The Munster Men’s Division 1 season kicks off this weekend with two exciting fixtures. With Ashton’s relegation to Division 2, the league now consists of five teams, each facing one another three times throughout the season. The top three teams from last year—Harlequins, C of I, and Bandon—will also compete in EY2, which begins after the Christmas break. Meanwhile, Waterford and Institute will vie for success in the Charity Cup.

This season is set to be fiercely competitive, with teams likely to take points off each other throughout the campaign. Cork Harlequins, who narrowly missed EY1 qualification last season, are expected to be slight favourites. However, they will face strong competition from their old rivals, C of I. The three fixtures between these two sides will be crucial in determining the league’s outcome.

Bandon and Waterford fought closely for the third spot in EY2 last season, with Bandon narrowly securing it. Institute will be aiming to build on last season’s performance, having come close to toppling the leading teams on several occasions.

Below is a team by team summary:

Club: Bandon Hockey Club
Coach: Alastair Smith
Manager: Mark Deane
Captain: Fionn O’Leary
Players in: Matthew Jennings (Australia), Sean Landy (Harlequins)
Players out: Iarlaith O’Neill (Harlequins)
Ambitions for the season ahead: To win everything in Munster, qualify out of EYHL2 group and win the IHT.
Key player(s): Strong squad this year and great to have Colin Kingston back from injury. His leadership will benefit the younger lads.
Players breaking through/rising stars: Alan Buttimer and Harry McCourt will be key players this season.

Club: Catholic Institute Hockey Club
Coach: Gary O’ Connor
Manager: Ken Stockil
Captain: Jack Stockil
Players in:
Players out: Zac Moloney (Corinthians), Dave Pearse (Pembroke)
Ambitions for the season ahead: With a new management group for our 1s team this season, the goal for us is to implement a new style of play and create a culture where our players can enjoy their hockey. We want to focus on developing our players that are coming through and build a strong team that can compete for silverware in the second half of the season. Our focus will be on level of performance rather than results in the early part of the season, building towards the cup competitions after Christmas. We are delighted to have Gary O’ Connor on board to coach our 1s team this season, he has had huge success with Munster Interpro Squads over the past number of years and is heavily invested in developing the club for the future.
Key player(s): Hugh Walsh, Nick Lampp, Cillian Archer
Players breaking through/rising stars: Akshay Sugathan, Teige Moloney, Sean O’ Donoghue

Club: Cork Church of Ireland Hockey Club
Coach: Jonny Bruton
Manager: Clive Olden
Captain: Ian Balding
Players in: Stuart O’Grady (Ashton), James Cumming (Gryphons HC)
Players out: N/A
Ambitions for the season ahead: Coming out of a promising season, we’re looking to add another layer of consistency and professionalism to our game. Competition for places on the team will help to further drive standards as we look to obtain silverware in Munster and compete in EYHL2 playoffs.
Key player(s): Our squad depth will be key to challenging for success
Players breaking through/rising stars: Jamie Horgan, Andrew Sweetnam

Club: Cork Harlequins Hockey Club
Coach: Denis Pritchard
Assistant Coach: Jason Black
Manager: Mark O’Driscoll
Captain: Julian Dale
Players in: Iarlaith O’Neill (Bandon), Clyde Buttimer (Ashton).
Players out: Jack O’Meara (Hampstead & Westminster). John Whyte (Corinthians).
Ambitions for the season ahead: We are looking to go one game further than last season and get promoted to EY1.
Key player(s): Iarlaith O’Neill, Sam Dale & Ross Bailey.
Players breaking through/rising stars: Sean Curtin, Flor Scully & Denis McCarthy.

Club: Waterford Hockey Club
Coach: Richard Jones
Manager: Jonathan Earl
Captain: Ben McInerney
Players in: Sam Johnson (Pembroke Wanderers HC), Malachy Shute (Railway HC)
Players Out: Oisin Gavin (Corinthians HC)
Ambitions for the season ahead: To continue to improve, integrate our young talent and secure place in EY2.
Key players: Isaac Johnson, Ben McInerney, Hayden Jones
Break through players: Alfie O’Shea, Cathal Duffy, William McInerney

The following panel has been selected for the upcoming interpros series for season 24/25. Well done to all those selected.

Aidan Gambura – Bandon Grammar – Church of Ireland
Alfie O’Shea – Newtown – Waterford Hockey Club
Andrew Sweetnam – Midleton College – Church of Ireland
Billy Smyth – Ashton – Cork Harlequins
Charlie Bateman – Ashton – Cork Harlequins
Cuan Twomey – CBS Midleton – Midleton Hockey Club
Denis McCarthy – Ashton – Cork Harlequins
Diarmuid Coffey – Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh – Cork Harlequins
Flor Rahilly Scully – Kinsale Community School – Cork Harlequins
Graham White – Bandon Grammar – Church of Ireland
Harry Earl – Newtown – Waterford Hockey Club
Harry McCourt – Bandon Grammar – Bandon HC
Hayden Jones – Newtown – Waterford Hockey Club
Hugo Casey Flodman – Ashton – Cork Harlequins
Jack Chambers – St Brogans College Bandon – Bandon HC
Jamie Horgan – Bandon Grammar – Church of Ireland
Josh Hevey Tynne – Ard Scoil Ris Limerick – Catholic Institute
Kayden Costa-Holmes – Midleton College – Midleton Hockey Club
Louis McDaid – Ashton – Church of Ireland
Oisin Gavin – Newtown – Corinthians HC
Ollie Killeen – Midleton College – Midleton Hockey Club
Rob Olden – Midleton College – Church of Ireland
Sean Curtin – Midleton College – Cork Harlequins
Sean Landers – Bruce College – Church of Ireland
Teige Moloney – Villiers School – Catholic Institute

The u16 boys team for the Summer has been announced. Congrats to all those selected.

