UCC to get academic on and off the field

A new era beings in more ways than one tomorrow at UCC’s men’s hockey club, as they begin life in Division One of the Munster Senior League with a daunting trip to play champions Cork Church of Ireland (4.15pm).

Having lost a promotion/relegation playoff to Bandon B at the end of last season, College were subsequently promoted last month after the Munster Branch approved their request to replace Belvedere, who voluntarily demoted themselves.

While Bandon B’s decision earlier this week to follow Belvedere’s lead has once again left Munster hockey with an uneven top tier of seven teams, College are more concerned with using their return to Division One to cultivate their own academy.

UCC are hoping to put an academy in place in a bid to replicate the success of their women's team. Picture: Dan McClanahan

Such a programme has worked wonders for College’s ladies, who now boast three Irish internationals and a myriad of Munster representatives, and have gone from also-rans to genuine title contenders.

Men’s coach John Dennis, who is also chairman of the Irish Hockey Association (IHA), said College are still finalising their squad for this season, but hope to put the structures in place to compete in the future.

“We’re not looking to take players away from clubs forever, or undermine the existing structures – college is a transition period, and clubs will hopefully get a better player back to them and the end of the academy system,” he said.

“It won’t happen overnight, but it may suit guys who are playing seconds hockey for bigger clubs and have no real incentive aside from the Irish Junior Cup.”

Under the guidance of UCC’s new director of coaching Paidi Hartnett, it is hoped the club can attract Munster and Irish representative players, who may then be incentivised to play college hockey via a sports scholarship.

Meanwhile, Dennis is confident that his players will benefit from taking on last season’s double-winners C of I, who are also opening their campaign and boast the likes of Irish stars John Jermyn and David Hobbs in their side.

“Obviously it’s not the first match you’d want, but it will be an experience for our lads, and they will realise what they’re up against in Division One – the change of pace, style and all that goes with it.

“But that’s what we’re here for, we want to raise the profile of the club and make it a attractive place to play.”

Elsewhere, Bandon go in search of their first points of the new season when they take on Cork Harlequins B at Farmer’s Cross, after their 5-0 win over Bandon B last week was voided due to the latter’s voluntarily relegation.

Catholic Institute are in action twice against C of I B this weekend, firstly in the league at Garryduff tomorrow and then at home in the Peard Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

In the women’s Division One, Bandon will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Quins when they visit Ashton, who have shipped 11 goals in their first two outings, while table-toppers Quins make the trip to Limerick to take on UL and C of I host Belvedere.

UCC get their season underway on Sunday when Catholic Institute visit the Mardyke, a game moved from Saturday due to the students having players involved in Saturday’s open Irish trial at UCD.

Despite pushing C of I hard for second place last term, College will be wary of the dual goalscoring threat posed by Ireland A’s Kym Daly and teen sensation Naomi Carroll, who were both on the mark in the 6-1 rout of Ashton last weekend.

See Fixtures and Results for a full list of this weekend’s games