The IHA yesterday stressed the decision “has largely been driven by the (provincial) branches, who feel that in a year with Olympic qualifiers, the inability to field full squads puts the cost and associated benefits of the events in doubt”.

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.

Vanessa Sargent, Rachel McSharry, Olivia Roycroft, Ali O'Regan, Yvonne O'Byrne and Sinead Connery celebrate Munster's senior interpros win in May. They will now have a chance to defend their title until 2013 at the earliest. Picture: Pat Sargent

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 U21 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.

14-year-old Julian Dale’s four goals highlighted a promising campaign for an U16 side that was picked with the future in mind and has a majority returning next year, while the U18′s amazing win over Ulster on the final day – which ultimately denied the northern province glory – will live long in the memory.

John Hobbs’ U16s put a spanner in the works early on during opening night, amazingly leading Ulster 2-0 inside the first five minutes. Dale had bullied his way through to force home the first before roofing a lightning drag-flick for number two, shell-shocking an Ulster side who had earlier lost by a goal to Leinster.

The rest of the half belonged to Midleton College goalkeeper Jack Ryan; just 14 and coming from a GAA background, he made a huge impression on the hockey fraternity with a series of top-class, point-blank saves to keep Munster in front at the break, with Alex Deane and Colin Kingston constructing a teak-tough barrier in front of him.

The loss of Kingston with an eye injury which prematurely ended his tournament didn’t help Munster, and the floodgates opened in the second half, Matthew Sullivan and Jack Henderson on the mark to level it before Andrew Smyth put Ulster in front with six minutes to go.

Munster nonetheles came agonisingly close to stealing an equaliser with the game’s final play, Dale rattling the crossbar with another ripping drag, but Ulster held on for a 3-2 win that would ultimately prove crucial.

The reds paid the price for Friday’s efforts, in losing 6-0 to Leinster on Saturday morning, while Sunday saw them fall behind to Ulster but rattle Ricky Lee’s troops in a rousing game of chase, with Dale, Philip Brownlow and David Cardy on target in a 6-3 loss.

That left Leinster needing a win and the requisite goal difference in their final match against Munster to notch a fifth title in six years, and they duly produced a 4-1 victory, with Dale notching the consolation via another crashing drag-flick.

For the U18s, it was a tournament of contrasting styles and fortunes, as they made life hell for Ulster but played right into a counter-attacking Leinster’s hands.

On Friday, Ulster led through James Lorimer’s goal in a nip and tuck game, but Munster were bossing the second half and saw the game turn on a crucial two-goal swing 10 minutes from full time.

Munster finally engineered the room on the right for David Treacy to crash a perfect ball to the back post, but the usually clinical Gary Wilkinson mistimed his connection, the ball hitting his foot before he could convert.

Ulster immediately careered downfield and the pacy Matthew Allister blasted home a classy second from a tight angle, before Andy Allen added an insurance goal later on as Munster’s heads dropped, flicking home a corner.

That left Munster needing a positive result against Leinster on day two to stay in contention.

But instead they played into Rory O’Donoghue’s side’s hands, turning over oceans of ball in dangerous positions and seeing the hosts run riot, clinically converting 14 circle entries into nine goals in a 9-1 rout, Ben Scott sweeping home Munster’s reply off a rare crash ball.

The result was all too reminiscent of similarly one-sided games a year earlier, but the U18s had continued to play positively throughout, a trait which finally yielded deserved dividends on Sunday morning in a hugely memorable game against Ulster.

The northerners had beaten and drawn with Leinster, meaning they needed just a draw against Munster to secure overall victory. Led superbly from the back by skipper Matthew Rollins, they did everything within their power to get the goals that mattered, but found Daniel Moore an immovable object in the Munster goal.

One amazing double save, which saw the Midleton College man thwart a corner strike before jumping off the ground to tip the flicked follow-up effort onto the crossbar with his stick, characterised an amazing rearguard effort in which Andrew Colton and Richard Sweetnam also shone.

Forays into the Ulster 25 were rare for Munster, but the pacy Nathan Eacrett found some space with 13 minutes to go and was barrelled over in the circle, earning Munster’s first and only corner.

Having survived more than a half dozen Ulster corners, Munster made theirs count in style as Colton accurately dragged home at mid-height to Michael Anderson’s stick side for a go-ahead goal against the run of play.

That sparked a huge effort from Ulster to earn the draw they needed, culminating in a final act which saw Fred McElroy get his body in the way of two successive goal-bound shots before the inevitable penalty stroke was awarded.