Aidan Dooley – Newtown – Waterford
Andrew Noonan – Rochestown College – Ashton
Anish Nugent – Bandon Grammar – Bandon
Ben Mc Inerney – Bandon Grammar – Bandon
Ben Russell – Ashton – Harlequins
Billy O Leary – Bandon Grammar – Harlequins
Cathal Duffy – Newtown – Waterford
Cal Murphy – Ashton – C of I
Christian Mahoney – Midleton College – Midleton
Cian O’ Donovan – Presentation Brothers – Ashton
Daniel Bywater – Ashton – Harlequins
Danial O’ Sullivan – Midleton College – Midleton
Elliot Jackman – Newtown – Waterford
Ethan Armitage – Ashton – C of I
Ethan O Sullivan – Midleton College – Midleton
Isaac Banks – Christian Brothers Cork – Ashton
James Bryan – Carrigaline CS – Harlequins
Kayden Kennedy – Mount Sion – Waterford
Mathew Fletcher – Newtown – Waterford
Mathew Hamilton Foott – Bandon Grammar – Bandon
Max Dorgan – Ashton – C of I
Max Kelly – Newtown – Waterford
Paddy Creagh – Midleton College – Midleton
Robert Cronin – Colaiste an Chraoibhir – Midleton
Rory Jackson – Ashton – C of I
Rowan O Byrne – Bandon Grammar – Harlequins
William Black – Ashton – Harlequins

The following have been selected for the U18 girls Summer panel. Congrats to all.

Ada Ryan (Scoil Mhuire/ Cork Harlequins)

Alex Dale (Bandon Grammar / Cork Harlequins)

Ali Hayes (Mount Mercy College / Ashton HC)

Alicia Reddan (Crescent College Comprehensive/ Crescent Hockey Club)

Amy Noonan (Scoil Mhuire / Ashton HC)

Anna Rose Benson (Laurel Hill Coláiste /Limerick HC)

Anna O’ Driscoll (Bandon Grammar / Bandon HC)

Elizabeth Scully (Crescent College Comprehensive/ Crescent HC)

Emily Brink (St Cyprians School / Constantiaberg HC)

Emily Reddan (Laurel Hill Secondary/Catholic Institute)

Emma McAuliffe (Scoil Mhuire/ Cork Harlequins)

Hilary Wills ( Villiers School /Limerick HC)

Isabelle Healy (Scoil Mhuire/ Cork Harlequins)

Jane O Brien (St.Angela’s College/ Cork Harlequins)

Jessica Grace (Bandon Grammar / Cork Harlequins)

Julie O’Farrell (Scoil Mhuire/ Cork Harlequins)

Kate Collins (Bandon Grammar / Bandon HC)

Katie Toomey (Regina Mundi/ Ashton HC)

Kyah Kelly (Newtown School/ Waterford HC)

Maya Dullea ( Mount Mercy College/ Cork Harlequins)

Olive O’Flynn (Sacred Heart Clonakilty/ Clonakilty HC)

Rachel Somers (Crescent College Comprehensive/ Catholic Institute)

Ruby Lehane (St.Angela’s College/ Cork C of I)

Sally Murray (Regina Mundi / Cork C of I)

Saoirse Cunningham (Scoil Mhuire / Ashton
HC)

Siofra Garavaglia Drion (Villiers School/ Newbridge HC)

Siún Dolan (St Angela’s College / Ashton HC)

Sofie Moloney (Scoil Mhuire/ Cork Harlequins)

Sophie Dale ( Bandon Grammar/ Cork Harlequins)

Zara Black ( Ashton School/ Cork Harlequins)

Zara Byrne (Bruce College/ Ashton HC)

Following completion of the 2023/24 season, please see below 2024/25 leagues. This is subject to change based on final team entries submitted by clubs during the offseason. Any new teams will be entered in Division 3 (men) and Division 6 (women).

Men’s Div.1
Ashton
Bandon
Catholic Institute
C.of.I
Harlequins
Waterford

Men’s Div.2
Bandon B
Catholic Institute B
C.of.I B
C.of.I C
Harlequins B
Limerick
Midleton

Men’s Div.3
Ashton B
Bandon C
C.of.I D
Harlequins C
Harlequins D
Waterford B

Women’s Div.1
Ashton
Bandon
Blackrock
Catholic Institute II
C.of.I
Crescent
Harlequins
Waterford

Women’s Div.2
Ashton II
Ashton III
Belvedere
Clonakilty
Cork Wanderers
Harlequins II
Harlequins III
U.C.C. II

Women’s Div.3
Bandon II
Cashel/New Inn
C.of.I II
Clonmel
Cork Wanderers II
Limerick
Tipperary
U.C.C. III

Women’s Div.4
Belvedere II
Blackrock II
Crescent II
Harlequins IV
Midleton
Tipperary II
U.C.C. IV
Waterford II

Women’s Div.5
Ashton IV
Bandon III
C.of.I III
Clonakilty II
Clonmel II
Dungarvan
Dungarvan II
Limerick II

Women’s Div.6
Belvedere III
Blackrock III
Cashel/New Inn II
C.of.I IV
Cork Wanderers III
Harlequins V
Midleton II
Waterford III