MEN'S HOCKEY:THE APPEAL by Annadale that their abandoned match against Cookstown, which they were leading 4-1, should not be replayed in its entirety has fallen on deaf ears. It's a decision that could have implications for all of those clubs taking part in the Irish Hockey League.
The IHL game was heard by the IHA Appeal Commission on December 22nd, 2008, and this week they decided that when abandoned matches cannot be resumed the same day then they should be rescheduled in their entirety.
The commission received both written and oral submissions from representatives of the IHL Administration Committee and Annadale HC before the IHL upheld their original decision for the following reasons.
1. Both team managers signed the match report form on the 29th November 2008 accepting the match had been abandoned.
2. The IHL Committee did not refer to the match being “interrupted” as defined in Guideline 2.1 of the IHL notes. However, the intent was to address the matter based on the match report form received, which indicated “match abandoned”.
3.The interpretation of Guideline 2.1 by the Appeal Commission is that rearrangement, when impossible to resume on the same day, indicates the match be rescheduled in its entirety.
So natural justice IHL style is that if a club is winning a match 6-0 and a snow storm arrives in the third quarter forcing players off the pitch then the replayed match will start from scratch – provided a form is signed “match abandoned”.
No doubt there are rules governing the Irish Senior Cup, which begins its first round this weekend. Given the snow on the mountains, what is the likelihood of a match being abandoned again? But The IHL is not the ISC and the rules governing both competitions are probably different. With nine matches scheduled to take place on Saturday, three of those up north and one in Kilkenny, it could it be a case again of lawyers at the ready.
IRISH SENIOR CUP
Round One:YMCA v Pembroke, 1.30 Claremont Road; Kilkenny v Three Rock Rovers, 2.00 Kilkenny; Fingal v Bandon, 1.30 ALSAA; Glenanne v Suttonians/Catholic Inst., 3.00 Glenanne Park; Monkstown v Cookstown, 1.30 Rathdown; Instonians v Cork Harlequins, 1.00 Shawsbridge; Raphoe v Banbridge, 1.00 Royal and Prior; Antrim v Cork C of I, 1.00 Antrim; UCD v Bangor, TBC UCD. Second round byes: Lisnagarvey, Corinthians, Mossley, Annadale, Railway Union, NICS, North Down.