Ben Cosgrave stepped up with 10 seconds to go, and although Moore guessed right, diving low to his right, he wasn’t needed as the ball agonisingly struck the outside of the upright and went out of play, sparking wild celebrations in the Munster camp which continued when the final hooter went seconds later.

Drained by those efforts but nonetheless hopeful of spoiling Leinster’s hopes of notching the three points required to win the tournament, and break Ulster’s three-year winning streak, Munster again were left to rue a number of sloppy turnovers against a side who were rampant on the counter-attack in a 9-2 win.

Jordan Sutton got Leinster off to a flier against a flagging Munster, before Jonathan Roberts rebounded after Jeremy Duncan broke through and David Cole dragged in a third to ease any nerves.

Sutton added another pair while Cole got his second to copper-fasten the victory in the second half before Nathan Eacrett and David Whitaker got consolation goals in a 9-2 final result. Eacrett profited from Alex Simonin’s persistence, before creating the space to beat Cole despite moving away from goal before firing home a low shot.

Whitaker – who was just nine days out from being eligible for the U16 side – rattled home a mid-height drag-flick and saw two more taken off the line, while Marc Hornibrook was unlucky to see his touch goalward at a stretch go the wrong side of the upright, after Eacrett had eliminated the goalkeeper on a breakaway. At the other end, Newtown’s Sam Butler performed miracles in preventing three certain goals with a series of instinctive goal-line clearances.

It led to the unlikeliest of interpro doubles for Leinster, who had looked out of it in both competitions by the end of Saturday’s play, only for Munster to intervene in their favour.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Southern Fried Hockey had a vested interest in this tournament, with this writer acting as manager of the Munster U18s. I have attempted to write this account as neutrally as possible in the circumstances, while also focusing primarily on the Munster sides as is generally consistent with the site’s readership.

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

U-18 Interprovincials: Ulster 0 Munster 1 (Andrew Colton); Leinster 9 (Ross Canning 3, David Cole 2, Jonathan Roberts 2, Lee Cole, Ian Stewart) Munster 1 (Ben Scott); Leinster 1 (Ross Canning) Ulster 1 (Adam Fallis); Leinster 9 (Jordan Sutton 3, David Cole 2, Jonathan Roberts 2, Ian Stewart, Brian O’Malley) Munster 2 (Nathan Eacrett, David Whitaker); Leinster 2 (Kirk Shimmins, Ross Canning) Ulster 3 (Matthew Allister 2, James Cox); Ulster 3 (James Lorimer, Matthew Allister, Andy Allen) Munster 0.

Final standings: 1. Leinster 8pts (+14) 2. Ulster 8pts (+3) 3. Munster 3pts (-17)

U-16 Interprovincials (day two and three results): Leinster 4 (Luke Madeley 2, Jack Ryan 2) Munster 1 (Julian Dale); Ulster 6 (Matthew Sullivan 2, Chris Heath 2, Jack Wilson, Adam Marshall) Munster 3 (Julian Dale, David Cardy, Philip Brownlow); Leinster 0 Ulster 2 (Rowan Poots, Matthew Sullivan); Leinster 6 (Freddie Morris 2, Luke Madeley 2, Jack Ryan, Neil Byrne) Munster 0; Leinster 1 (Jack Ryan) Ulster 0; Ulster 3 (Matthew Sullivan, Jack Henderson, Andrew Smyth) Munster 2 (Julian Dale 2)

Final standings: 1. Leinster 9pts (+8) 2. Ulster 9pts (+5) 3. Munster 0pts (-13)

Munster and Leinster’s hopes of ending Ulster’s three-year stranglehold on the boys U18 title at St Andrew’s, Booterstown this weekend have been boosted by the absence of three top players from the northern province.

Former Ireland U18 captain and senior international Ian Sloan was not considered this time around, while Banbridge duo Josh Moffett and Peter Brown have both been forced to withdraw from the squad.

It gives a Munster side — who feature a quartet of Irish underage representatives in skipper Richard Lynch, Scott Sullivan, Gary Wilkinson and Richard Sweetnam — a chance to bely their underdog status, although Leinster bring a host of Division One experience to the table.

Andrew Colton (left) is among the returnees for Munster U18s, who kick off their interpro campaign against Ulster at St Andrew's tonight.

At U16 level, Alex Burns, Julian Dale and Simon Wolfe are the leading lights for Munster in a competition where Leinster are aiming for a fourth success in five years.

