Women’s Munster Division 1 Season Preview

The new women’s season gets underway this weekend after the Munster Branch belatedly filled the registrar positions. Munster Division 1 has a new look this year for a number of reasons. First of all UCC have been promoted to EY IHL 1 and they will join Catholic Institute as the Munster representatives at this level. Secondly women’s clubs voted to allow second teams into division 1 if their first team are in EY 1. This means Catholic Institute seconds will now compete in Division 1, having won division 2, however they can not qualify for EY competitions. Lastly, Blackrock have withdrawn from Division 1 after a significant loss of players which has given Waterford a reprieve as they will now retain their Division 1 status.

In EY 1 Catholic Institute are a well established team now and will be hoping to continue to fight at the top end of the table. UCC have managed to bring a lot of new faces in, without losing too many which should give them a competitive chance of retaining their EY 1 status this season.

In Munster Division 1, defending champions Harlequins are likely to be unbackable favourites to take the title and will be hoping to go one further this year and get to EY 1. They will of course compete in EY 2 after Christmas along with Ashton, who will be competing at this level for the first time. Pushing Ashton all the way will be the likes of Bandon, C of I and last years surprise package Crescent.

A club by club review follows:

Club: Ashton HC
Head Coach: Darren Wilkinson
Manager: Michelle Nagle
Captain: Emma Nagle
Vice Captain: Kate Harvey
Players in: Ali Clein (Catholic Institute), Elizabeth Tuohy (UCC), Isobel Kingston (UCC), Jen Levis (Pembroke Wanderers), Sophie Clein (UCC)
Players out: Anna Kingston (abroad), Becky Oppermann (abroad), Brónagh O’Shaughnessy (UCC), Éabha Curran (UCC), Rachel Atkinson (abroad), Susie Nolan (UCC)
Ambitions for the season ahead: This season, our aim is to be highly competitive in EYHL2, a competition we’re playing in for the first time. Our primary goal is to finish at the top end of the Munster league to secure a place in EYHL2 for another season, and to pick up some silverware.
Key Player(s): There are a lot of new players joining the squad this season who will all be aiming to play key roles alongside proven players such as Amy Noonan, Emma Nagle and Kate Harvey.
Players breaking through/Rising Stars: Saoirse Cunningham & Zara Byrne

Club: Bandon
Head coach: Olivia Roycroft
Manager: Susan McCourt
Captain: Rachel Barry
Players in: Clíona Barrett (Blackrock) Emily Brink (South Africa) Greta Deeke (Germany)
Players out: Lily Carey (work)
Ambitions this season: With new teams in & out of the league this season, we will be looking to continue our competitive streak for the top positions while also keeping our eyes on the various cup competitions.
Key Player(s): Ingrid Burns – her vision for the game and creativity when it comes to making plays means she is a force to be reckoned with.
Niamh Callanan – Her pace and work ethic drives our attacking game. Her clinical ability in the circle will be crucial this year.
Pam Forde – Pam’s reaction and ability to read the game minutes ahead of everyone give her the edge to make some incredible tackles when required.
Rising Stars: Kate Collins, Kate’s second year playing senior hockey this year but her calm approach and silky skills means she is definitely going to play a key role in our team.
Maia McCourt – her speed and ability to control the ball in the most difficult of situations makes for very exciting times when she is on the ball!
Comment from the Head Coach: “We had some good results last season despite having a very small squad. We’re looking forward to building on that this year with some exciting, and much needed new additions to the team.”

