The fixtures for September and October have been initially been released as per usual with the remainder to follow in due course. The IHA timetable – including the Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey League – however will not be finalised fully until November when it will be known which Olympic qualifier, if any, Ireland will be heading to.

Belgium, Japan and India in the spring are the current options subject to continental qualifiers which could see some re-jigging to the national calendar but the first round of the Senior Cup will go ahead in the first week of October with IHL round one following a week later.

Glenanne begin their title defence against Clontarf on their return to division one while the Marlay derby between Corinthian and Three Rock looks an initial highlight on day one.

The Neville Cup is down to be played on the Sunday of week one with three all division one ties opening the competition, notably holders Monkstown against Pembroke.

Mullingar and Portrane are two notable inclusions in this competition having stepped up from division 4 to 2. The second tier gets underway a week later on September 24 with the Westmeath side playing their very first fixture at this level in a league which has been bolstered up to eight teams for 2011/12.

Going down the leagues, division 3 remains as per last term but division 4 welcomes back Corinthian III, Suttonians II and Weston II while St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park drop down.

Div 5 sees Skerries continue their rise back up through the leagues having bossed the sixth tier last time round while Rathgar II come up from division 8, a relocation based on their impressive if ultimately registration-scuppered run in that league.

Twelve teams will contest division six, Kilkenny II, Mullingar II and Athy’s second successive promotion adding to the table.
Division 7 sees the introduction of Portrane II; Bray’s first team will play in this league after their mid-season withdrawal in 2010/11 while Wicklow and Smithfield have stepped up as the promoted sides from division 8.

Men’s League structure:
Division 1: Monkstown, Railway Union, YMCA, UCD, Corinthian, Three Rock Rovers, Clontarf, Glenanne, Fingal, Pembroke Wanderers
Division 2: Portrane, Weston, Navan, Avoca, Rathgar, Suttonians, Dublin University, Mullingar
Division 3: Monkstown II, Railway Union II, YMCA II, UCD II, Corinthian II, Three Rock Rovers II, Dublin University II, Glenanne II, Fingal II, Pembroke Wanderers II
Division 4: Clontarf II, Pembroke Wanderers III, Suttonians II, Kilkenny, Railway Union III, Naas, Glenanne III, Corinthian III, Monkstown III, Weston II
Division 5: Pembroke Wanderers IV, YMCA III, Avoca II, Skerries, St James Gate, Monkstown IV, Rathgar II, St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park, North Kildare, Three Rock Rovers III
Division 6: Glenanne IV, Corinthian IV, Dublin University III, Navan II, Three Rock Rovers IV, Mullingar II, Athy, YMCA IV, Kilkenny II, Fingal III, Pembroke Wanderers V, Monkstown V
Division 7: Bray, Portrane II, Wicklow, Weston III, Railway Union IV, Avoca III, St Brendans/Phoenix Park II, Smithfield, UCD III, Corinthian V
Division 8: Bray II, Three Rock Rovers V, Pembroke Wanderers VII, Pembroke Wanderers VI, Fingal IV, St James Gate II, Clontarf III, Dublin University IV

Early season Leinster Men’s Division One/Two fixtures:
September 17 (Week One)
Division 1: Monkstown vs Railway Union; YMCA vs UCD; Corinthian vs Three Rock Rovers; Clontarf vs Glenanne; Fingal vs Pembroke Wanderers

September 18
Neville Cup Round 1: Mullingar v Weston; Monkstown v Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne v Corinthian; Avoca v Railway Union; Fingal v YMCA; Portrane v Clontarf

September 24 (Week Two)
Division 1: Railway Union vs YMCA; UCD vs Clontarf; Three Rock Rovers vs Monkstown; Glenanne vs Fingal; Pembroke Wanderers vs Corinthian
Division 2: Portrane vs Weston; Navan vs Avoca; Rathgar vs Suttonians; Dublin University vs Mullingar

Sunday, September 25
Division 1: Glenanne vs Corinthian; Clontarf vs Fingal; Pembroke Wanderers vs Monkstown; Railway Union vs UCD; Three Rock Rovers vs YMCA

October 1 (Week Three)
Division 1: UCD vs Monkstown; YMCA vs Clontarf; Railway Union vs Corinthian; Pembroke Wanderers vs Glenanne; Three Rock Rovers vs Fingal
Division 2: Weston vs Navan; Avoca vs Rathgar; Suttonians vs Dublin University; Mullingar vs Portrane

October 8 (Week four)
Irish Senior Cup – round one
Division 2: Avoca vs Weston; Suttonians vs Navan; Mullingar vs Rathgar; Dublin University vs Portrane

