Irish men headline a hectic hockey weekend

One of the busiest weekends in the Irish hockey calendar kicks off today with action at international, interprovincial and club level. Ireland’s men begin life after Paul Revington with new man Andrew Meredith, an assistant coach to two-time Olympic gold medallists Germany, taking the reins for the Champions Challenge I in Quilmes, Argentina. Having run the rule over some of his squad at a week-long camp in Amsterdam, Germany-based Meredith has stuck with a tried and tested selection here, with 16 of his 18 players involved in March’s failed Olympic qualification bid.

Shane O’Donoghue (UCD) and Bruce McCandless (Banbridge) profit from the ongoing unavailability of Ian Sloan and David Ames as Ireland take on hosts Argentina tomorrow night (10.30pm Irish time). A 5-1 friendly win over Los Pumas in midweek should be a boost to Ireland’s confidence as they bid to repay the faith of the Irish hockey public, who donated €60,000 in just four days to allow the cash-strapped national association to send the side to Argentina. Ireland will then meet Japan on Sunday before finishing off their group stage against South Africa ahead of next week’s crossover games. Back home, it’s Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Senior Cup weekend with a number of titanic second round ties in prospect. Catholic Institute have a bone to pick with Pegasus at Rosbrien after the Belfast girls won a tight Irish Hockey League clash in Limerick last season, while Leinster’s top two, Railway Union and Loreto, lock horns at Grange Road. Holders UCD put their title on the line at Milltown against an Old Alex side who will be out to reverse last weekend’s 2-1 league defeat to the students, while UCC host Trinity College in a clash that the Mardyke hosts hope will be a repeat of their 6-0 intervarsities victory at the same venue. Round two of the Irish Hockey Trophy sees the half of Munster’s entrants blessed with a home draw as Bandon, Ashton and Cork C of I host Three Rock Ladies, Belfast Harlequins and Waterford respectively. Hitting the road are UL (away to Suttonians), Limerick (YMCA) and Fermoy (Greenfields). Elsewhere, the boys U16 and U18 interpros are being held in Garryduff, Cork this weekend; please see here for a separate preview. Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Senior Cup Rd 2: Pembroke Wanderers v Corinthian, Serpentine Avenue, 12.30pm; Catholic Institute v Pegasus, Rosbrien, 12.30pm; Old Alex v UCD, Milltown, 1.30pm; Armagh v Hermes, Ardmore LC, 2.30pm, Ards v Ulster Elks, Ards LC, 2.30pm; Ballymoney v North Kildare, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30pm; Loreto v Railway Union, Grange Road, 2.45pm; UCC v Trinity, Mardyke, 3pm. Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 2: Bray v Raphoe, Bray, 12.45pm; NUIG v Our Lady;s, Dangan, 1pm; NICS v Genesis, Stormont, 1pm; Muckross v Clontarf, Teresians, 1pm; Cookstown v Omagh, Coolnafrankt, 1pm; Botanic v Dromore, Holy Faith Glasnevin, 1pm;  Bandon v Three Rock Ladies, Bandon Grammar, 1pm; Ashton v Belfast Harlequins, Ashton, 1pm; Cork C of I v Waterford, Garryduff, 1.15pm; YMCA v Limerick, Milltown, 1pm; Avoca v Weston, Newpark, 2.15pm; Suttonians v UL, Sutton Park, 2.30pm; Lisnagarvey v Ballymena, Comber Road, 2.30pm; Grovesnor v Galway, CIYMS, 2.30pm; Ballyclare v Rathgar, Ballycalre, 2.30pm; Greenfields v Fermoy, Dangan, 3pm. Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 2: Kilkenny v Suttonians, Kilkenny College, 1pm; Armagh v Campbellians, Ardmore LC, 2.30pm; Dublin University v Weston, Grange Road; Portadown v Bangor, Portadown; Queens University v Newry, QUB; Spouth Antrim v Rathgar Chiefs, Laurelhill, 2.30pm.