Munster U18 Head Coach Yvonne O’Byrne has selected the following players to play Leinster South in Loreto School, Kilkenny on Sunday 10th of October for the first match of the new Inter Provincial format.

1. Faye Luby (GK) – Catholic Institute, Crescent College
4. Jenny McLaughlin – Bandon HC, Bandon Grammar
5. Áine Power – Cork Harlequins, St. Angela’s College
6. Aoibheann Collins – Catholic Institute, Crescent College
7. Amy Connolly – Crescent HC, Crescent College
9. Ruby Walsh – Cork Harlequins, Scoil Mhuire
10. Emily Nolan – Ashton HC, Scoil Mhuire
12. Robyn Murphy – Ashton HC, St. Angela’s College
13. Katie Moore – Cork Harlequins, Bandon Grammar
14. Seodhna Dervan – Catholic Institute, Crescent College
15. Kate Ryan – Catholic Institute, Ursulines Thurles
16. Rachel O’Shea – Cork Harlequins, Mount Mercy College
17. Sarah Fitzgerald – Catholic Institute, Crescent College
20. Amy Nangle – Cork Harlequins, Scoil Mhuire
21. Julia McCarthy (C) – Cork Harlequins, Ashton School
22. Charlotte Horan – Catholic Institute, Crescent College

Head Coach: Yvonne O’Byrne
Manager: Brian Collins
Coach: Geraldine O’Carroll

20th September 2021 

The Irish government have issued updates to the Covid-19 guidelines for Returning to Sport.

Sport Ireland have issued further guidelines as of the 16^th of September 2021. This includes guidance around the use of changing rooms and travelling to and from matches. These are summarised below.

Please note that these guidelines apply to clubs based in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) only. Teams travelling across the ROI/Northern Ireland (NI) border in both directions (for EY Hockey League or National Cup Competitions), should familiarise themselves with the Covid-19 protocols and guidance for the area.

Guidelines for Ulster clubs can be found here: COVID Guidance Sept 2021 – Ulster Hockey

Spectator Capacities:

From 06^th September 2021:

• Outdoor venues will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Social distancing should be maintained at all times. This assumes that host venues will not seek proof of vaccination from patrons.
• Spectators will not be allowed for indoor venues.

Please note: Clubs may increase spectator capacity to 75% with appropriate protective measures if checks of proof of immunity are conducted prior to entry. Hockey Ireland recognises the logistical challenges around processing Covid passports on match days for clubs and would therefore recommend proceeding on the basis of a 50% attendance.

Training and Playing Restrictions: 

From 20^th September 2021:

Outdoors:

• For outdoor training, the current system of training in pods of 15 will be removed and training will be allowed to proceed as normal.
• Outdoor matches may proceed as normal with Covid-19 restrictions in place. A record of players, team management and match officials involved should be kept (both for pre-season and competitive inter-club matches).

Indoors:

• For indoor training, pods of up to 6 will be permitted (not including a coach). Multiple pods will be allowed to train in a single indoor venue subject to substantial social distancing between each pod.

General (current guidelines):

• Covid Compliance Officers (CCO) must be present for all match activity.
• For underage (U18 down) training, a CCO must be present at all training sessions.
• For senior training only, a CCO is no longer required to oversee training sessions. Training attendance must still be logged and recorded for tracking purposes in the event of a positive Covid-19 case.
• Indoor changing rooms may be used subject to guidance below.
• Substitutes and team management officials should remain socially distant when not on the playing field.
• Ball patrol may be used provided appropriate hand sanitising procedures are in place for ball patrol personnel.

Use of Changing Facilities and Showers:

 Showers & Changing Rooms can begin to reopen with protective measures in place. Recommended measures include:

• Ensure only necessary participants have access to changing rooms.
• Limit the overall number and duration of individuals in a changing room depending on the space available. Continue to implement adequate social distancing measures in changing areas. For example, a maximum of 6 in a dressing room at a time for a maximum duration of 15 minutes.
• Masks should be worn in shared areas (showers an exception).
• Provide clear signage highlighting any relevant space capacities and time durations.
• Close off any unnecessary spaces or those not in use/not permitted.
• Monitor toilets with agreed capacity numbers and limit to participants only.
• Implement flow management systems where necessary.
• To improve ventilation, consider an open window/open door policy (subject to privacy).
• Provide sanitisation stations as appropriate on entrances and in shared areas.
• Continue to promote hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette through signage, posters etc.
• Ensure deep cleaning of shared areas on a regular basis.

Travelling to/from Matches: 

Hockey clubs organising transport to/from events should implement private Coach Tour capacities (currently at 75%). Protective measures such as physical distancing, mask wearing etc. should also be implemented.

For carpooling, hockey clubs should be aware of the higher risks involved with transport carrying those not yet vaccinated or of mixed immunity. The use of appropriate face coverings is recommended. If carpooling, Hockey Ireland recommend the use of a pod system in which the same participants pool together for all activities.

Indoor Training Guidance 

The Sport Ireland Return to Sport Expert Group have issued detailed guidelines for the return of indoor training. These guidelines remain in place.

Please note: The following guidelines apply to Republic of Ireland only. For Northern Ireland, please find further details here: Return To Sport | Sport NI

 The following applies for indoor activity:

• From September 20^th, organised indoor sport can take place with capacity limits of 100 people (with appropriate protective measures) where all patrons are immune (fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 within previous 6 months).
• Where individuals have mixed immunity status, pods of up to 6 participants will be permitted (excluding adult coaches/instructors).
• Multiple pods will be permissible subject to protective measures such as appropriate distancing between pods. HI recommend a minimum of a 5-metre exclusion zone between pods.
• Number of pods will have regard to the size of venue and substantial social distance between individual pods.

