Boys get chance to shine

MEN'S HOCKEY:A WEEK on and the sudden death of Andrew Chambers continues to overshadow the game, especially in Cork. The passing of the 31-year-old player, coach, father and partner, who was a central figure around Garyduff, revived memories of other passings that have shaped lives in the hockey community.

And it is a small community, in which the game remains vibrant because children and grandchildren buy into a sport which runs in families.

The most recent figures from the Irish Sports Council show that hockey has 23,239 members in Ireland. That is the game’s strength and, perhaps for those looking for more publicity and media attention, its weakness too.

Because of that, Andrew’s death has a greater impact. And given he spent a valuable year with Monkstown in Dublin, his influence in the game reached far beyond Munster.

The timing of the tragedy – as Christmas decorations go up (prematurely) around the cities – adds to the sadness, and will also bring back the names of other players who were well known in hockey circles and who departed long before their time.

A few come to mind immediately, including the inimitable Jacqui Potter, one of the most talented internationals, male or female, to emerge in Ireland and after whom the Leinster Senior Cup is now named; Frank Green, a talented Queen’s University player from Lisburn, who collapsed during an Ireland training session on the Vico Road in Killiney, Dublin; and Alan Ruddock, a fearsome winger for Trinity and Avoca and lover of cricket who died not so long ago in his whites.

There have been many sudden deaths in other sports. In that light it may be a timely moment to mention a book being published today in the Royal College of Surgeons called Sports Emergencies: Management Scenarios. Written by doctors Brian Devitt and John O’Byrne, it outlines how to manage emergencies on the field.

Meanwhile, on the pitch this weekend, the boy’s interprovincial tournament will take place from today through Sunday at Newpark School, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin.

There is also a full programme of Leinster league matches.

FIXTURES: Friday – Boys Interprovincials (Newpark School):10am: U-16 – Leinster v Ulster; Noon: Under-18 – Leinster v Ulster; 2pm: Under-16 – Leinster v Munster; 4pm: Under-18 – Leinster v Munster.

Saturday – Leinster senior league – Division One:Corinthians v Pembroke, 2.30, Whitechurch; Weston v UCD, Griffeen Valley, 1pm; Monkstown v Fingal, Rathdown, 1.30; Glenanne v Three Rock Rovers, Glenanne Park, TBO. Division Two: Suttonians v Bray, Sutton Park 12.30; Trinity v Clontarf, Grange Road 1.30; Navan v Rathgar Chiefs, Kings Hospital 12.30. Boys Interprovincials: 10am: U16 – Munster v Ulster; Noon: U18 – Munster v Ulster; 2pm: U16 – Munster v Leinster; 4pm: U18 – Munster v Leinster.

Sunday – Boys Interprovincials: 10am: U16 – Ulster v Munster; Noon: U18 – Ulster v Munster; 2pm: U16 – Ulster v Leinster; 4pm: U18 – Ulster v Leinster.