Railway on track for Institute centenary

Last season’s women’s Irish Hockey League winners Railway Union and fellow Dublin kingpins Hermes are Limerick-bound this weekend for a pre-season tournament with a difference, as part of Catholic Institute’s centenary celebrations.

A number of senior and underage internationals are set to be on show for the novel four-team, one-day tournament at Rosbrien this Sunday September 12th, with UCC completing the all-IHL lineup. All four sides have promised to travel with full squads, meaning Limerick hockey fans may get a rare glimpse of the likes of Railway’s prolific Irish internationals Emma Smyth, Nikki Evans and Jean McDonnell, while Hermes bring internationals past and present in Jenny Burke and Anna O’Flanagan. Institute of course aren’t short on international experience themselves, and welcome back Roisin Upton and Rebecca Barry after their exploits at the U17 Youth Olympics in Singapore, joining the likes of Elaine Bromell, Eimear Cregan and Naomi Carroll in the hosts’ line-up. The games should provide the host club with a taster of what is to come for them, as they head into their maiden Irish Hockey League campaign. Admission is free to all games, with the action beginning at 10am. Catholic Institute Centenary Ladies’ Pre-Season Tournament, Rosbrien (Sunday) 10am: Catholic Institute v Hermes 11.30am: Railway Union v UCC 2pm: Catholic Institute v Railway Union 3.30pm: UCC v Hermes 5.30pm: Hermes v Railway Union 7pm: Catholic Institute v UCC