Full national league for Irish hockey from 2014/15

Irish hockey will expand to include a full national league next season after a drawn-out debate was finally settled yesterday.

The 2014/15 campaign will see 10 teams compete in both the men’s and women’s Irish Hockey League, moving to an 18-game, full-season format that takes them out of their provincial leagues.

Eight more clubs will compete in an end-of-season playoff — known as IHL 2 — to determine qualifiers for the following season’s competition.

For the maiden competition, the men’s league will be comprised of the top four in Leinster and Ulster, Munster’s champions and a wildcard team. On the women’s side, Leinster’s top four, Ulster’s top three, Munster’s top two and the Connacht champions will get the first “full IHL” underway next September.

On the pitch this weekend, just two of Munster’s five Irish Senior Cup representatives in action progressed to the second round. Cork Harlequins did so most impressively, Cliodhna Sargent, Karen Bateman and Claire O’Sullivan sharing the goals in a 4-0 success at Portadown.

Sorcha Carey and Naomi Carroll almost got Catholic Institute out of a hole after a disastrous first half against Belfast Harlequins but the Limerick girls lost 3-2, while Sarah Browner’s strike wasn’t enough to prevent UCC falling 3-1 at Glenanne.