Women's weekend preview

Both men's and women's Leinster Senior leagues get under way tomorrow after seismic changes in the transfer market.

The women's side would seem to offer the most interesting match-ups given a crazy summer with big moves across the board. Bray play their first ever senior league game since their inception in 1992 but will not want for talent and could well be involved in the race for IHL places come the end of the season.

Added to Irish internationals Linda O'Neill and Catherine Murray, Mary Goode, Elaine Brommell and Stephanie Hall -all from Pembroke - have been added with Loreto's Sarah Scott joining as a player-coach and Roy Horsefield taking overall charge.

They are due to get their season underway on Saturday (1.15pm) against Glenanne though the match may be moved following the passing of Pat McGinley. The Glens started with a surprise win over Pembroke last week in the cup and have brought in Nikki Daly from Diocesan and Valerie Sexton from Corinthian.

Pembroke - who have added Orla Ryan - will see how their squad measures up against Loreto (2pm). In addition to the three moves to Pembroke, Emer Harte will move to England to study for the season.

Loreto, meanwhile, start the season under new management with Orla Bell taking the reigns. She replaces Guy Garrett who brought the club to within just a few minutes of Club Championship glory last season.

Hermes look in great shape for the season with a couple of notable additions. Irish international Christine Quinlan returns from UCD, as does Sarah Jenkinson. U-16 international Deirdre Duke comes in from Three Rock while the young quartet Sarah Greene, Chloe Watkins, Gillian Pinder and Niamh Atchelor are available for their first full season.

Jill Hodgins will be away until January but Jenny Burke returns in October. Up front, though, Liz McInerney will be a big loss, going to UCD while Liane Costello moves to Old Alex.

Their tie with Railway Union (2pm) is likely to be the most high quality tie as the top two from last season. Railway, however, are without Emma Smyth and Kate Dillon - still on holidays - while last season's skipper Kathy Kenefick is travelling and Sinead Dooley will take no part in the season due to a cruciate ligament injury, sustained playing gaelic football.

Mick McKinnon's squad could be augmented, though, by Lizzie Colvin who will soon start in Trinty College with the University and Railway both hoping for the player's services.

The fourth match of the weekend sees Old Alex and Corinthian (1.15pm) hoping to break into the top five from thei mid-table perches. Alex have Liane Costello back in the fold while a number who missed last season will return after pregnancy. Zanya Dahl, however, does not look likely to figure due to injury.

Corinthian, meanwhile, have lost a couple of key players with Ali Meeke moving to Loreto, Irish U-18 goalkeeper Stella Davis going to UCD as has Leinster U-18 Leigh Pelow.

The two university sides, meanwhile, have the weekend off with both, once again, suffering overhauls. Apart from Quinlan, Pamela Smithwick, Fyona and Roisin Flynn are away for the first part of the season. Liz McInerney is a strong addition while Julie Garvey comes in from Three Rock and Irish U-18 Laura Wilson arrives from Belfast Harlequins.

Trinity, meanwhile, are still a few day away from freshers' week but will definitely be without Ciara Murphy, who will play in Belgium this season while it is unclear whether last year's captain Rebecca Murphy will be available in the longer term, if at all.