West’s awake to new IHL possibilities

Connacht Hockey president Yvette Quinn has hailed the move to hand the province a first ever entry into the women’s Irish Hockey League as “recognition of the improving standard in the west”. It came following a change in rules of the club scene’s premier competition for the 2013/14 season with the Connacht league champions automatically qualifying for the IHL rather than going into the wildcard playoffs.

It means that the make-up of the competition is tweaked to see the top four in both Ulster and Leinster qualify directly from their domestic leagues along with the top two from Munster and Connacht’s entrant, leaving just one place available in the wildcard qualifier. One club from the four provinces will go into this winner-takes-all wildcard competition. Commenting on the change, Quinn said: “We’re delighted; coupled with investment in facilities, it gives us the chance to attract more sponsorship and keep players playing hockey locally and competing with other sports.” The IHL schedule is currently being revised following calendar changes announced this week, a knock-on effect of the FIH’s decision to move World League round two tournament’s from March forward to February. The new calendar does not feature any further changes prior to Christmas but the Irish Senior Cup finals weekend has been moved to March 23/24. The IHL will now take place entirely after Easter for both the men and women in a back-ended, pooled-venue arrangement as agreed by the clubs at the IHL Forum last March. Meanwhile, Catholic Institute will be champing at the bit to get back into action as they hit the road for a visit to Ashton (12.30pm) in one of three women’s Division One games this weekend. Insta hit 11 past Bandon without reply on week one but have been idle for the past two weekends, partially a result of having an uneven number of teams in the top tier. Ashton have mixed the good with the bad so far, a solid win over UL sandwiched by comprehensive defeats to Quins and UCC, but this is likely to be a bit of a damage limitation exercise; shutting down Christine O’Shea, especially if they reprises her new central midfield role, will be first on their agenda. Meanwhile, Limerick will hope to rediscover some of their early-season momentum and halt that of Cork Harlequins in the process as they make a first visit to Farmer’s Cross in a Division One game. The task ahead of John Meyler’s girls is a daunting one though, with their hosts having hit 22 goals in their opening three games, with defenders Cliodhna Sargent and Yvonne O’Byrne proving particularly deadly from short corner raids. The weekend’s other tie has tons of intrigue with Cork Church of Ireland visiting UCC (2.30pm). It’s not so long ago that the Garryduff girls specialised in frustrating College at the Mardyke and the return of some of the protagonists of that end-of-noughties era to the side leaves them well-placed to do so again. Mel Ryan returned from London in midweek to add even more depth to their ranks. UCC have their tails up, though, after three wins from three with 12 goals scored and just one conceded and won’t be a pushover. A majority of their side learned their trade at C of I and will relish the chance to put the skids on their former club’s progress. Women’s Munster Div 1: Ashton v Catholic Institute, Ashton School, 12.30pm; UCC v Cork Church of Ireland, Mardyke, 2.30pm.