Student players will form the majority of both the men’s and women’s Munster junior interprovincial squads when the sides compete at next month’s tournament in Dublin.
Both squads were confirmed this week, with UCC claiming the joint highest representation on the men’s panel along with Catholic Institute of five players, while six of the women’s 18 play their club hockey with either UCC or UL.
Around those players, however, there is a bulk of experience in both panels. On the women’s side, last year’s co-captains Kay Gaffney and Nikki Sterritt return alongside Laura Davis, Erica Breen and Meave Murphy, while Bandon’s Sarah Gray brings further know-how having lashed in 14 goals since her return from two seasons out with a serious knee injury.
Kay Gaffney (right) returns to this year's Munster Junior squad along with last year's fellow co-captain Nikki Sterritt for Catholic Institute. Picture: Ondine Roche
All six of the college representatives in the women’s squad – UL trio Davis, Steph Peters and Elaine O’Flynn, plus UCC’s Breen, Nicky Kingston and Andrea Bickerdike – are Division One regulars while will be of huge benefit to the squad, which is coached by Richard Barrett and Graham Catchpole with Dale Burkley in the manager’s role.
Three players involved in this year’s Irish Challenge final – Dungarvan duo Roisin Briggs and Aoife McGovern, plus Limerick’s Lorraine McGovern – are also included, with Catholic Institute’s Aoife Kearney and Irish Hockey Photographers’ Fermoy goalkeeper Ondine Roche join the squad for the first time.
The side is due to add one more player in the coming days, and have yet to confirm a captain.
The men’s squad will be led by some of Limerick’s finest, with goalkeeper and manager Tristan Murphy of Catholic Institute likely to form the beginning of a strong spine that also features his club colleagues Ed Gleeson, Gary Atchison, Tommy Pratt and Eric Calendar – who skippers the side – with Limerick HC schemer Amir Khan pulling the strings in between.
Khan is joined by club colleagues Tom Clarke, Melvin Buttimer and Matt Shine, alongside vice-captain Alex Kelleher of Harlequins and C of I’s Gavin Jeffery, while Cathal Duggan flies the flag for Bandon and John Peare of Railway Union is the side’s ex-pat.
UCC’s five representatives are led by midfield paceman Brian Egan and John Cudmore, who both return from the 2009 panel with the latter having played in Scotland for a year with Stirling University in between.
Former Munster U18 goalkeeper Conor Shemeld and College defenders Damien Buttimer and Alan Good are all first-timers on the squad, which is coached by John Meyler and Conor O’Kelly.
MUNSTER Junior Squads 2010/11 for Interprovincials (Grange Road, Dublin, May 14 & 15)Women: Elaine O’Flynn (GK,UL), Ondine Roche (GK, Fermoy); Kay Gaffney (Cork Harlequins), Meave Murphy (Clonmel), Sarah Gray (Bandon), Erica Breen (UCC), Nicky Kingston (UCC), Andrea Bickerdike (UCC), Aoife McGovern (Dungarvan), Roisin Briggs (Dungarvan), Laura David (UL), Steph Peters (UL), Niki Sterritt (Catholic Institute), Aoife Kearney (Catholic Institute), Lorraine McGovern (Limerick), AN Other (TBC); Coaches: Graham Catchpole and Richard Barrett. Manager: Dale BurkleyMen: Tristan Murphy (GK, Catholic Institute); Conor Shemeld (GK, UCC); Gary Atchison (Catholic Institute), Matt Shine (Limerick), Damien Buttimer (UCC), Alex Newenham (Cork Harlequins, vice-captain), Tom Clarke (Limerick), Brian Egan (UCC), Ed Gleeson (Catholic Institute), Gavin Jeffery (C of I), Eric Calendar (Catholic Institute, capt), John Cudmore (UCC), Amir Khan (Limerick), Alan Good (UCC), John Peare (Railway Union), Melvin Buttimer (Limerick), Cathal Duggan (Bandon), Tommy Pratt (Catholic Institute). Coach: John Meyler; Assistant Coach: Conor O’Kelly; Manager: Tristan Murphy.
Post Author:
alangood
2 Replies to “Students to backbone junior sides”
As someone who has taken a very much back on the hockey front let me make a few comments for those people who read this very worthwhile blog pity everyone does not give their name
Munster hockey is nearly on the floor.Why is this.Let me try to express why I have come to this conclusion
The IHA have robbed the ladies senior section of some of the best players in Munster.They have cruelly done this with little or no consultation as the Munster Branch sat on their hands and said nothing.Let me state is was great to see Cat Ins to win all round them. Due to the fact that we are missing 6/7 quality players who now play for Dublin clubs I am afraid there will not be a National title in Munster until this stupid rule is reversed as any player who has intentions to play for Ireland will not darken the door or a Munster club.Its fantastic for those Dublin clubs to have these great players that many clubs in Munster brought up through the ranks ,just look at the IHL league results.We are luckey tobe left with a handfull of class players.
Now lets look at the mens situation.This CI Quins domination at senior level continues but as the clock ticks and an ageing Quinns team comes to a halt CI will be on their own, give it 3/4 years .Like the schools they will have to join LEINSTER lEAGUE.Love to see another team come through but just look at the gap in the league.How about the Nationl Team policy,well totally different than the ladies, 75% of the Irish team play in The EU 100% different than the ladies policy,why ,the IHA would nt get away with it .
