Union rejects criticism over actions

In response to a request from The Irish Times for clarification on a number of issues arising out of the Leinster Ladies' Hockey Union's disputes with Loreto and Hermes, neither of which has yet been resolved, the union issued a statement last evening directly answering five of the 14 queries put to them.

The union confirmed, for the first time, that Loreto Hockey Club have been docked three points - and that the Senior A table should show 31 points beside their name, and not 34 - but added that "as an appeal has been lodged against this decision it would be inappropriate to comment further on this matter until this appeal has been fully considered".

For the same reason Loreto, too, have not added to their statement from last weekend when they announced that they had taken legal advice on the decision, which they are appealing. In response to the question "do you still maintain that this whole affair has not been poorly handled by the Leinster Council and do you believe that your decisions have been in the best interest of fair play and for the good of Leinster hockey?" the Council replied: "The Leinster Ladies' Hockey Union at all times has sought to administer hockey in the best interests of our clubs and their players in the spirit of fair play. This continues to be the case and we reject any implication or allegation to the contrary."

Their fifth and final response, to the 14 queries submitted, was in relation to a request to them to comment on the Ulster Branch's decision to reschedule the Victorians v Ballymoney game, postponed from before Christmas, for the end of the season so that Ballymoney's two Irish internationals would be available to play in the game. This decision contrasted with Leinster's verdict on the postponed pre-Christmas match between Hermes and Old Alexandra when they ruled that Hermes' five internationals cannot play in the re-scheduled fixture. The statement said that it would not be correct "for the Leinster Branch to comment on the internal running of another branch's affairs. Each branch has responsibility and discretion for the running of its own competitions".

Regarding the nine unanswered queries, three related to the Loreto case, which the union, understandably, will not comment on until the appeal has been heard; another was dismissed as hypothetical (which it was); three more, in relation to the Hermes case, were not addressed and the final two, regarding an agreement the Council says was made at a meeting last April, were not directly addressed.

Meanwhile Pegasus and Ireland sweeper Arlene Thompson, who leaves for San Diego today with the Irish squad, has spoken out in support of both Hermes and Loreto. Thompson described the decision to dock Loreto three points as "incredible" and contrasted the support given by the Ulster Branch to Pegasus - who like Hermes provide the Irish panel with five players - with Leinster's handling of their dispute with the senior champions. "If Ireland do qualify for the Olympics, people will be very quick to say `God, aren't they great', but in the build-up to the Qualifier they don't seem to be prepared to help the clubs who provide the international players," she said. "I never understood from day one why Leinster decided not to go down the route of the Ulster and Munster branches by splitting their league this season. By doing so it is obvious that Ulster supported Pegasus and we are very grateful for that - and I'm sure Harlequins are grateful to Munster - but I do not understand the reasoning behind Hermes not being helped.

"You have to help a team who aspire to represent and do well for Ireland in Europe and to provide players for the Irish team - you cannot penalise them domestically for having international players,["] she said.

"From an international's point of view it is very disappointing that teams are not being supported by their branches. It seems the more successful you are the more they want to knock you down, when all you're trying to do is bring domestic hockey to a higher level, to the point where Irish hockey will be respected."

Hermes and Loreto will both be in action this Sunday in the Coca Cola-sponsored Leinster Senior Cup semi-finals at Grange Road. Hermes play Old Alexandra before the all-Senior B clash between Loreto II and Clontarf.

MUNSTER SQUAD (for Senior Interprovincial tournament, March 3-5): F Connery, J Hyland, A Keane (all Hermes), J Horgan (Trinity), R Wolfe (Old Alexandra), O Curtin, J Hodgins, N Kearney, A McCarthy, C O'Callaghan, M O'Sullivan (all UCC), C Ronan (Univ of Limerick), J Dillon, J Hales (both Church of Ireland), J Chapple, H Chapple (both Harlequins).