Classy Cregan a model of consistency

Like all accidental sporting heroes, Eimear Cregan could have chosen a very different path, had fate not played its part. As she stands on the cusp of becoming Ireland’s most capped player of all time, this week she recalled her humble beginnings in hockey.

Herbert heads for a land down under

Recession and a desire to see the world continue to be driving factors for many of Ireland’s top hockey players – just ask Cork Church of Ireland’s Andrew Herbert, who recently left for pastures new in Australia. Prior to his departure to the Melville City club in Perth, Herbert sat down with Southern Fried to explain the rationale behind his move.

Muller expands on centralisation plan

Ireland senior women’s coach Gene Muller has further outlined his plans to centralise the team to Dublin from this October. Muller last night explained the rationale behind the idea to base an elite group of players full-time in Dublin for 10 months, in a bid to secure qualification for the 2012 Olympics in London.

McKinnon blasts centralisation plan

One of Irish hockey’s most influential coaches has added his voice to the growing dissatisfaction within the sport with Irish senior women’s coach Gene Muller’s plans to base the national squad in Dublin on a full-time basis.

Institute eye shock cup final win

Catholic Institute will be hoping history repeats itself almost a quarter of a century on as they face the daunting task of toppling unbackable favorites Cork Church of Ireland in Saturday’s Peard Cup final at Rosbrien (1pm).

Determined Waterford not shirking new challenges

The tests are coming thick and fast for Waterford’s ladies as they adjust to life back in Division One – but the Déise girls have no interest in shirking the challenges that lie ahead this season, if defender Karen Power’s fighting talk is anything to go by.

Change is good for Quins and Gash

Just as records are made to be broken, winning streaks are there to be shot at, as Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ of 2003/04 will testify. The senior ladies of Cork Harlequins know this feeling only too well, as they go in search of a 15th consecutive Munster league crown; no-one wants to be associated with the team [...]

Belvedere ready to bounce back

The rebuilding process is a constant thought in the mind of any coach, but for Bryan O’Donovan it will be the primary focus as he steps into the hotseat for the Belvedere ladies firsts. Last term proved to be a turbulent one for the Ballincollig-based club. On the men’s side, years of being hammered by [...]

Welch ‘excited’ by university challenge

Neil Welch will be scratching a 12-month itch when he steps back into the coaching hotseat at the Mardyke this evening as the new man in charge at UCC. Having won five trophies from a possible six domestically during a two-year stint at the helm of Cork Church of Ireland, Welch vacated the hotseat at [...]

Bruton primed for Austrlian adventure

It’s an adventure many an Irish traveller with a hint of wanderlust has undertaken, but few have done so in the hope of furthering their sporting career. Jonathan Bruton has already left the building, and in a few weeks’ time will begin a new chapter of his hockey career in Australia. The 21-year-old Cork C [...]