News in brief

BRANCH POSITIONS: The Munster Branch has re-iterated a call made at May’s AGM for some vital positions on its 2009/10 committee to be filled. There are still a number of positions yet to be filled, including the roles of fixtures secretary for the ladies’ Divisions Three and Four, ladies registrar and development and marketing personnel, as well as the clubs’ committee, which is short three members.

A number of coaching positions also remain available: the Munster senior ladies require a coach and a manager, as do the U21 men and women, while managers are required for the senior men, plus junior men and junior ladies. MUNSTER U18 TRIAL: The final trial session for this season’s Munster U18 girls side will take place this Saturday, August 29, at Harlequin Park from 5-9pm. Coach David Egner has indicated that of the 27 players left in contention, 18 will make the final cut. Those unable to attend this session will be assessed on their performances at previous trials. With just five weeks remaining after this session until the interpro tournament at Grange Road in Dublin (October 3-4), Egner and his coaching team have prepared a four-week programme that will feature four training sessions and five games, against Bandon, Avoca, Cork Harlequins plus the Munster U16 girls and boys’ sides. Players to attend Munster U18 trial: Kate O’Sullivan (GK), Jennifer Murphy, Orla Hickey, Sinead Cremin, Julie Cronin, Susan Peters (GK), Stephaine Peters, Tanya Powell (GK), Stephaine Shine, Elaine Donnolly Murphy (GK), Jess Kingston, Nicola Kerr, Emily Reidy, Claire Casey, Rebecca Barry, Katie Campbell, Naomi Carroll, Julie Coyne, Edel Coyne, Nicole Laarhoven, Lauragh O’Neill, Emily O’Leary, Sarah Sullivan, Amy-Kate Trevor, Elsbeth Wolfe (GK), Yvonne O’Byrne, Edwina McGrath. AUTOPASS: The Munster Hockey Umpires Association (MHUA) has announced it will hold a seminar next week to discuss the new autopass rule, which comes into effect at all levels of hockey next Tuesday. The seminar, designed for all those involved in umpiring, will take place at 7.30pm at Garryduff Sports Centre in Cork on Wednesday September 2, and will provide a general update on rule interpretation and game management. VETS HOCKEY: Cork Harlequins will host their annual veterans festival this weekend, with the usual mixture of sociability on and off the pitch expected at Harlequin Park. The festival will get underway on Friday night with a clubhouse disco, with matches getting underway on 10am on Saturday. These will be followed by a fancy dress dinner at 7.30pm, and more dancing, with the hockey getting underway against at 10am Sunday.