Munster clubs asked to dig deep for volunteers

Munster’s hockey clubs have been asked to dig deep to find new volunteers to run the sport after the province’s AGM could not be completed due to a lack of forthcoming nominations for its management committee. Just three of the Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association’s (MBIHA) officers are returning for the 2013/14 season, with a number of vital volunteer roles ranging from president to secretary to treasurer currently vacant. Outgoing president Conor O’Kelly therefore suspended the meeting at Harlequin Park, asking clubs to return with nominations for the various positions. In a circular to clubs, O’Kelly stated: “The branch has operated at below its full potential for some time due to the overload on officers caused by the shared workload of unfilled roles.  A line has been drawn, and the AGM should not be completed until these roles are filled to the satisfaction of the members. “It’s unfortunate and inconvenient and I apologise for the impact on those present, who I know are amongst the hardest working and dedicated within their clubs.  I hope they and others will receive the support they require and that our sport will bring forth many more volunteers to continue the workings of the Branch that has a proud history going back over 100 years.” The AGM will resume at 3pm on Sunday May 12th at the Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown.

Meanwhile, all four Munster sides’ Irish Hockey League semi-final qualification hopes have been dashed but they will be looking to end on a high as they return to the province after a couple of weekends on the road. The double-header at Rosbrien sees Catholic Institute meet Pegasus with Cork Harlequins taking on Old Alex. Both Munster sides are bidding to avoid the wooden spoon against teams who need to win to keep their semi-final charge on course. The men’s contests see both Munster teams at Harlequin Park, but both are dead rubbers. Cork C of I take on Railway Union while Cork Harlequins will hope to welcome back David Egner as he continues his recovery after illness as they meet Instonians. Meanwhile, the junior interpros make a return after being absent from the calendar in 2012, with four men’s and five women’s sides battling it out for supremacy at Three Rock Rovers this weekend. The inclusion of three Waterford players, including vice-captain David Quinn, gives the Munster men’s squad a more representative look about it, expanding from the usual Cork-Limerick enclaves. There’s also a distinctly African flavour to the panel with the inclusion of Kenyan attacker Felix Opola, currently studying in UCC, and Zimbabwean midfielder Alistair Macleod (Waterford), a housemaster in Newtown School. Cork Harlequins’ Mark Egner will skipper the side in his Munster hockey swansong before he departs for America to take up a full-time coaching role. “The squad is very excited and preparations have gone according to plan,” coach John Meyler told hockey.ie “Both the men’s and ladies teams came together this year for their preparations and will be supporting each other as one team this year in Dublin, coaches and management approached this tournament as one big squad keeping it serious yet social and this seems to be paying off.” The women’s panel sees a strong representation from Blackrock after their first year competing in Munster; four players including vice-captain Marie O’Mahony make the cut. The side is backboned by the Treaty City clubs with five from Limerick and three from Catholic Institute, while Cork Church of Ireland’s Lisa Buttimer dons the skipper’s armband. Coach Graham Catchpole said: “We only have 1 survivor from the squad when the tournament was last run in 2011 and as a result this will be the first taste of an Interprovincial tournament for majority of the squad. ” We have had a few late call ups due to injury but we are all fit and ready for the weekend. Lisa Tracey will captain the squad having had a very strong season for her club C of I. We are all looking forward to a great tournament.” MUNSTER Junior Squads for 2013 Interpros, Three Rock Rovers Women: Anne Marie Byrne (GK, Limerick), Sarah O’Flanagan (Blackrock), Barbara Deane (Limerick), Laura Hogan (Blackrock), Emily Brownlow (UCC), Shelley Forde (Catholic Institute), Lisa Buttimer (Cork C of I, captain), Kate Burke (Ashton), Rosie Pratt (Catholic Institute), Marie O’Mahony (Blackrock, vice-captain), Lorraine McGowan (Limerick), Kealan O’Keeffe (Ashton), Jessica Ottman (Fermoy), Louise McSorley (Catholic Institute), Elaine Meyler (Limerick), Valerie Banks (Blackrock), Sandra Hedigan (Limerick). Men: Tristan Murphy (GK, Catholic Institute), Mark Holland (Whitchurch, Wales), Aamir Khan (Limerick), Nigel Bateman (UCC), Damian Buttimer (UCC), Alistair MacLeod (Waterford), David Quinn (Waterford, vice-captain), Cathal Duggan (Catholic Institute), Simon Brickenden (Catholic Institute), Eric Callender (Catholic Institute), Mark Egner (Cork Harlequins, captain), Felix Opola (UCC), Tom Clarke (Limerick), Brian Egan (UCC), Gavin Jeffery (Cork C of I), Stuart Greene (Waterford), Alan Good (UCC). Coaching/Management Team: John Meyler, Graham Catchpole, Lorraine McGowan, Alan Good, Tristan Murphy, Grant Sweetnam.