Fast learning required as students drawn in pool of death

UCC have been granted a baptism of fire in their first ever Irish Hockey League campaign, as the draw for next season’s competition pitted them in the pool of death. College are one of three sides – along with Ards and Old Alex – taking part in the competition for the first time, with Belfast Harlequins, Armagh and UCD failing to qualify this time around. But as is the case in the men’s competition, the strength of Leinster hockey – plus the fact the competition does not have a fully open draw, to eliminate the possibility of four or five sides from one province being drawn together – has put a notable imbalance on the groups on paper.

In both the men’s and women’s tournaments, the pools that include Leinster’s second and third-placed teams and the Ulster champions therefore look to be far tougher propositions. College must duel it out in Pool B with Ulster title winners Pegasus, newly-crowned IHL winners Loreto and runners-up Hermes, wildcard victors Old Alex and Randalstown. The one bright spot for College is that they have been awarded a home draw against their Leinster counterparts Loreto. Conversely, Munster kingpins Cork Harlequins and Cork C of I – have been drawn in a much easier-looking Pool A, where they will face even more derby days than usual as a result. They are in alongside Railway Union, who won out in Leinster for the first time in a century this year, Ballymoney, Pembroke and the relatively unknown quantity of Ards. The draw to determine which of the provincial champions will be away from home when they meet went against Quins; they will now travel tp play Railway Union as part of their schedule. The full dates for the IHL will be confirmed once the IHA have fixed the weekends around a busy international schedule that includes World Cup qualifiers, to ensure clubs are not required to play without their Irish internationals. Clubs will then meet face-to-face to thrash out fixture times. Meanwhile, those who missed the weekend’s IHL action can catch up over the coming days, with Setanta Sports giving over a number of slots to the finals and semi-finals over the coming days. The schedule is included below. Women’s Irish Hockey League 2009/10 Pool A: Railway Union (Leinster 1), Ballymoney (Ulster 2), Ards (Ulster 3), Pembroke Wanderers (Leinster 4), Cork Harlequins (Munster 1), Cork C of I (Wildcard 2) Pool B: Pegasus (Ulster 1), Loreto (Leinster 2), Hermes (Leinster 3), Randalstown (Ulster 4), UCC (Munster 2), Old Alexandra (Wildcard 1) Setanta Sports IHL schedule Monday, May 4: 7pm, Glenanne vs Banbridge; 8pm, TRR vs Pembroke