MEN'S HOCKEY: THIS HAS been a week of blogs alive as Southern Fried and The Hook highlighted the misgivings of Annadale following the decision to replay their Irish Hockey League match against Cookstown. You can understand Annadale's problem.
Not only do they face Cookstown in Coolnafraky on Saturday in the Ulster Senior League but 24 hours later face them again at Coolnafraky for a replay of a match that they were leading 4-1 in the second half before it was called off because the pitch was freezing.
Needless to say Annadale are not exactly enamoured about the Irish Hockey Association's decision to start the IHL replay from 0-0, given their winning margin in the last game. The club has said that the decision is not in the best interests of the development of the IHL and that it did not take into account the bonus-point rule (an extra point is awarded if a team wins by more than two goals or looses by less than two goals) nor make it clear what would happen if the same thing happened during a finals' weekend.
The groups in the competition are also decided by goal difference if points alone do not separate the teams. Essentially Annadale have had four goals wiped off their overall tally as well as being denied likely win points and a two-goal bonus point.
In a statement from Annadale printed on both websites, the club also voiced concern about the financial implications. "The IHL (committee) confirmed there is no precise rule for the treatment of abandoned games," said the statement. "We are also concerned at financial implications for re-arranged matches, particularly for those with extended journeys and overnight expense. The IHL is a club league. We feel that this is a matter for all clubs in Ireland and they must be represented and have an input to these important decisions, rules and regulations."
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday: Leinster Senior League: Division one: Railway Union v Three Rock Rovers, Park Avenue, 2.0; Kilkenny v Glenanne, Kilkenny College, 1.0; Corinthians v Fingal, Whitechurch, 1.25; Monkstown v YMCA, Rathdown, 3.0. Sunday: Irish Hockey League: Monkstown v Lisnagarvey, Rathdown, 3.0; Fingal v TRR, ALSAA, 1pm; Cookstown v Annadale, Coolnafranky, 2.30.
Leinster Senior Cup: Glenanne v Suttonions, Glenanne Park, 2.0; Naas v Avoca, Naas, 2.30; Clontarf v Railway Union, Mountemple, 2.45; Corinthians v Dublin University, Whitechurch, 2.0.
