Club hockey for U21 players will make a welcome return to the Munster calendar next week as a new one-day tournament gets underway at Garryduff.
Pioneered by Munster Branch PRO and Southern Fried Hockey co-owner Andrew Gray, the U21 Munster Club Championships will be held across two pitches at the Rochestown venue on Saturday December 28.
It brings U21 hockey back into the festive period; previously, men’s clubs battled it out for the David Kidney Memorial Trophy at this level around Christmas time, but that has not been played for since Cork C of I won it in 2008.
Clubs were invited to participate in a men’s and women’s tournament and encouraged to amalgamate to form regional teams if necessary, as the competition falls outside the regular Munster season.
Six men’s teams – hosts C of I, Ashton, Limerick, UCC, Bandon and an “East Munster” team, comprised of Waterford, Midleton and Kilkenny members, have signed up, while the trio, Bandon, Limerick and Ashton – plus one more team to be confirmed – will contest the women’s competition.
A nine-a-side format should see plenty of open, attacking hockey in the increased space amid shortened games; the tournament structure is due to be finalised this week, with entries having closed on Wednesday.
Kukri and Southern Fried Hockey are on board to sponsor individual prizes but Gray stressed yesterday that the competition is also seeking a title sponsor.
“I believe it will be a great success,” Gray said this week. “There’s already a huge buzz about the tournament, and plenty of players have been asking me about it, and whether it can be done for other age groups in the future too.”
Meanwhile, there are just a handful of Munster league games down for decision this weekend as the Christmas break begins for the majority of clubs.
Women’s title holders Cork Harlequins will go toe-to-toe with Ashton, both sides in need of the gametime after their respective league games were washed out last weekend. Quins will begin as heavy favourites, particularly as Ashton are without influential markswoman Caroline McCarthy through injury.
Catholic Institute took on Limerick under lights at Laurel Hill Coláiste last night, earning a repeat of their 5-0 victory earlier in the season. Naomi Carroll nabbed two with Christine O’Shea, Eimear Ryan and Emma Sherlock sharing the rest of the goals.
The sole top tier men’s game sees Cork Harlequins and UCC meet for the third time this season at Farmer’s Cross. Quins will be pumped for this one after College first rescued a 2-2 draw late on in a league encounter before winning a scrappy Peard Cup semi-final 2-1.
Clubs were invited to participate in a men’s and women’s tournament and encouraged to amalgamate to form regional teams if necessary, as the competition falls outside the regular Munster season.
Six men’s teams – hosts C of I, Ashton, Limerick, UCC, Bandon and an “East Munster” team, comprised of Waterford, Midleton and Kilkenny members, have signed up, while the trio, Bandon, Limerick and Ashton – plus one more team to be confirmed – will contest the women’s competition.
A nine-a-side format should see plenty of open, attacking hockey in the increased space amid shortened games; the tournament structure is due to be finalised this week, with entries having closed on Wednesday.
Kukri and Southern Fried Hockey are on board to sponsor individual prizes but Gray stressed yesterday that the competition is also seeking a title sponsor.
“I believe it will be a great success,” Gray said this week. “There’s already a huge buzz about the tournament, and plenty of players have been asking me about it, and whether it can be done for other age groups in the future too.”
Meanwhile, there are just a handful of Munster league games down for decision this weekend as the Christmas break begins for the majority of clubs.
Women’s title holders Cork Harlequins will go toe-to-toe with Ashton, both sides in need of the gametime after their respective league games were washed out last weekend. Quins will begin as heavy favourites, particularly as Ashton are without influential markswoman Caroline McCarthy through injury.
Catholic Institute took on Limerick under lights at Laurel Hill Coláiste last night, earning a repeat of their 5-0 victory earlier in the season. Naomi Carroll nabbed two with Christine O’Shea, Eimear Ryan and Emma Sherlock sharing the rest of the goals.
The sole top tier men’s game sees Cork Harlequins and UCC meet for the third time this season at Farmer’s Cross. Quins will be pumped for this one after College first rescued a 2-2 draw late on in a league encounter before winning a scrappy Peard Cup semi-final 2-1.