Leinster hold key in AIL proposal

HOCKEY: If those who are sceptical about the merits of an All-Ireland League had hoped the Munster branch, the format's most vocal supporters, had given up on the idea their hopes were somewhat dashed at last weekend's Irish Hockey Association seminar in Dublin where the province was more insistent than ever that a national league is the only way forward for the sport in Ireland.

While there are, of course, a variety of opinions on the issue in each province Munster sees itself and Ulster cancelling each other out on the proposal, leaving Leinster, in Munster's view, with the "casting vote".

"Leinster are crucial to this," said Munster president John Rose, "without them going ahead with us and starting some form of competition it's dead in the water, unfortunately. I would like to see the two branches coming together, to see if we can gel together, to form a league that would be the basis of an All-Ireland League. We'll be seeking a separate meeting with Leinster to discuss it and to see if we can get something going.

"We will continue to pursue the AIL, even if Ulster don't come in, but we would prefer consensus, we would prefer Ulster to be involved," Rose added.

"But Ulster's preference is to extend the interprovincial series, not curtail it - as far as Munster is concerned the cost factor of that alone means it's out of the question.

"We have committed ourselves to this season's interpros but, beyond that, we're making no commitment at all.

"We are doing this at the request of our players, it's not a solo run or an ego trip for the branch," Rose continued.

"The players just want better quality hockey, week in week out - it is our duty, as a branch, to represent that opinion at Irish level.

"The simple fact is that the present system isn't working, it's not helping the development and progression of players to Irish senior level.

"The men are rated 23 in the world at the moment - if we fall to 33 in a few years' time and then move up to 30, do we call that progression? The women are higher but even there we could be doing better - Ukraine (joint 13th with Ireland), for example, weren't even rated a couple of years ago.

"Why not just give it a try? It's not going to be written in stone - it's better to try and fail than stick your head in the sand and hope the whole thing will go away," said Rose.

It's a view shared by Cork Harlequins' Karen Bateman, the former Irish international. "I'm definitely in favour of the AIL, as, I believe, almost all Munster players are. Everyone in our team believes in their heart if we were playing to that level week in, week out we'd be a different team. As it is we're often out of our depth when we play in the Irish Cup because we're just not used to that level of competition, to that pace of hockey.

"I know the expense is a huge issue, and sponsorship is part of that too, there is a bigger picture, but people have looked into the costing of it all and they believe it can work.

"I just think it would make a big difference not just to Munster hockey but to Irish hockey as a whole."

The big game of the weekend is the meeting at Milltown of last season's top two in Leinster, Old Alexandra and champions Loreto. UCD, who have been joined by Munster under-18 captain Sarah Gleeson, host Three Rock at Belfield, while Hermes are away to Corinthian. Pembroke Wanderers play Clontarf and Railway Union meet Genesis.