Club: Catholic Institute
Coach: Eimear Cregan
Assistant Coach: Kym Daly
Assistant Coach: Ger O’Carroll
Manager: Brenda Moloney
Captain: Anna Horan
Vice Captain: Michelle Barrett
Players in: Tabby Billingham, Anna Rose Benson (Limerick)
Players out: Leah Clery (Old Alex), Tory Byrne (College Abroad) Faye Luby (UCC) Ali Clein (Ashton)
Ambitions for the season ahead: To reach the EYHL playoffs.
Key Players: Irish Senior international Naomi Carroll, Captain Anna Horan, Vice Captain Michelle Barrett and Goalkeeper Pam Smithwick Hearne

Club: Cork Church of Ireland
Coach: Leslie Ruddock
Manager: Niamh Lehane
Captain: TBC
Players In: Hannah Honner (Returning), Julie Coyne (Returning), Aoife Collins (Returning), Laura Bermingham (UCC).
Players Out: Isabelle Martin (UCC), Ella Lehane (UCC), Nicole Clarke (UCC), Katie Wilson (UCC), Daire Healy (TBC), Niamh O’Leary (Dublin).
Ambitions for the season: Build from where the team was last year. Improve on our league position and bring through some of the up-and-coming young players. Enjoy our opportunities in Irish cup competitions, while making a good impression in our own provincial cup competitions.
We welcome back four Division 1 players, which is a positive sign for the club, but unfortunately, we are also losing some to college places.
Key Player(s): Nicola Kerr, Alex O’Grady, Hannah Honner.
Players breaking through/rising stars: Sally Murray and Ruby Lehane

Club: Crescent HC
Coach: John Meyler
Manager: Eamonn Byrne
Captain: Emily Scully
Players in: N/A
Players out: Amy Connolly (Strasbourg on Erasmus), Zoe Page (Eindhoven on Co-op), Fay Graham (Loughborough University, UK)
Ambition for the season ahead: Last season we competed in Div 1 for the 1st time in our brief history and finished mid-table. The ambition for the team for this year is to improve on last year’s position and continue to develop and to enjoy the season similar to last year.
Key Players: Maria Campbell, Elizabeth Scully & Cliona Byrne
Rising Stars: Alicia Reddan, Aoife Toomey and Saoirse Gaffney who represented Munster U16 last year. We are looking forward to seeing these players continue to develop, by playing both schools hockey and Ladies Div1 this year. Jayne Casey has progressed to our Div1 squad after playing a key role last year in our 2nd Team who were promoted to Div4.

Club: Cork Harlequins
Head coach: Clíodhna Sargent and Yvonne O’Byrne
Manager: Vanessa Sargent
Assistant Manager: Pat Sargent
Players in: None
Players out: Áine Power (UCC), Ruby Walsh (Dartmouth University), Beth Anne O’Farrell (UCC)
Co-Captains: Michelle Barry and Niamh Sexton
Ambitions this season: Our ambition is to be very competitive and hard to beat in both provincial and National competitions.
Key Player(s): Whilst the squad will be looking again to the leadership of Michelle Barry and Niamh Sexton, and the experience of Cliodhna Sargent and Yvonne O Byrne, there are many key players in the team that will play a huge role in the success of our season.
Rising Stars: One of our top goal scorers from last season Joy Sampson will be one to keep an eye on again this season, alongside other forwards Rachel O’Shea & Alex Dale. Goalkeeper Lucy Nixon will again have an important role to play after proving her value between the posts for Quins last season. We also have a number of U18 players stepping up into the squad for the first time and we look forward to watching these players grow throughout the season.
Comment from the Head Coach: We are looking forward to an enjoyable season with many competitive games. We haven’t had the opportunity to play any preseason games but training has been very physical and we hope to showcase this intensity throughout the season.

Club: UCC
Coach: Darren Collins
Assistants: Rachael Kohler and Caroline Collins
Analysis: Len Browne
Manager: Trish Murphy
Captain: Jane Murphy
Players in: Aine Power (Harlequins), Beth Anne O Farrell (Harlequins), Bronagh O Shaughnessy (Ashton), Eabha Curran (Ashton)
Players out:Abi O Mahony (Pembroke Wanderers)
Ambitions for the season ahead: The main ambition of this season will be to stay in the EYHL1 and develop the players to the standard required.
Key player(s): Robyn Murphy, Julia McCarthy, Aine Power, Emma O Sullivan, Jane Murphy, Lauren Cripps
Players breaking through/rising stars: Aine Power