In what is a reduced weekend of club action, Bandon and Cork Church of Ireland’s women will both look to move away from the wrong end of the table when they meet in west Cork.

C of I have nonetheless been closing the gap in terms of general play – if not results – as proven by a single-goal loss at Cork Harlequins in midweek.

Ashton, fresh from a stunning 2-1 win over UCC at the Mardyke last weekend, will once again hope Kate Harvey’s drag-flick is in good mettle as they host the season’s surprise package, UL.

Meanwhile, opportunity knocks for two of UCD’s leading lights as Ireland senior women’s coach Gene Muller has opted to shake things up for his side’s trip to Argentina next month.

Following a disappointing European championships campaign, Ireland are Belgium-bound next March for their last shot at Olympic qualification.

Preparation time is therefore in short supply, but the team’s sponsors, ESB Electric Ireland, have helped fund this trip to South America, in which Ireland will play in two high-quality four nations tournaments also featuring India and South Africa.

However, Muller is without some leading lights for the trip; Cork woman Julia O’Halloran has stepped away from the
national panel, while Emma Clarke, Nikki Symmons and Emma Smyth are unavailable and Lisa Jacob is also absent.

That gives chances to Anna O’Flanagan — Leinster’s top scorer so far this term — and Niamh Atcheler, who have been key fulcrums in UCD’s hugely impressive start to the campaign, which has seen the students  topple IHL and Irish Senior champions Pegasus, Munster’s top dogs Catholic Institute and Loreto in the Leinster league.

Nicci Daly and Slough’s  Hannah Bowe — sister of Irish rugby international star Tommy — are also back in the line-up, as is Nikki Evans.

Muller said: “Now that we know we are in the Belgium qualifier in March 2012, our preparation time is short, and the two Four Nations tournaments come at the right time for us in our preparation cycle.

“We are leaving behind more than 300 test caps worth of  experience with Emma Clarke, Emma Smyth, and Nikki  Symmons unavailable.

“While there are no new caps in the team, these tournaments do give us a chance to see less experienced players like Niamh Atcheler, Anna O’ Flanagan, Hannah Bowe, Nicci Daly, Miriam Crowley and Nikki Evans against top class opponents before settling on our Olympic qualifying team.”

Boys Interprovincials (all in St Andrew’s College, Booterstown)

U18

Today: Leinster v Ulster, 3pm; Munster v Ulster, 7pm; Tomorrow: Leinster v Munster, 1pm; Leinster v Ulster, 5pm; Sunday: Munster v Ulster, 12pm; Leinster v Munster, 4pm.

U16

Today: Leinster v Ulster, 1pm; Munster v Ulster, 5pm; Tomorrow: Leinster v Munster, 11am; Leinster v Ulster, 3pm; Sunday: Munster v Ulster, 10am; Leinster v Munster, 2pm.

Women’s Div 1 (Saturday): Bandon v Cork Church of Ireland, 11.30am, Bandon Grammar; Ashton v UL, TBC, Ashton School.

IRELAND senior women’s squad for Four Nations tournaments, Argentina: N Atcheler, H Bowe, A Connery, L Colvin, M Crowley, N Daly, N Evans, E Gray (GK), M Harvey, S McCarthy, S McCay, A O’Flanagan, A O’Flynn, C Sargent, N Small, A Speers (capt), P Smithwick (GK) C Watkins.

Munster's U-16s started their interpro campaign with impressive draws with Leinster and Ulster Pic: Adrian Boehm

Corner moves from Mark Black and Dan Hobbs were just reward for the host’s first half dominance. The students roared back into contention when Graham Catchpole finished from the top of the circle following a five-man move – the first goal Quins have conceded in the league this term.

Makeshift forward Brian Hayes-Curtin provided an instant response, a hotly contested effort which saw UCC skipper Andy Gray sin-binned. He was one of three from his side to be sent to the line and it stagnated a strong showing which culminated in Cian Kavanagh’s equally debatable effort which seemingly struck a foot en route to goal.
There were late chances to level but the champions held on to keep their nose in front of Bandon who smashed Quins’ B team 7-2 with Andrew Scannell bagging a hat-trick.

On the women’s side, UCC picked up their first win of the campaign with a hard fought 2-0 victory in Limerick against student rivals UL thanks to Olivia Roycroft’s second half goals.

After an even first half, the visitors gelled fully for the first time this term with captain Roycroft breaking the deadlock from play from a well-worked move down the right flank before doubling up with a reverse-stick rebound to her own initial corner strike.