October 15 (Week five)
Irish Hockey League – round one
Division 2: Portrane vs Avoca; Weston vs Suttonians; Navan vs Mullingar; Rathgar vs Dublin University

October 22 (Week six)
Division 1: Corinthian vs UCD; Monkstown vs YMCA; Fingal vs Railway Union; Clontarf vs Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne vs Three Rock Rovers
Division 2: Suttonians vs Avoca; Mullingar vs Weston; Dublin University vs Navan; Rathgar vs Portrane

Sunday, October 23
Neville Cup Round 2

October 29 (Week seven)
Irish Hockey League – round two

The two promoted teams from last year found themselves again in the province’s bottom division after a mid-season amalgamation of division eight and nine.

The two sides will once again hope to move up with the Smiths going up as champions following a showdown 1-0 result, scoring early and holding on for the silverware.

Great performances throughout the season, captained by Mark McKay, from the likes of Allan Dardis and goalkeeper Pat McKay were complemented by Timmy Cooney’s superb scoring form, netting over 30 goals.

It was a surprise victory for the side, though, as Rathgar Chiefs appeared to have the league secured before a registration breach was discovered which saw four of their results over-turned.

One of those was a 3-1 result against the Smiths in early April, the reversal of which opened the door and made it a straight battle for the title.

Back-to-back victories on the final weekend of the season for Smithfield sealed it, then, a 2-0 success against Railway and the win over Wicklow.

The North Dublin club used a panel of 15 who rolled with the mid-season amalgamation maintained a blank in their loss column going into the final weeks of the season, something which was initially blotted before being restored.

Men’s Leinster Division Eight (click here for full results)

The poll is also still open for the Hook’s Contributor of the Year with the nominees for Junior Player of the Year (those operating for first teams outside of men’s and women’s division one) set to go live later today.

Nominees for these awards have come about from proposals in the various categories, seeking to honour the broad spectrum of Leinster hockey.

Voting will be open up until March 30 with the winners being announced at The Hook’s Awards Night and end of season party – held in conjunction with Glenanne SC – on April 2 in Kobra on Leeson Street.

To secure your ticket for the event, contact Gary Shaw on 087 986 1942 or email shawsie14@gmail.com. Tickets costs €10 and will also include free entry into NV nightclub while there will be finger-food and spot prizes on the night.

Here are the five votes online thus far:

Refixed games will be played on Saturday April 9, 16 and 30, skipping the Easter bank holiday weekend which runs from April 22 to 25.

Such an extension, though, is not possible for men’s division with April 16 and 30 reserved for the final four of the Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey League’s latter stages, respectively with Leinster sides potentially involved.

As such, from the three rounds of top tier games lost to the weather, one round has been fixed for March 26 – the original date for the senior interprovincials, since moved to May 13 to 15.

The others are scheduled for the weeks beginning February 13 and March 6.

A date for the Neville cup will be finalised in the next couple of days with the Branch to notify as soon as it is finalised.

Meanwhile, the after-effects of the weather on the fixture calendar, below, can be seen in this weekend’s matches with the big catch-up hoping to begin in earnest.

Leinster and National level fixtures:
Men’s Leinster Division One, Saturday: Weston vs YMCA, 3pm, Griffeen Valley Park; Pembroke vs Glenanne, 2pm, Serpentine Avenue; Fingal vs Railway Union, 1.30pm, ALSAA; UCD vs Corinthian, 1pm, Belfield; Three Rock Rovers vs Monkstown, 2.15pm, Grange Road
Mills Cup, Sunday: Railway Union vs Clontarf, 3pm, Park Avenue; Avoca vs Glenanne, 12.30pm, Newpark
Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, Saturday: Kilkenny vs Limerick, TBC, KCK; Ballymena vs Saintfield, 1pm, Ballymena Showgrounds
Avoca U-21 Cup, Tuesday: TRR vs Glenanne, 8pm, Grange Road

Women’s Leinster Divisions One, Saturday: Hermes vs Pembroke, 12pm, St Andrew’s; Railway Union vs Trinity, 12.15pm, Park Avenue; Bray vs UCD, 1pm, Loreto Bray; Old Alexandra vs Glenanne, 1.15pm, Milltown; Corinthian vs Loreto, 3.45pm, Whitechurch
Sunday: Loreto vs Old Alexandra, 12.30pm, Beaufort

Jacqui Potter Cup, Sunday: Hermes vs TRL, 1.30pm, St Andrew’s
Division Two, Saturday: Railway Union II vs Old Alexandra II, 10.30am, Park Avenue; Muckross vs TRL, 11.15am, Teresians; Loreto II vs Hermes II, 12.45pm, Beaufort; Our Lady’s vs Genesis, 2.30pm, Terenure; North Kildare vs Pembroke, 3.15pm, The Maws
Sunday: Pembroke vs Loreto, 2.30pm, Serpentine Ave

