Munster sides go for interpro glory

Munster’s U18 and U16 boys head to this season’s interpros in Dublin today, hopeful of banishing the memories of some heavy defeats at last year’s tournaments. 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.

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.