It was a reduced programme in the division due to the U-18 and U-16 interprovincials in which Munster claimed third place in the former and fourth in the latter competition. At the younger age group, they began in fine fashion but were just denied by eventual winners Leinster.

Clodagh Moloney and Naoise O’Donnell had put the southern province 2-1 up but an equaliser from Saoirse O’Donoghue tied matters for what proved a vital draw for the blues.

Munster followed up with a scoreless tie against four in-a-row chasing Ulster but they were out of the running by the time they beat Connacht 2-0 on Sunday afternoon and fell 1-0 to the South East in the final game of the competition.

The title went down to a straight battle between Leinster and Ulster in the tournament’s penultimate game. A win for either would have seen them in pole position for the title and Ailbhe Marsh scored the vital goal to end a six-year wait for the crown.

At U-18 level, Ulster retained the title for a fourth successive title with a perfect record, four wins and four clean sheets, using the form built up from an impressive showing at the British school’s championships in September.

Munster's U-18 side finished third in their interpro campaign Pic: Adrian Boehm

Munster were out of contention on day one after losses to Leinster and Ulster but rallied on Sunday with Victoria Burns’ double under-pinning a 3-1 win over the South East and grabbed a point against Connacht in a lively 2-2 draw.

** For all the Irish Hockey Photographers’ photos from last weekend’s interprovincial action, click here

Men’s Division One: Harlequins A 3 (M Black, D Hobbs, B Hayes-Curtin) UCC 2 (G Catchpole, C Kavanagh);

Harlequins B 2 (R Barrett, S Ross) Bandon 7 (A Scannell 3, R Smith, P Burns, M Beamish, D Beamish)

Women’s Division One: UL 0 UCC 2 (O Roycroft 2)

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

ESB Electric Ireland U18 Interprovincial Tournament
Connacht 0 Ulster 8 (K Mullan 5, J Edgar 2, A Cooke); Leinster 2 (E Russell, K Lloyd) Munster 0; South East 2 (S Shirley, R Bowe) Connacht 4 (E Carey 2, R Dillon, A Dunne); Ulster 5 (K Mullan 2, C Brown 2, C McCann) Munster 0; South East 1 (M-C Morrissey) Leinster 1 (L Gray); Munster 3 (V Burns 2, C Hayes) South East 1 (A Haslam); Leinster 2 (E Russell, K Lloyd) Connacht 0; Ulster 2 (C Brown, K Morris) South East 0; Connacht 2 (A Codyre, H Gormley) Munster 2 (C Hayes, An Other); Ulster 3 (K Mullan, C Brown, P Joyce) Leinster 0
Final standings: 1. Ulster 12pts (+18) 2. Leinster 7pts (+1) 3. Munster 4pts (-5) 4. Connacht 4pts (-8) 5. South East 1pt (-6)

It sees Ulster clubs enjoy their first taste of the biggest club competition in the world, with all Ireland’s previous representatives having come from Leinster.

Bann will be focussing on their first tie, the challenge of French champions CA Montrouge, rather than that of two-time champions UHC Hamburg.

Cookstown celebrate the Irish Senior Cup win which earned them an EHL spot, albeit in a pool of death alongside Reading and Amsterdam. Picture: Adrian Boehm

“The big challenge for me and the players is too channel our efforts towards the French game as that is the important one regarding qualifying for the next stage,” Bann coach Mark Tumilty said.

“Too often Irish teams at all levels have come close against the top teams but ended up not winning the crucial game in the tournament.”

Cookstown have been handed an absolute brute of a draw, playing English giants Reading and then Dutch kingpins Amsterdam back to back on Friday and Saturday.

But co-coach Stephen Cuddy is buzzing about the challenge ahead: “This is obviously the biggest test in hockey any of us have faced on the club scene.

“Initially I felt like a non-league coach who has just got Liverpool in the Champions League! On reflection we are not a non-league team and have plenty of talent in our own side that will be able to compete with the players we will come up against next weekend.”

Bangor man Chris Cargo — now with England’s Reading — will be lining out against an Irish side for the first time since his move abroad several years ago, while David Ames (Beeston), Jason Lynch (Racing Bruxelles) Ronan Gormley (Club de Campo) Stephen Butler and Eugene Magee (both KHC Dragons) are among the other Irishmen representing foreign clubs at the EHL.

Domestically, Munster U18 girls have been dealt a cruel blow as a fractured foot rules captain Róisín Upton out of their interprovincial tournament at Stormont in Belfast, where the U16 girls interpros are also taking place.

