Movers and shakers

With the domestic hockey season getting underway in the coming weeks, Southern Fried felt it was about time to interrupt the coaches and managers of our teams during dinner and grill them (see what I did there?) on the transfers in and out of their squad for the coming season. Disappointingly for the gossip mongers, most coaches are still fine-turning the composition of their squads, with many trialling young players, and aside from one or two notable moves and returns, it appears the rumour mill is mostly off the mark. One such whisper has been the alleged migration south of Pembroke Wanderers netminder Stephen O’Keeffe to Cork Church of Ireland. The 19-year old former Ireland U18 keeper recently guested for the Garryduff outfit at the Tempest Trophy, winning the player of the tournament gong in the process, prompting speculation that he could become a permanent fixture at C of I.

However, Southern Fried understands that O’Keeffe has instead put in a transfer request to join UCD, where he will battle for the keeper’s jersey with former Three Rock No 2 Richie Irvine. C of I will nonetheless start as favourites to retain their title given the return of Irish internationals John Jermyn and Richie Arnopp to their squad. Jermyn has had a productive sabbatical year with Dutch outfit HGC, reaching the final of the inaugural EuroHockey League, while Arnopp is feeling his way back into the game after a couple of years of Munster Senior League soccer and a college placement in London. They won’t be adding Paul Murray to their ranks however, with the former Belvedere man joining Cork Harlequins having trained with both them and C of I  in the past week. Another notable departee from the Ballincollig outfit, who recently voluntarily dropped to Division Two, is Peter Carroll, though his destination is unknown as yet. Otherwise, all is quiet at Farmer’s Cross, where coach Stephen Dale says he will have a better idea of the make-up of his squad once those from further afield have returned to Cork for the college year. No major departures are expected, and the club has already welcomed back Irish international Sean Nicholson from a year abroad. Down the N71, Bandon can expect to have a settled squad this season, with the traditional exodus of the side’s school leavers apparently halted for a season. Young guns and close friends Clinton Sweetnam and Alastair Smith have seemingly resisted the lure of the, erm, brighter lights of the city, though the west Cork side do have one notable confirmed departure, with Patrick Shanahan eking out a new life in Leinster with Three Rock Rovers. On the plus side, Andrew Kingston has returned after an eight-year absence that included spells with UCC, Catholic Institute and Wapping in London. On the women’s side, UCC have been the subject of most of the transfer talk. Denis Pritchard’s side mounted a real challenge to the big two last season, handing Quins their first domestic defeat in eight seasons, while C of I needed an extra-time golden goal from UCC student Rebecca Sweetnam to see off College in extra-time of the Munster Senior Cup final. However, a disappointing showing in the Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs, where they lost out on qualification to UCD and Belfast Harlequins, had prompted speculation of the departure of Irish internationals Julia O’Halloran and Hollie Moffett.

Neither was seen in a College shirt between Christmas and May due to international commitments, but both have agreed to stay on, rather than succumb to the temptation of IHL hockey with their respective former clubs of Quins and C of I. Indeed, Moffett will take on more responsability at the Mardyke this season, having been handed a vice-captain’s role that will see her lead the side if first-team skipper Jean Long isn’t on the field. As well as retaining their top players – including the in-form Aine Connery, who has hit five goals in as many games for Ireland A this summer – College have also secured two important signings. All-Ireland Schoolgirls title winner Miriam Crowley returns to UCC after a year’s absence, in the process remedying last season’s Achilles heel, when College lacked an out-and out goalscorer, while ex-Bandon Grammar starlet Emma Peters has also joined the Chilean Cup intervarsity holders. Things are a little quieter at C of I, where it’s as you were aside from the return of Sinead Connery after a year in Australia, though coach Phil Oakley will be looking at a number of youngsters during a pre-season tournament at Garryduff this weekend. Quins are also examining the credentials of some young talent, whom they hope to groom in the seconds while giving some bench time for the firsts. More pertinently, some of the club’s big hitters, including Karen Bateman, will return to action in the red shirt in the coming weeks. Club captain and Irish skipper Eimear Cregan’s recovery from a broken foot bone is on track, while a shoulder problem that nagged at veteran Rachael Kohler at the tail end of last season has cleared up in time for the new campaign. Elsewhere, it appears Bandon’s loss is Ashton’s gain, with Jane Mackey moving to the Cork city outfit, but the westerners have no other major departees to report, with the likes of Ireland U18 flyer Olivia Roycroft set to stay put. Further afield, there has been notable exodus of Munster-born players plying their trade with Pembroke. Steph Hall and Elaine Bromell have joined Irish international goalkeeper Mary Goode at Bray, who look set challenge the old guard in Leinster this season, while Emer Harte, elder sister of Irish international twins Conor and David, has reportedly returned to England to continue her studies. More transfer news will follow as soon as I can get it – if you’d like to let Southern Fried know about moves in or out of your club, email munsterhockeyblog@gmail.com. In the meantime, keep checking back here for further updates!