Blow for Munster hockey as two ladies clubs fold

Ladies hockey in Munster was dealt a blow last night with the news that two women’s clubs have informed the Munster Branch of their intention to fold, while another will field one less team this term. Moyne/Thurles and Midleton have decided not to field teams this year due to lack of player numbers, while Ashton have opted to drop their Division Six side. The former duo’s plight highlights the fragility of attempting to keep rural clubs with a single team going. Two seasons ago, Moyne/Thurles had just won the May Costley Cup (now the Irish Challenge) for the second year running, and finished second behind Catholic Institute in Division Two.

However, they endured a miserable season last time out, finishing bottom of the pile with just two wins from 13 games, with Midleton having an equally torrid time in Division Three, losing 11 of their 14 games and placing second last. Nonetheless, a branch spokesperson today confirmed that efforts will be made to help both clubs where possible to keep them running and avoid the nightmare scneario. The decision by Ashton to reduce the number of ladies’ teams in the club from five to four seems strange given the extremely healthy underage numbers in the club, but Southern Fried understands problems have arisen due to a paucity of numbers to help run the side. Meanwhile, the branch has agreed to a request from UCC’s men to promote their second team to Division Two. The move comes on the back of the eyebrow-raising appointment of Neil Welch as first-team coach at The Mardyke. With College now expected to recruit heavily over the coming weeks, the branch agreed that the club would be better served by narrowing the two-division jump from the first to second XIs.