Mount Mercy’s Abbey Oakes has been called up as a replacement, and although Upton retains the captaincy and will travel with the party as a spectator, Antonia McGrath and Vicky Burns will now share the on-field duties.

Back in Munster, Cork Harlequins head into a potentially tricky clash with UCC with their tails up, following an assured IHL performance against Glenanne.

John Hobbs ruled the defensive roost that day and if he can thwart College’s forwards in a similar manner, Quins will be confident of taking the points.

UCC come into the game with cause to let off steam though, having under-performed in the 1-1 draw with Bandon, and will be keen to use Fionn O’Leary and Shrew Power in particular to test a Quins rearguard that can have trouble with pacy counter-attacks.

Roisin Upton: Will miss U18 interpros due to a foot injury.

Quins’ second string host Bandon straight after, with the proximity of games likely to give them a strong panel for the occasion.

Bandon have regressed somewhat since putting Quins firsts to the pin of their collar in the Peard Cup but will be buoyed psychologically by the point gained at the Mardyke, and will be particularly dangerous if Ali Smith and Andrew Scannell can shake off the injury concerns that kept them out of the frame against UCC.

The sole women’s tie involves the university sides, UCC and UL, as neither have players involved at the interpros. This fixture has been an easy three points for the Cork side in recent years, but that could all change tomorrow.

UL have thus far proven themselves far more resilient than last term, eking out five points from a possible nine in league action while only being denied in the Examiner Cup by a Cork C of I golden goal. And College are still coming to terms with bedding in a new-look side; in addition, they’ll hardly be enthralled by having to hit the road to Limerick, having been in Ulster the past two weekends.

Paidi Hartnett’s side will nonetheless start as favourites and have the greater quality throughout, but they will find out pretty quickly that the shackles need to be put on Laura and Steph Peters, South East interpro Jean Devoy and Elaine Breen to achieve the desired result.

EuroHockey League Rd 1, Antwerp, Belgium (Irish fixtures only)

Pool A fixtures (all Irish time): Reading vs Cookstown, 12pm today; Cookstown vs Amsterdam H&BC, 11am tomorrow; Amsterdam vs Reading, 11am, Sunday
Pool F fixtures: CA Montrouge vs Banbridge, 9.30am todat; UHC Hamburg vs CA Montrouge, 8.30am tomorrow; Banbridge vs UHC Hamburg, 8.30am Sunday.

Munster (all Saturday)

Men’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins v UCC (Farmers Cross, 12.30pm); Cork Harlequins B v Bandon (Farmer’s Cross, 2pm); Women’s Div 1: UL v UCC (UL, 3pm).

Girls Interpros, NICS, Stormont, Belfast: U16 girls fixtures here; U18 girls fixtures here.

Clodagh Moloney of Crescent is an obvious choice to lead the girls, given this is the Ireland U16 starlet’s third season representing her province at this level. Eimear Ryan and Laura Buttimer will provide ample back-up as vice-captains, and are joined by fellow returnee Edel Nyland.

Sinead James (Midleton College), Holly Redden (Villiers) and Niamh O’Donnell (Scoil Mhuire) could also potentially light up the tournament – which takes place on NICS’ sand-based pitch in Newtownards, Belfast – while Nicole Power has recently been exposed to top-level club hockey with Catholic Institute, alongside Moloney and Nyland.

While Sarah Gray takes the coaching reins for the U16 girls, elder brother Andrew is the man in charge of an U18 boys panel who will look to an experienced midfield to backbone their effort from November 18-20 at a Dublin venue to be confirmed.

Munster's U16 boys in a pre-game huddle at last year's interpros. Gary Wilkinson, David Whitaker and Richard Sweetnam are among those who have moved up to the U18s this term.

The side will be keen to bounce back from a tournament to forget last season, as injury ravaged the side’s top players amid a series of heavy defeats after a promising start.

Ashton’s Richard Lynch will skipper the side, and he is joined by fellow underage Irish internationals Scott Sullivan (Bandon Grammar) and Gary Wilkinson (Ashton) in the engine room. Sullivan is one of two vice-captains named, with school-mate Stuart Miller tasked with leading the side from the front.

Ireland U16′s Richard Sweetnam moves up for his first season at U18 level to anchor the defensive effort alongside the likes of Midleton College’s dangerous drag-flicker Andrew Colton and David Treacy, while Newtown’s Jamie Petch and Bandon Grammar’s Ben Scott offer some direct options up top. Just one goalkeeper – Midleton netminder Daniel Moore – is named in the squad.

