'We're delighted with how we've started the season' - Limerick Huskies Head Coach Patrick O' Regan

LIMERICK Sport Huskies Head Coach Patrick O'Regan says he is 'delighted' with how his side have started the Domino's Women's Division One season.

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"We're delighted with how we've started the season. We have a great squad with two excellent new coaching additions in Seamus Woods and Seamus O'Connell who have been immense.

"We have two fantastic professionals in Shelby Harmeyer and Clara Gomez and our Irish contingent are playing really well at the moment. There's nothing between the teams, it's the most competitive league in a long time and we're very lucky to have the likes of Orlaith Woods who has been around the league for a very long time."

Kerry native O'Regan says that the Irish contingent within the squad have 'stood up' in a season where a rule change significantly impacts the use of Irish players within the league.

"All of our Irish players have stood up on so many occasions this year but look there are no cups or leagues handed out at this time of year. For us, it's just about trying to be a sustainable club and taking it game by game. 

"A big difference in the league this year is, it has become a one American per team league. Every team's Irish contingent have to stand up this year and it's about getting the most out of your Irish players. Our Irish have been working so hard since pre-season and that hard work has gotten us to where we are now.

"A lot of teams in the league have a strong Irish cohort this year and this season probably has been the strongest in terms of the quality of Irish players which is really good to see. "

As well as a strong start to the league campaign, the Huskies are preparing for a Domino's Division One Cup semi-final next month against Dublin's Moy Tolka Rovers. 

The Huskies earned their place in the final four after a resounding victory over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions. 

"We played really well in that game vs the Lions and we're looking forward to January and that game vs Tolka. In the cup, anything can happen so we're not going to lose the run of ourselves and try to take it game by game.

"We've played Tolka already this season and we managed to come away with the win but they have improved immensely since then. They certainly will be no push-overs but we've also improved since then but then again it's the magic of the cup."

O'Regan and his team are relishing the chance at a potential cup final appearance but is wary of the threat cup competitions can pose. 

"Anything can happen, there's a different atmosphere in and around cup games and league form goes out the window. We'll be cautious of them, they'll be cautious of us so we'll see what happens. If we can control our rebounds and set the pace on the defensive end, it should be a great game.

"Cup games are weird ones to prepare for because you're trying not to leave any stone unturned and you're going to have some sleepless nights thinking about opposition tactics and things but again, it's just the atmosphere on the day. There will be nerves on the day of course but if we keep doing what we're doing, we will have a great chance."

The Limerick Sport Huskies will face Moy Tolka Rovers the weekend of January 2/3/4 with Templeogue taking on Cleveland Rockets in the other semi-final.