YMCA young guns point way to a brighter indoor future

It was refreshing to read that YMCA won the under-14 Tommy O’Sullivan Indoor Cup title for the second time in three years last week in Donabate.

They went unbeaten in the tournament where nine teams competed and where the standard was noticeably higher than before. Avoca, Railway Union, YMCA and defending champions Three Rock Rovers made up the last four.

More importantly it may point to a more healthy future for the indoor game, which this year became a shambles with the students at Queen’s declared men’s national indoor champions on New Year’s Day without having to play a national decider.

Queens took the honours as Leinster were not in a position to put forward a team for the proposed IHA finals weekend.

Railway Union also came up with the indoor goods last weekend when they bravely held on to Ireland’s status at the EuroHockey Indoor Club Champions Challenge I in the Netherlands. Two late goals against Hungary’s Soroksari in Rotterdam did the job. That’s two good indoor hockey stories in one week. Things may finally be looking up.

Seven goals

The Leinster Senior League continues and struggling Avoca, who will have been boosted by last week’s seven goals against Rathgar Chiefs, face Pembroke.

Three Rock Rovers face Railway Union in what could be an interesting game. Sometimes sides just back from intense indoor tournaments need time to readjust.