MUNSTER u16 GIRLS 2011: Angel Axxon (GK, Midleton College/Cork Church of Ireland); Becky Danaher (Urselines Convent Thurles/Limerick); Bella Sherlock (Bandon Grammar); Clodagh Moloney (Crescent/Catholic Institute, captain); Edel Nyland (Urselines Convent Thurles/Catholic Institute); Eimear Ryan (Laurel Hill Colaiste/Catholic Institute, vice-captain); Emma Barber (Urselines Convent Blackrock/Cork Church of Ireland); Emma Rumley (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Holly Redden (Villiers/Catholic Institute); Kate Crotty (Urselines Convent Thurles); Kate Murphy (GK, Scoil Mhuire/Cork Church of Ireland); Laura Buttimer (Bandon Grammar/Bandon, vice-captain); Megan Mawhinney (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Michelle Barrett (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Niamh O’Donnell (Scoil Mhuire/Cork Harlequins); Nicole Power (Crescent/Catholic Institute); Rachel Foley (St Angela’s/Belvedere); Sinead James (Midleton College/Cork Church of Ireland). Non-travelling reserves: Kate Brosnahan (GK, Laurell Hill Secondary/Catholic Institute); Saoirse O’Leary (Bandon Grammar/Bandon), Sophie Lilburn (Villiers/Limerick) Manager: Sarah Jones; Coach: Sarah Gray; Assisstant Coach: Malcolm Coombes; GK Coach: David Wolfe.

MUNSTER U18 BOYS 2011: Daniel Moore (GK, Midleton College/Midleton); Richard Sweetnam (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Andrew Colton (Midleton College/Cork Church of Ireland); David Treacy (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Fred McElroy (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Alex Simonin (Midleton College/Midleton); Richard Lynch (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland, captain); Scott Sullivan (Bandon Grammar/Bandon, vice-captain); Gary Wilkinson (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Ben Scott (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Stuart Miller (Bandon Grammar/Cork Church of Ireland, vice-captain); Jamie Petch (Newtown); Nathan Eacrett (Villiers/Limerick); Sam Butler (Newtown/Waterford); Peter Daunt (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); David Whitaker (Ashton/Cork Church of Ireland); Ricky McMahon (Bandon Grammar/Belvedere); Marc Hornibrook (Midleton College/Midleton). Coach: Andrew Gray; Assistant Coaches: Graham Catchpole, Peter Catchpole; Manager: Alan Good.

Unsurprisingly, Egner has turned to the two youth Olympians in his squad – Catholic Institute midfielder Roisin Upton and Cork Harlequins left-back Antonia McGrath – to lead the side. Upton takes on the captaincy mantle, with McGrath deputising.

They are re-joined from last year’s squad by Quins schemer Leanne Mullins, C of I starlet Emma Dobson, Bandon’s Vicky Burns and Limerick HC’s Ciara Hayes.

Munster U18 coach David Egner issues instructions at half-time against Leinster during last yera's interpros. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Three of last year’s reserves – goalkeeper Ciara Randles, Rachel O’Hanlon and recent Quins recruit Elisa Buckley – are included in the main panel this time around. Randles is also the sole goalkeeper in the squad.

Just five players have stepped up from last year’s U16 squad; Ashton duo Kate Harvey and Shauna Fagan have blossomed into fine Division One players since then, while Acacia Taylor was already established as such at Quins. Alex O’Grady and Pamela Wolfe of C of I are the others to successfully make the jump.

The U18 girls interpros are this year hosted by Ulster, and will take place at NICS’ water-based pitch in Belfast from October 22/23.

MUNSTER U18 2011: Ciara Randles (GK, Scoil Mhuire/Ashton); Aisling O’Leary (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Kate Harvey (St Angela’s/Ashton); Vicky Burns (Bandon Grammar/Bandon); Alex O’Grady (Ashton Comp/Cork C of I); Antonia McGrath (Ursulines Thurles/Cork Harlequins, vice-captain); Roisin Upton (Crescent Comp/Catholic Institute, capt); Pamela Wolfe (Midleton College/Cork C of I); Louise Mills (Regina Mundi/Cork Harlequins); Leanne Mullins (Ashton Comp/Cork Harlequins); Shauna Fagan (Mount Mercy/Ashton); Acacia Taylor (Bandon Grammar/Cork Harlequins); Rachel O’Hanlon (Scoil Mhuire/Cork C of I); Emma Dobson (Scoil Muhire/Cork C of I); Ciara Sexton (Loreto Fermoy/Fermoy); Elisa Buckley (Mount Mercy/Cork Harlequins); Ciara Hayes (Laurel Hill Secondary/Limerick HC); Ciara O’Toole (Scoil Mhuire/Ashton).