Women’s National Indoor Trophy, Sunday (all at Loughlinstown Sports Centre): Armagh vs Trinity, 1pm; Trinity vs Avoca, 2pm; Avoca vs Armagh, 3pm
Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge, Saturday: NUIG vs Kilkenny, TBC, Dangan

They begin their title defence against an Alex side who have brought in Roisin Flinn and Pamela Smithwick from UCD but are dealing with the retirements of Jan Ovington and Anya Bowers while Liane Ryan has emigrated to England.

Their squad, therefore, takes on a youthful look with four teenagers added to the panel.

Given the influx of high quality newcomers Holly Jenkinson, Nikki Evans and Zara Delany and the likelihood their main title rivals will be weakened at various points in the season, Railway look a formidable proposition.

Emma Smyth is likely to be absent for some portion of the season due to international commitments – they are currently on an enforced rest until October 10’s first round of the Irish Senior Cup and the World Cup qualifiers could see clubs stripped of star players for a large tract of January to March.

Delany, though, has resumed light training following a lengthy lay-off due to a cartilage injury and Emer Lucey is out for about three weeks but, other than that, McKinnon’s squad appears the strongest on show.

Sinead Dooley is another big boon following a season off due to a gaelic football injury. Fully focused on hockey now, the former Ireland panelist has been showing signs of regaining her touch.

In previous years, the IHL final pairing of Loreto and Hermes would be the marquee game but it takes on a slightly different profile this time around with many top players unavailable.

The game is likely to be a key one nonetheless but Nikki Symmons, Cathy McKean and Lizzie Colvin sit out the game for Loreto but former Irish international Catriona Tipping is back in full-training.

Yvonne Kenny steps in for Emma Gray between the posts for Hermes and Simon Fligas‘ side will also be without Linda Caulfield until Christmas and Jill Hodgins until late November as she takes on the New York marathon. Shelley Sloan has returned to Ulster to play with Pegasus.

Pembroke will hope their youth stars Alice Ward, Noelle Farrell and Orla Fox continue their rise as they come to terms with Louisa Moore’s departure to London. They will not face former team-mate Elaine Bromell, however, as she left Bray after a one-year stint to move back to Catholic Institute.

The Wicklow club are likely, once again, to be involved in a four-team mini-league at the bottom end of the table with Corinthian, Glenanne and Trinity.

The students have the weekend off – along with UCD – but have strengthened to a reasonable extent. Corinthian and Glenanne – both under new coaches – have a key tie at Whitechurch Park.

Corinthian keep a fairly settled side from last season for Stewart Walker and assistants Andrew Cronje and Lucas Piccioli to work with but Guy Garrett starts the year without forward duo Valerie Sexton and Nicci Daly who have moved to UCD and Loreto respectively.

* A team by team preview will be posted this evening, detailing all the ins and outs over the summer.

Saturday Division One schedule:
Pembroke vs Bray, 1pm, Serpentine Avenue; Corinthian vs Glenanne, 1.45pm, Whitechurch Park; Loreto vs Hermes, 2.30pm, Beaufort; Railway Union vs Old Alex, 2.30pm, Park Avenue

* Sixteen men’s teams and ten women’s teams have confirmed they will compete in the revamped National Indoor Trophy for the 2009/10 season.

On the men’s side Annadale, Galway, Suttonians, Monkstown, UCD, YMCA, Belfast Harlequins, Dublin University, Clontarf, Pembroke Wanderers, Railway Union, Avoca, Three Rock Rovers, Corinthian and two Glenanne sides take part.

In the women’s section, Bray, Hermes, Old Alex, Pembroke Wanderers, Loreto, Corinthian, UCD, Glenanne and Railway Union bid to oust Galway. Details of the qualification rounds will be released by the end of August, including dates, locations and format.

* Fingal ladies, who play and train in the ALSAA sports complex beside Dublin Airport, have a coaching position available for their first eleven, currently playing in Division 3 of the Leinster League for the coming season.

An attractive package is available for the right candidate. Please forward all inquiries to Ita McMahon on itamcmahon@gmail.com.

*Ireland’s U-16 boys and girls will compete in Barcelona, it was announced this week, in the EuroHockey U-16 Youth Nations Championships 2010.

The boys have been drawn in a group with the Netherlands, Russia and Austria while the girls are pitted against Spain, Russia and Ukraine. The tournaments will be played on July 12-17, 2009.