Boys hockey in Munster is in the same boat.In 30 years not one secondary boys school took up the game. Great to see ASHTON back again by the way.The PROMOTION of that final does not help, hardly anyone knew the boys final was on .I believe some branch members found out the day of the final it was on so how do you expect anyone else to know.With buses of kids at the game, car loads of parents there. Why did this this happen,no communication with anyone the usual stort>
The same could be said about timings of senior league match in the mens and womens.The teams are left to decide. Not on, they will pick a time for example to suit maybe players going to a stag party,or players going on hols etc The tail wagging the dog .Imagen it happening in another sport.
The biggest mens match of the season is in GD this Sat at 12.30 what a stupid and crazy time ,its not to suit spectators and GD to make a few bob at the game be it gate or bar the same can be said about Quins in the 9 game thriller no gate ?How many times are games fixed in the am,or pm where it onlt suits the teams,it does nt happen in other sports.
I am out of hockey but with a AGM coming up soon i believe unless severe action is taken now the game is up, especially on the mens side, the womens game will survive only because hockey is play in most girls schools from 1 st year to leaving cert . The section is well organised except the promotin of the game is a major problem at all levels and would be far worse except for the help of RORY NOONAN IN THE EVENING ECHO and ALAN GOOD IN THE EXAMINER AND THE BLOG who do far more hat the call of duty.
There are many fine people in the sport but there are some who are hell bent on destroying the game because of their personal agends.
Above is my overview of where we are and how the sport got there,I do hope there are people after the agm who will turn things around for the sake of the young players I know many will disagree with my views but i hope it brings about good discussion thats what matters.Sorry about the typing?
Sorry Pat, I know you mean well but has this got to do with the Junior sides??
Congrats to all those selected…its great to see the people who work to keep Munster Hockey alive like Alan Good being rewarded by representing the province. Glad this team was not scrapped as people who work hard to keep Munster a float get rewarded in such a way…and their funding their way to the tournament themselves. lets help them fund their way to Dublin…I’m sure many of you know how much hard work Alan puts in…lets return a helping hand to the Juniors!
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As someone who has taken a very much back on the hockey front let me make a few comments for those people who read this very worthwhile blog pity everyone does not give their name
Munster hockey is nearly on the floor.Why is this.Let me try to express why I have come to this conclusion
The IHA have robbed the ladies senior section of some of the best players in Munster.They have cruelly done this with little or no consultation as the Munster Branch sat on their hands and said nothing.Let me state is was great to see Cat Ins to win all round them. Due to the fact that we are missing 6/7 quality players who now play for Dublin clubs I am afraid there will not be a National title in Munster until this stupid rule is reversed as any player who has intentions to play for Ireland will not darken the door or a Munster club.Its fantastic for those Dublin clubs to have these great players that many clubs in Munster brought up through the ranks ,just look at the IHL league results.We are luckey tobe left with a handfull of class players.
Now lets look at the mens situation.This CI Quins domination at senior level continues but as the clock ticks and an ageing Quinns team comes to a halt CI will be on their own, give it 3/4 years .Like the schools they will have to join LEINSTER lEAGUE.Love to see another team come through but just look at the gap in the league.How about the Nationl Team policy,well totally different than the ladies, 75% of the Irish team play in The EU 100% different than the ladies policy,why ,the IHA would nt get away with it .
Boys hockey in Munster is in the same boat.In 30 years not one secondary boys school took up the game. Great to see ASHTON back again by the way.The PROMOTION of that final does not help, hardly anyone knew the boys final was on .I believe some branch members found out the day of the final it was on so how do you expect anyone else to know.With buses of kids at the game, car loads of parents there. Why did this this happen,no communication with anyone the usual stort>
The same could be said about timings of senior league match in the mens and womens.The teams are left to decide. Not on, they will pick a time for example to suit maybe players going to a stag party,or players going on hols etc The tail wagging the dog .Imagen it happening in another sport.
The biggest mens match of the season is in GD this Sat at 12.30 what a stupid and crazy time ,its not to suit spectators and GD to make a few bob at the game be it gate or bar the same can be said about Quins in the 9 game thriller no gate ?How many times are games fixed in the am,or pm where it onlt suits the teams,it does nt happen in other sports.
I am out of hockey but with a AGM coming up soon i believe unless severe action is taken now the game is up, especially on the mens side, the womens game will survive only because hockey is play in most girls schools from 1 st year to leaving cert . The section is well organised except the promotin of the game is a major problem at all levels and would be far worse except for the help of RORY NOONAN IN THE EVENING ECHO and ALAN GOOD IN THE EXAMINER AND THE BLOG who do far more hat the call of duty.
There are many fine people in the sport but there are some who are hell bent on destroying the game because of their personal agends.
Above is my overview of where we are and how the sport got there,I do hope there are people after the agm who will turn things around for the sake of the young players I know many will disagree with my views but i hope it brings about good discussion thats what matters.Sorry about the typing?
Sorry Pat, I know you mean well but has this got to do with the Junior sides??
Congrats to all those selected…its great to see the people who work to keep Munster Hockey alive like Alan Good being rewarded by representing the province. Glad this team was not scrapped as people who work hard to keep Munster a float get rewarded in such a way…and their funding their way to the tournament themselves. lets help them fund their way to Dublin…I’m sure many of you know how much hard work Alan puts in…lets return a helping hand to the Juniors!