Coach: David Egner; Assistant Coach: Mark Egner; Manager: Eleanor Flood; Assistant Manager: Maria Twomey; GK Coach/Video: Andrew Langford.

Having laid down this marker on Friday at Serpentine Avenue. Ger O’Carroll’s side could afford to draw against Leinster on Saturday before grinding out the necessary three points in their final match against Connacht yesterday 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, after Leinster had laid their stall out with a 4-0 victory over Connacht earlier in the afternoon.

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.

Ulster just about claimed the senior men’s competition, edging Leinster out on goal difference.

Leinster’s 4-1 victory over Munster was bettered by Ulster’s 7-2 demolition of the luckless Munster men, whose only scores came courtesy of John Jermyn.  This greater winning margin proved telling when the two teams cancelled each other out in a thrilling 3-3 draw yesterday afternoon.

Leinster conquered the junior men’s title, thrashing Ulster 5-0 in a winner-takes-all clash at Grange Road on Saturday.

Following the withdrawal of Connacht it was decided to play the tournament over one day. Having gone ahead through Alex Newenham’s brilliant diving finish amid an excellent first-half performance, Munster were undone by two penalty corners, losing 2-1 against Leinster in the morning game.

After only an hour’s rest, a fatigued Munster went down 4-0 to Ulster. They fell behind to a fortunate 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 100% record coming into yesterday’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 goals from Karen Clarke and Sarah Colgan.

For Munster, it was a tournament of missed opportunities. A strike from captain Sarah Gray wasn’t enough to prevent them losing 2-1 to Ulster on day one, before a Tara Powderly-inspired Leinster ran out 4-0 winners later on.

Some respite came as Lorraine McGowan netted the winner in a 1-0 defeat of Connacht, but a scoreless draw with South East meant they ended the tournament in fourth place.

Words by Ian Cusack; thanks to Pat Sargent, Adrian Boehm and Emer Keogh for pictures and updates throughout the weekend!

ESB Electric Ireland Interprovincials, Serpentine Avenue/Grange Road

Senior Men

Munster 1 (J Jermyn) Leinster 4 (D Carson, A Walker, D Keogh, P Blakeney);

Munster 2 (J Jermyn 2) Ulster 7 (M. Watt 2, T. Cockram 2, C. Cargo, G. McCabe);

Leinster 3 (Gary Shaw, S O’Donoghue, J Brennan) Ulster 3 (C Cargo, T Cockram 2).

Standings: 1 Ulster 4 pts (+5); 2 Leinster 4 pts (+3); 3 Munster 0 pts (-8)

Senior Women

Leinster 4 (S Dooley 2, H Jenkinson, K Dillon) Connacht 0;

Munster 5 (E Creagn 2, E Bromell, A O’Regan, N Carroll); Ulster 0;

Connacht 0 Ulster 6 (S Quinn 2, J Lynch, J Clarke, H McMillan, S Holdsworth);

Leinster 1 (K Dillon) Munster 1 (E Cregan);

Leinster 1 (N Keegan) Ulster 1 (R Kind).

Standings: 1 Munster 7 pts (+7); 2 Leinster 5 pts (+4); 3 Ulster 4 pts (+1); 4 Connacht 0 pts (-12).

Junior Men

Leinster 2 (C Cooney, S Wilkie) Munster 1 (A Newenham);

Ulster 4 (J Orr 2, C Bannister, S McMillon) Munster 0;

Leinster 5 (C Cooney, S Wilkie 2, D Wilson, B Cleere) Ulster 0.

Standings: 1 Leinster 6 pts (+6); 2 Ulster 3 pts (-1); 3 Munster 0 pts (-5).

Junior Women

Leinster 1 (B Orhoe) Connacht 0;

Ulster 2 (J McGrillen 2) Munster 1 (S Gray);

South East 1 (L Flemming) Connacht 2 (E Glanville, G Fagan);

Leinster 4 (K Clarke, O Smith, T Powderly, A Dalton) Munster 0;

Ulster 3 (R Montgomery, S Galbrith, W Bustard) South East 1 (M Lambert);

Munster 1 (L McGowan) Connacht 0;

Leinster 3 (E Hall, F O’Donovan, T 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).