* Lisnagarvey have announced Drew Campbell (pictured, second from left) as their new head coach. Speaking of his new post, he said: “This is a great opportunity for me as the club enters a new chapter and I am very excited by the prospect of the role. I have worked with several of the current squad at Ulster & Irish level and it will be great to team up with them again and help them develop further”.

Campbell has previously coached at Ulster U-16, Irish U-16 level while he was also the Irish ladies assistant coach as well being a past coach at the club at Garvey’s youth section and men’s second eleven.

* Railway Union first team skipper Isobel Joyce and twin sister Cecelia starred as Ireland claimed the senior women’s European Championships at the Hills on Wednesday. Cecelia hit 35 off 47 balls to guide Ireland to a ten-wicket win over the Netherlands in the final, in response to the Dutch total of just 68.

UCD were unable to get the win they needed on the grass against St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park III to lose out by two points. It completed a productive Saturday for the Cats as their seconds look like they might produce the most unlikely of escapes from the drop in division four.

Their fifth win on the spin – a 2-0 defeat of Portrane – pulls them up to tenth in the 13 team division and with Railway Union III and Portrane still to play in the run-in, may yet remain clear of the bottom two.

In an update from last week, South East Wanderers II beat RCSI 4-1 in the Minor Cup final.

Meanwhile, Clontarf and Dublin University have agreed a glamour date for their Neville Davin final. The pair will face off in front of the newly erected stand at Grange Road next Saturday evening directly after the Pembroke and Three Rock IHL semi-final at 7pm.

The final two Leinster cups of the season will be contested in the next week on with Glenanne going for the Walters/Galtrim double. They play UCD in the former on Friday night in Pembroke at 8.15pm and St James Gate in the latter on Tuesday, May 5 at 7.15pm – again in Pembroke.

Former Trinity striker Caoilfhinn Rowan added a brace to complete the scoring. It gives Railway II thier first ever win at this level of competition, their first team having won division two back in 1992.

On Saturday, three more women’s cup finals were decided with Monkstown completing the double to take the division 13/14 crown, beating Malahide II 5-0 at UCD with Suzi Murray scoring twice.

Bray V took the division 12 title (pictured in action, below left), coming from a goal down to beat Newbridge III while Hermes III overcame Newbridge II to win the division 7/8 title (right).

On the men’s side, Kilkenny III got the only goal of the game to beat UCD III in the junior cup final. The pair duel once more next week in the final round of division eight matches with the students needing a win over St Brendan’s/PP on the grass to take the silverware. Anthing else could open the door for the cats who travel to Wicklow.

Elsewhere in the men’s leagues, a hat-trick from Karl Chapple and one from Scott Wilkie saw Avoca beat Suttonians 4-3 on Sunday in division two to move the Blackrock side into a tie for third with a home match against Navan to conclude the season.

Understrength Skerries and Naas, due to the junior interpros, also played with the seasiders winning 4-1, Andrew Butterly with two goals while Sean Lawlor and Alan Early were also on the score sheet.

Division three will require a playoff as Monkstown II – shorn of the injured Donal O’Mearain, Alun and Gareth Evans – lost to a resurgent Pembroke II when they needed just a point. Corinthian II’s 6-0 win over UCD II, therefore, means a test match is needed to decide the league winner.

Corinthian III took division four with a 6-2 win over Weston II after beating Three Rock Rovers III in midweek to assure what looked set to be their title for a long while after winning their first five games in a row. Keith Fishbourne retains the title he won with Glenanne III in 2007/08.

As of earlier this evening, St Brendan’s Phoenix Park were within a point of taking division five after they beat Three Rock Rovers IV in a virtual league decider.

Finally, Monkstown took the U-16 league last Friday night, overturning their cup exit at the hands of Corinthian to win 7-0 thanks to hat-tricks from Simon Lowry and Stephen Nolan.

A key result for the Town last Wednesday as they held Clontarf at bay 3-2 in what has been a very competitive league. The Bulls provided some surprises to the Dublin hockey community – though not to themselves – with that eye-catching performance as well as victory over Three Rock Rovers.

Railway Union were also in the frame while Rovers claimed the cup. The Town, meanwhile, held on to the Joey O’Meara Cup for the fifth year running.

This weekend, meanwhile, sees a trio of big matches at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday. Three Rock Rovers II play YMCA II for the fourth time this season in the Railway Cup decider at 2pm, followed on court by UCD and Bray in the division one/two playoff at 4pm.

Monkstown play Glenanne at 6pm in the heavily delayed U-21 final.

* For Deryck Vincent’s pictures of Hermes III vs Newbridge II, click here, and for photos of Newbridge III vs Bray V, click here.