The second annual Masters Interpros will be held this weekend in Three Rock Rovers.
The Masters’ scene continues to grow and the tournament this weekend will see 12 mens teams and six ladies teams taking part in a schedule of 30 competitive matches. The tournament kicks off on Friday evening at 7.15pm, plays all day Saturday and finishes up on Sunday at 4.30pm.
On the men’s side, the O-40s section see Munster competing against Ulster and Leinster. In the O-45s age group, Connacht and the Exiles are competing for the first time along with Ulster and Munster.
The men’s O-50s and the new category, the mens O-55s sees Leinster, Ulster and a combined Munster/Exiles team compete in both these sections. Selection will be made for the Home Nations Masters in Wakefield, England on June 28-30 where Ireland intend to send teams at O-40, O-45, O-50 and O-55 levels.
Munster Masters O45 captain Dara Crowe in action at last year’s interpros in Lisnagarvey.
On the ladies side, the numbers competing have more than doubled with Connacht and Munster entering teams for the first time. The O-40s section see Leinster compete against Ulster and Connacht, while the O-45s comprise Leinster, Ulster and Munster.
The Irish Masters’ coaches Ben Epstein, Stu Malcolm and Ross Canning, along with provincial selectors, will be selecting players for three Irish Masters teams at O-40s, O-45s and O-50s levels to compete in the Home Nations. This year the Home Nations (Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales) is being hosted in Dublin at the Pembroke, Railway and UCD hockey grounds from June 14-16.
The Munster ladies team combines Masters experience with ‘relative’ youth and some ex-international experience. Last year Joan Dobson, Cathy Walsh and Dymphna Hill all competed with the Irish Masters O40s and O50s teams, most notably in the Masters World Cup in Canterbury, England. They are joined by ex-international goalkeeper Mary Kiely.
The Munster men’s team has seen a significant increase in player numbers, with 32 travelling despite losing five players to the new Connacht and Exiles teams.
They warmed up with games against UCC 2nds and the Munster Junior men’s team and can count on the know-how of former internationals such as Ger Burns (Bandon), Ivan and Alan Bateman (Cork Harlequins) and Robbie Ryan (Limerick) plus a current Division 1 goalkeeper in UCC’s Kieran Healy.
Munster Ladies Masters: Louise O’Mullane (Cork Wanderers), Joan Dobson, Cathy Walsh, Dymphna Hill (Cork C of I), Tracy Kingston, Siobhan Strike, Judy Judge, Mary Kiely, Maura Haran (Waterford), Noreen Dalygillis (Wanders), Jacqui Freyne (Clonmel), Gerardine Boland (Clonmel), Karen Harris (Waterford), Dawn Grace (Clonmel), Helen Costello, Kathy Shaw.
The Munster Masters short corner unit in action at last year’s interpros.
Munster Mens Masters: Stuart Egner (Cork Harlequins), Dave Coulter (manager), Ivan Coombes (Cork C of I), Seward Lynch (Cork C of I), Ollie O’Connor (Catholic Institute), Tom O’Halloran (Ashton), Niall O’Byrne (GK, Catholic Institute), Ger Burns (Bandon), Mark Stockil (Ashton), Dara Crowe (Catholic Institute, O45 captain), Donal Holland (Cork Harlequins), Kevin O’Leary (Ashton), Paul Kingston (Bandon), Neil Welch (Cork C of I), Brian Hayden (Cork C of I), Ken Hurley (Belvedere), Keith McKeown (Cork C of I), Ashley Smyth (Bandon), Andrew Sullivan (Cork Harlequins), Ivan Bateman (Cork Harlequins), Robbie Ryan (Limerick), John Wallace (Catholic Institute), Harry Russell (Cork Harlequins), Allen Wilson (Cork C of I), Ivan Moore (Catholic Institute), Alan Bateman (Cork Harlequins), Conor O’Kelly (UCC), John Geary (Catholic Institute), Peter Creighton (Cork C of I), Nigel Packham (Ashton), Keith Banks (Ashton), Kieran Healy (GK, UCC, O40s captain)
Tournament schedule (all at Grange Road)Friday
Front pitch: Leinster ladies O-40s vs Ulster, 7.15pm Leinster men’s O-40s vs Ulster 8.30pm
Back pitch: Leinster Women’s O-45s vs Ulster, 7.15pm
Pasta and social event: clubhouse
Saturday
Front pitch: Connacht men’s O-45s vs Munster, 9am; Leinster men’s O-55s vs Ulster, 10.15am; Leinster men’s O-50s vs Ulster, 11.30am; Ulster men’s O-45s vs ExPats, 12.45pm; Ulster men’s O-55s vs Munster/Exiles, 3pm; Leinster men’s O-40s vs Munster, 3.15pm; Connacht men’s O-45s vs ExPats, 4.30pm; Munster/Exiles O-50s vs Leinster, 5.45pm
Back pitch: Leinster ladies O-40s vs Connacht, 9am; Leinster ladies O-45s vs Munster, 10.15am; Munster men O-40s vs Ulster, 11.30am; Ulster ladies O-40s vs Connacht, 12.45pm; Ulster ladies O-45s vs Munster, 2pm; Munster men’s O-45s vs Ulster, 3.15pm; Ulster ladies O-40s vs Leinster, 4.30pm; Ulster ladies O-45s vs Leinster, 5.45pm
Tournament supper: 7.30pm (clubhouse)
Sunday
Front pitch: Connacht ladies O-40s vs Ulster, 9am; Munster ladies O-45s vs Ulster, 10.15am; Connacht men’s O-45s vs Ulster, 11.30am; Connacht ladies O-40s vs Leinster, 12.45pm; Leinster ladies O-45s vs Munster, 2pm; Ulster men’s O-40s vs Leinster, 3.15pm
Back pitch: Ulster men’s O-40s vs Munster, 9am; Munster men’s O-45s vs Expats, 10.15am; Ulster men’s O-50s vs Munster/Exiles, 11.30am; Munster men’s O-40s vs Leinster, 12.45pm; Munster/Exiles O-55s vs Leinster, 2pm; Ulster men’s O-45s vs Ulster O-50s (friendly), 3.15pm
Prize-giving: 4.30pm
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