Lynch is at the apex of a panel coached by Alan Dobson and Neil Welch that relies heavily on input from Cork Church of Ireland, who have eight players in the squad plus three more who are now plying their trade in Leinster.

Munster's Phil Smith moves in to challenge Graham Shaw of Leinster at last year's tournament. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Seasoned Ireland internationals John Jermyn and David Hobbs are joined by Philip Smith, David Harvey, Clinton Sweetnam, Alec Moffett and Lynch, while Andrew Daunt earns senior selection for the first time.

Bandon’s Ali Smith vice-captains the side and is joined by club-mate Aaron Beamish, while UCC also have a two-strong representation with Andy Gray returning for his second year at this level alongside debutant Fionn O’Leary. Peter Catchpole misses out due to injury, while Roger Gray is exam-tied.

John Hobbs and Darren Farrell of Cork Harlequins are also returnees, while the squad is boosted by the inclusion of four players from the Leinster league – Cork natives Ben Dobson (UCD), Jonny Bruton (YMCA) and Karl Lynch (Pembroke), as well as Railway Union netminder Stephen O’Keeffe.

Recently-crowned Leinster champions Glenanne make up the mainstays of the Leinsrer side; 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.

While Munster and Leinster have opted not to select their foreign-based players, Ulster have included a trio of Irish internationals among their 10-strong international contingent. Geoff McCabe and Mikey Watt return from Spain’s Santander, with Chris Cargo – fresh from making a big impression at the EHL with Reading – also back while Cork native Jason Lynch lines out for a third year with his adopted province.

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), Alistair 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

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

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

Following a call for suspension of standing orders at the beginning of the AGM of the Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association (MBIHA), outgoing chairperson of the management committee, Helen Lynch, outlined details of a five-month row between her committee and the branch’s fixtures committee.

The row centred on a points deduction handed to UCC LHC last November over fielding ineligible players in fixtures against Bandon and Belvedere. The club successfully appealed the initial sanction by getting a five-point deduction reduced to a one-point sanction, with a small fine.

However, a protracted disagreement between the two committees, largely kept in-house over recent months, finally boiled over last night. The Munster Branch management committee walked out of the meeting en masse, with president Pat Sargent telling the attendees: “If you want us as a Munster Branch, you can come and get us.”

The crux of the issue appeared to be the fixtures committee’s uncertainty over how to apply eligibility rules in lieu of the appeal, as well as the transparency of the appeals process, with the Irish Hockey Association also brought into the row in recent weeks.

Following representations by club members and fixtures committee members over a heated hour-long impromptu debate – chaired by former branch honorary secretary Finbarr Kelleher – those present agreed unanimously on a proposal from Ashton’s Mark Stockil to review the appeals process going forward and put any disagreements to bed.

The branch management committee subsequently accepted the invitation to resume the AGM, avoiding a potential armageddon regarding the governance of the sport.

To that end, many of the original MBIHA committee members were re-elected to their positions, including Pat Sargent and Helen Lynch, though a number of crucial positions remain vacant, with a couple of those who were new to branch commitments last year (2010/11) not seeking re-election.

The honorary treasurer’s report from Barry Scannell showed that while there was a surplus of €29,000, the upcoming interprovincial competitions would alter the final figure. He also highlighted a number of outstanding affiliation fees, and recommended that a tighter system for recording finances be put in place.

Regarding the motions which came before the AGM, the majority were deferred to the relevant incoming committees, including that which generated the debate, the proposal by the outgoing fixtures committee to reduce the men’s Division One to four teams.

A minute’s silence was held for Andy Chambers with Mr Kelleher paying tribute to the Cork C of I player/coach who died in such tragic circumstances during the season, while it was also agreed that affiliation fees will be unchanged for next season.

MBIHA Committee 2011/12

President: Pat Sargent; Vice-President: Vacant; Junior Vice-President: Alice Browne; Chairperson: Helen Lynch; Vice-chairperson: Vacant; Honorary Secretary: Mary Jane Kenefick; Honorary Treasurer: Barry Scannell; PRO: Vacant.

Men’s Fixtures Secretary: Alan Wolfe; Ladies Div 1/2 Fixtures Secretary: Sarah Jones; Div 3/4: Pamela Corcoran; Div 5/6: Ursula McGarry; Children’s Officer: Nicky Stokes; Coaching Committee: Andy Gray, David Egner, Liz Raleigh (chair TBC); Development and Marketing Committee: Dawn Grace (chair), Conor O’Kelly; Clubs Committee: Liz Kerr (chair), Ivy Dennis; MHUA rep: Julie Beamish.