Naas, Newbridge, North Kildare, Our Ladys, Suttonians, Weston and YMCA – in their first time at this level of competition following two successful Irish Hockey Challenge runs.

It leaves Monkstown and Botanic as Leinster’s main contenders in the women’s IHC but they will aim to avoid Dungarvan away. The Co Waterford club ran to the final with a series of home successes and are back on home territory again this year, facing NUIG.

The Men’s Challenge has handed finalists Kilkenny a route into the second round via the bye option while winners Portrane have moved into the Trophy.

Men’s Irish Junior Cup draw: Suttonians v Fingal; Annadale v Monkstown; Newry v Clontarf; Instonians v Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne v YMCA; Bangor v NICS; Dublin Uni v Corinthian; South Antrim v Three Rock Rovers; Cookstown v North Down; Cork C of I v Mossley; Kilkeel v UCC; Lisnagarvey v Belfast HQ; UCD v Banbridge; Bandon v Cork Harlequins; Raphoe v Railway Union
Bye: Antrim

Women’s Irish Junior Cup: Old Alex v Catholic Institute; Ashton v Dublin University; Loreto v Portadown; Lisnagarvey v Pembroke W; Queens v Hermes; Genesis v Dromore; Ulster Elks v Randalstown; Armagh v Pegasus; Corinthian v UCC; Bandon v Belfast Harlequins; Cork C of I v Lurgan; Glenanne v Cork Harlequins
Byes: UCD; Ballymoney; Galway, Railway Union

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy: Raphoe v Newry; Queens University v Dublin Uni…
Byes: Antrim, Armagh, Avoca; Bangor; Campbellians; Catholic Inst; Cliftonville; Portadown; Portrane; Rathgar Chiefs; South Antrim; Suttonians; UCC; Weston

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Ashton v Rathgar; Avoca v Bandon
Byes: Bray; Clontarf; Cookstown; Cork C of I; Dromore; Fermoy; Galway; Genesis; Greenfields; Greenisland; Kilkeel; Knock; Larne; Naas; Newbridge; NICS; North Down; North Kildare; Omagh; Our Ladys; Portadown; Suttonians; UL; Victorians; Waterford; Weston; Wexford; YMCA

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Galway v Naas; St James Gate v Portrush; Ballymena v Larne; Saintfield v North Kildare; Omagh v Parkview
Byes: Limerick, Kilkenny, PSNI

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Monkstown v Gorey; Dungarvan v NUIG; Cork Wanderers v Clonmel; Botanic v Wexford; Tipperary v Enniscorthy
Byes: Cashel New Inn; Parkview, Kilkenny