Glenanne kick off their campaign away to Weston
THE new season has begun for Glenanne Men’s 1s hockey team as they kicked off their Leinster League Division campaign with a 3-2 defeat away to Weston at St Andrews on Tuesday night, reports James Ffrench.
The men’s side come into the season amidst a raft of personnel and management changes, alongside a change in the division they will compete in this year.
Glenanne won the EY League when they beat Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club in the 2017/18 final and finished third on goal difference in last season’s campaign but have controversially withdrawn from the league this year.
Graham Shaw and Shane O’Donoghue who formed the coaching team for the Men’s 1 team last season have both left their post, with the former Ireland Women’s Hockey manager taking a step back from coaching while O’Donoghue has joined Avoca as an assistant coach.
There has also been a heavy turnover of players within the Glenanne squad, a number of players have departed the club with seven new players having joined the squad for the upcoming season.
Gary Shaw, who scored both goals for Glenanne on Tuesday night, has taken the lead on coaching the team this season in their wake.
They will participate in Leinster Division One for the up coming season, which runs until December.
Following the conclusion of the provincial season at the end of the year, the top three teams from Leinster Division 1 along with the best teams from the rest of the provinces join up to form the EY Second Division.
Those who finish in the top four will form an end of season round robin stage, with the top two teams gaining promotion to the EY League.
Glenanne’s Men’s I’s will also participate in the Irish Senior Cup, the oldest senior cup competition in the world.
The club has four women’s teams competing in their respective competitions this season as well.
The Women’s One’s team finished 3rd in Leinster Division One last year and will aim to better that this season and return to the EY League.
Mark Lambe’s side will kick off their season away to Corinthians Hockey Club in St Columbus College on the 14th September.
