Structures need changing

MEN'S HOCKEY: With a Strategic Implementation Group meeting being held this Sunday as well as an Irish Hockey Association (IHA…

MEN'S HOCKEY: With a Strategic Implementation Group meeting being held this Sunday as well as an Irish Hockey Association (IHA) get together, the winds of change in the sport's structure here may be picking up.

There are no clear signals anything dramatic is about to happen, but Munster's withdrawal from the preliminary round of the interprovincial series last week was as much a declaration of their disaffection and feeling of isolation as it was a recognition of their struggle to provide coaches in the province. One limb of the IHA is crying for help and waiting to see what the parent body will do.

Indeed, last February the Munster branch presented an Irish Hockey League proposal to the IHA. Recognising that Ireland are perhaps the only serious European federation still running their leagues on a provincial basis, Munster put forward a series of suggestions that merit serious discussion.

Their main argument is that there should be a structure in place that gives the top clubs regular and credible matches at a low cost. This is not happening now in Munster or Leinster.

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It suggests that 10 teams would contest a new league: two from Munster and four each from Leinster and Ulster. This would be reviewed regularly.

Its aspiration is to raise the profile of hockey in Ireland and provide the media with a island-wide competition that would be of interest throughout the season, and one in which underage games could be arranged in conjunction with the main event.

If anything came out of the European Championships in Barcelona, it is that Ireland remain stuck in the second division of European hockey. Perhaps we're comfortable with that, watching World Cups and Olympics sail past.

LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE - Division One: Dublin University v TRR postponed; Glenanne v Corinthians 2.30 St Mark's; Pembroke Wanderers v Aer Lingus 12.30 Serpentine Ave; YMCA v Railway Union 2.0 Wesley College. Division Two: Weston v Clontarf 2.0 King's Hospital; Skerries v Portrane 1.0 College of Surgeons; St Brendan's v St James' Gate, Ivy Grounds 2.0; Suttonians v Naas 12.0 Sutton Park; Bray v Avoca 1.0 Bray.

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times