Munster sides face uphill battle to grab wildcard berths

OPPORTUNITY knocks for Bandon and UCC as they bid to bolster Munster’s Irish Hockey League (IHL) representation next season by succeeding at this weekend’s wildcard playoffs at Garryduff in Cork.

Bandon, in particular, will be gunning for success in the men’s competition at the fourth time of asking. The west Cork side have finally got their wish of something resembling a hometown venue, the wildcard having been held in Dublin for the past three seasons.

Last season, Ger Burns’ side bemoaned having to travel for all three tournaments, especially while many of their players were mired in college exams, saying their pleas to the Irish Hockey Association to have the competition rotated around the provinces had fallen on deaf ears.