IHA fights back as 300 schoolboys descend on the Mardyke

The popularity of boys’ hockey in Munster continues to bounce back, after almost 300 Cork schoolboys were introduced to the sport yesterday.

A minority sport played by boys in just five secondary schools in Munster, concerns have been raised in recent years over dwindling numbers at both underage and senior levels.

But following recent news that U16 playing numbers among boys rose 8% to 440 in the province in 2011, the sport received a further boost at an innovative event at the Mardyke yesterday.