Administration:

• Staggered start and finish times combined with appropriate entry, exit and traffic management protocols to limit the interaction of participants at any one time.
• Prebooking of activity is essential. This includes the health screening of all participants (including coaches & support personnel). All personnel on-site should be recorded.
• Reduction in the overall duration of the activity.
• Participants arrive ready to train and leave immediately (no changing room or shower use).
• Additional signage, hand sanitisation stations and deep cleaning implemented.
• No equipment sharing in any circumstances.
• Activity should take place in a predefined area which is visually marked out and directionally signed.
• The space required in this area should reflect the nature and intensity of the activity.
• There should be in excess of 5m social distancing between each of the predefined areas.
• The Cleaning & Ventilation of facilities should be conducted in accordance with the Government’s most recent Work Safely Protocol.
• The training must be supervised by a branch-registered Club Covid-19 Compliance Officer.

Coaching Guidelines:

• Any demonstration of equipment or technique should ensure that a minimum of 2m social distancing is maintained.
• Individual equipment should not be shared.
• In the case of fixed equipment, cleaning of such equipment must be completed immediately after demonstration and before the individual participant uses it.
• There should be no hands-on adjustments or physical contact during training sessions.
• Coaches and trainers are asked to refer to the HSE guidance on wearing of face coverings, which is available here: When to wear a face covering – HSE.ie

Clubs undertaking indoor activity must:

• Implement thorough and regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. If disinfection of an area is required, it must be performed in addition to cleaning, never as a substitute for cleaning.
• Ensure contact/touch surfaces such as table tops, door handles, and handrails are visibly clean at all times. Additionally, sports equipment should be cleaned before and after use.
• Provide coaches/ participants with essential cleaning materials to keep their own areas clean (for example wipes/disinfection products, paper towels and waste bins/bags).
• Records should be maintained for all cleaning.

Additional Guidance for Hockey Clubs:

Hockey clubs should seek to maintain overarching structures and basic protective measures throughout the winter season. This includes the use of COVID Compliance Officers (CCOs) for matches and the ongoing promotion of good respiratory & hand hygiene along with the wearing of face coverings in relevant settings and considering indoor space densities and duration of indoor activities.

Munster Hockey is pleased to announce the launching of the Munster Hockey Academy. This Academy has been set up with the aim to identify, develop and educate potential elite level players within Munster and to upskill and develop coaches.

The Munster Hockey Academy caters for U15 and U17 boys and girls across the province. It is divided into three regional centres based in Limerick, Cork and Waterford. Each regional centre has a Regional Coordinator – Róisín Upton (Limerick), Yvonne O’Byrne (Cork) and Stuart Greene (Waterford) and a coaching team that consists of a Head Coach, assistant coaches and volunteer shadow coaches.

Munster Hockey are looking to appoint enthusiastic volunteer shadow coaches for all Academy squads. The main role of shadow coaches will be to assist the head and assistant coaches in delivering training sessions to the players. Shadow coaches will also get the opportunity to learn from some of Munster’s top coaches. This role is ideal for young coaches or those who have the ambition to develop and progress as a coach.

To apply, please complete this APPLICATION FORM. The deadline is Friday 17 th September 2021. Please note: applicants must be 17 years or older. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact coaching@munsterhockey.ie

Cork C of I

Catholic Institute

Head coach: Ollie O’Connor
Manager: Gary O’Connor
Players in: Daniel Potts (Limerick HC)
Players out: N/A
Captain: Ivan Moore
Vice Captain: Gary O’Connor

Ambitions this season: After a season of starts and stops, we are looking forward to a good run in all competitions, both in Munster and in Irish hockey competitions. We are expecting tough competition given the drop outs from the Division but have had a great run in of training sessions over the last few weeks, with coach Ollie O’Connor.

Our main goal this season is to play with confidence and execute our game plan, and hoping the goals will follow. We are targeting a result in home games in Rosbrien along with exposing the younger members of the squad to lots of Div.1 hockey over the course of the season.

Key Player(s): Ed Gleeson (Sweeper / CB),  Nick Lampp (Midfield) & Christopher Ryan (Forward)

Rising Stars: Tiarnan Gaffney (Forward), Bryan Smyth (Midfield) & Jack Stockil (Defence)

Comment from the Head Coach: “From a personal point of view, it has been great being back with my club surrounded by friends and family. It is just great to get out to train and play matches – and we hope to complete the season. Silverware is every club’s ambition at the start of the season – we have a great bunch of players – both young and experienced – dreamland would be to qualify for one of the EYHL places. We will prepare for every game as if it’s our last and see where that takes us. The players have worked very hard in preseason and can’t wait to get going.”

UCC

Head coach: Gareth Watkins
Players in: John Deane, Adam Beamish (Midleton), Ben West (Doncaster HC) , Ronan Kingsbury (Watstonians HC)
Players out: Simon Dring (n/a), Stephen Jermyn, Steven Scanlan, Reece Hawtrey (Ashton),
Ambitions this season: Challenge for an EY2 spot.

Key Player(s): Evin McClure and James Feely will be looking to make the most of their, now, more senior positions as the Kilkenny midfield partnership come into their third year at the club. Tristan Walsh, Jack Marlborough and Conor Beck are expected to lead from the back in their last year with the college.

Rising Stars:  Second year Conor McCormack will be looking to build on his impressive, yet, short lived start with the club last year.

Comment from the Head Coach:  “We are looking forward to getting back to league hockey this year. After the long break the focus in preseason has been about getting the team back together and introducing new faces. With a lot of senior players in their last year we want to make the most of the season ahead and if we play to our potential we believe we can push for a top 3 finish.”

Ashton