The first round of the Irish Hockey League quickly descended into a nightmare for the majority of Munster sides, with Catholic Institute’s 3-1 win over Greenfields the sole bright spot.

BUILD it, and they’ll come, organise it and they’ll run — and run it they did, more than 1,400 hardy souls and hardened soles turning up for a trinity of inaugural races, in the fortnight run-up to Christmas.

Fred Treacy