Fallout continues over U16 interpros

Calls have intensified this week for the Irish Hockey Association (IHA) to take the lead in reorganising the cancelled girls U16 interprovincial tournament.

The tournament fell victim to the weather last weekend, with the pitches at Kilkenny College frozen and unplayable, denying the squads a chance to represent their province and impress Irish selectors.

While Munster and Ulster officials decided to award their squad members with representative badges, Leinster declined to do so, and the fallout has continued this week, with provincial branches and the IHA seemingly at odds over how the tournament will be funded if it is rescheduled.

Munster Branch president John Rose said: “If the IHA want to reschedule the tournament, they will have to pick up the tab – the branches and parents can’t afford to pay any more than they already have.”

The MBIHA are likely to raise the issue at one of their ordinary meetings with members of the IHA board in Cork tonight, while the IHA’s competitions committee will also be contacting each branch to see if a solution can be found.

Munster U16 girls coach John Hobbs believes selecting the Ireland U16 team could prove problematic if the interpros aren't rescheduled. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Munster U16 coach John Hobbs said all avenues should be exhausted to get the competition played.

“In my opinion it’s a shame for the girls to have trained so hard since last May, coming through a trials procedure, giving up countless weekends and dedicating their time and effort into preparing for the tournament only to have it cancelled due to adverse weather conditions,” he said.

“While I can appreciate that we cannot plan for these things (the weather), it does not alleviate the fact that these girls have been short-changed. Some of them are only 13 years old, and it’s a huge disappointment for them.”

Hobbs suggested the IHA could seek sponsorship for a rescheduled tournament, and warned further problems could arise in terms of selecting an Irish U16 team if the competition did not go ahead.

“They should all have a chance to represent their provinces with pride during this season, as they have worked extremely hard to earn the opportunity. If that means finding the funds to re-fix this tournament, then all avenues should be exhausted by the IHA.

“It seems like it boils down to a cost benefit situation, and the branches, schools and particularly the parents have also invested a lot of money into the preparation and travel for the girls for the original tournament and perhaps the IHA might seek sponsorship for the tournament and its subsequent costs.

“I would imagine an (international) squad would have to be picked for the mid-term matches against England at U16 and U18 levels, and while the U18s have played their tournament and have been awarded trials at this level, it remains to be seen how this would be possible for under 16s.

“As coach of the Munster squad, I have not seen my girls in action competitively against their peers from the other provinces and as such, I cannot judge the standards across the provinces objectively.”

Munster players and Bandon Grammar students Gemma Kingston, 14, and Nicola Kerr, 15, said they and their team-mates deserve to have the tournament played.

“We went all that way for nothing – everyone was so disappointed,” said Gemma. “Our first trial was in June and we’ve been training every weekend since for this.

“We’ve put in so much work, we deserve to get something out of it. And our parents have put in the time and money, bringing us to all the training sessions – they deserve something too.”

Nicola added: “The atmosphere on the bus home was awful, everyone was so upset. We had put so much effort into it.”

IHA high performance director Dave Passmore said he attempted to get the U16 and U18 interpros moved forward in 2006 to prevent the tournaments falling victim to the weather, and to reduce the training load on young athletes who also have club and school commitments.

However, the proposal was rejected by schools and youths representatives from Leinster and Ulster.