It’s the first Irish Hockey Live of the new season with the men’s EY Hockey League and Leinster Division One back in action while the schoolgirls interpros continues all weekend; follow the live scores now!
The runners and riders in men’s Leinster Division One are under starter’s orders on Saturday; here’s the lowdown on all the teams in the league this term
The men’s EY Hockey League tips off this weekend as the battle to become the third champion of the national league begins.
Annadale look to have bolstered their panel well in the off season with Irish Under-21 international Ryan Getty, Andrew O’Hare and former Bangor sharp-shooter Ryan Burgess adding to their deck.
Banbridge’s slow start to last term – coinciding with a glut of injuries to the likes of Eugene Magee and John McKee – ultimately left them outside of the playoff places.
Michael Haycock will take on sole charge of the team after Stephen Cuddy stepped down from his position of co-coach in the summer lay off.
Denis Pritchard returns to CI after a 12 year absence. He last coached the men’s first team 2006
Last season’s surprise package will have to try and replace Shane O’Donoghue in their line-up as their captain and top scorer has moved back to Dragons for a second spell
In a summer of moves abroad, Lisnagarvey look to be by far the most affected with an international quartet moving to European clubs
Monkstown line up with a new look management team, headed by player-coach Gareth Watkins who moves across from the women’s section.
A summer of significant change with three internationals departing to maximize their international chances for inclusion in the upcoming World Cup
The back-to-back EY Champions Trophy winners take on the mantle of favourites this season, particularly as they have not seen many of their major stars move on unlike their rivals.
Having been knocking on the door for the last couple of seasons, newly promoted YMCA will be looking to consolidate in the league under head coach Jason Klinkradt.
Edel Nyland gives an in-depth look at her intriguing hockey career thus far from the fields of Loughmore-Castleiney to Ursulines to Longwood to a fruitful first month in the Bundesliga
Holcombe off their pre-season by claiming the Nigel Cheevers Memorial Tournament trophy for the second time with a defiant 4-0 victory over hosts Cookstown.
Leinster’s Under-16s and Ulster’s Under-18s won their respective final matches at the boys interprovincials in Cork to land the crown in dramatic fashion.
The domestic hockey curtain raises this weekend at Garryduff, Cork with the Under-18 and 16 boys inteprovincial tournament taking centre stage from Friday, September 14 to Sunday, September 16.
There will be a festival of hockey at Cookstown this weekend as some of the best teams in Ireland and England come to Steelweld Park to compete for the annual Nigel Cheevers Memorial Trophy.
Queen's University ladies have received a boost by securing a three-year deal with local software company Etain as they prepare for Friday night's opening Ulster Premier League game with Banbridge in Belfast, writes John Flack.
Emily Beatty said “it was like she never left” when she arrived into the team hotel the evening before the World Cup final following her late call-up.
The Irish Senior Cup will move away from the open draw format this season, reverting back to the tiered entry-format which was in vogue around 15 years ago.
The annual Hooked coaching conference comes to Kings Hospital this weekend with a series of fascinating coaches presenting with the focus on “developing young players with talent”.
