Cork playing host to a hockey revolution on the western front

Where once just Bandon was the last outpost beyond Cork’s city limits, a hockey revolution of sorts is spreading south and west of the county, giving optimism for further expansion.

In early December, Baltimore became the latest club to hit the turf, lining out against Clonakilty after six weeks of the Hockey Ireland Tricks 4 Sticks programme.

Along with Kinsale and Clon, they became the third new club in the region since 2011, boosting Munster hockey’s youth playing population year on year by between 5% and 7%.