New proposal could see Munster league reduced to four teams

THE top tier of men’s club hockey in Munster could have a more minimalist look about it next season if a radical proposal to alter the Division One structure is passed.

The outgoing fixtures committee of the Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association (MBIHA) believe Division One should be reduced to just four teams — Cork Church of Ireland, Cork Harlequins, UCC and Bandon — next season.

The committee has submitted a motion along such lines for consideration at the province’s AGM on May 3, believing such a move would be “in the interest of the development of the sport in Munster”.

“We propose that these teams play each other four times, meaning a total of 12 league fixtures,” the proposal reads. “We believe that this will raise the standard of competition in the province, and better prepare our teams for national cups and Irish Hockey League.

“To cope with the gap in standards in the new Division Two, we propose a league competition in two parts, in which the league would split after the first round of games. This would ensure a fairer matching of teams in the second half of the season, in each half of the split.”

The composition of the men’s league is a constant bone of contention in Munster hockey, due to the ongoing domination by the ‘big two’ of Cork Church of Ireland and Cork Harlequins and the presence of their second-string teams in Division One.

A proposal to remove the latter sides from Division One was defeated by a single vote at the 2009 AGM, though there was widespread agreement that something must be done to foster increased competition.

Since then, however, little has changed at the top; C of I and Quins continue to dominate and neither has dropped points to any side except each other in the past two seasons.

While Bandon and UCC are arguably now closer to a breakthrough in this regard than they have been in previous years, many would argue the overall standard has decreased — in part due to top players leaving the province for one reason or another — while Catholic Institute continue to struggle in the top tier, losing 10 or their 12 games this term.

The potential for change is complicated by suggestions that C of I and Quins may be invited to compete in the Leinster league from next season.

While no official approach has been made, nor any motion tabled along such lines for the Leinster AGM, club representatives have been made aware of such a possibility in recent days via informal discussions.

Such a move is unlikely to get universal support from the smaller clubs in either province but would likely find favour among C of I and Quins, who often take issue with the lack of competition domestically, which they believe leaves them under-cooked for national competitions.