Bann to host IHL finals
Banbridge Hockey Club are delighted to confirm that they will host the Irish Hockey League finals weekend on the weekend of the 5th and 6th April 2014.
Neil Madeley, President of Banbridge Hockey Club stated; “We are delighted to have been selected by the Irish Hockey Association to host the finals weekend of the Irish Hockey League tournament next April. We submitted a comprehensive bid to the IHA to host this tournament and are pleased that we have been chosen despite stiff competition from other clubs. This event will be a great boost for the club and the Banbridge district. ”
The Irish Hockey League is made up of 12 participating teams in each of the Men’s & Women’s hockey leagues, with the biggest clubs in Irish hockey competing to lift the Men’s and Ladies titles and qualifying for one of Ireland’s places in the European Hockey competitions . The League games will take place on back to back weekends during March with the final stages of the tournament taking place in Banbridge on the weekend of the 5th and 6th April.
Neil added; “We have top class grounds and facilities at Banbridge Hockey Club and we look forward to hosting the finals of this tournament here and welcoming players and supporters from all over the island to our club. Those competing in the Irish Hockey League finals will be the top teams from across the island of Ireland and it will be great to have such talent on display here in Banbridge. The club will now be working hard to ensure that we deliver a great tournament that weekend and obviously it would be even more rewarding for the club and town if our Men’s 1st XI were competing in this prestigious finale to the IHL! ”
Banbridge will start their IHL campaign with a home game against Cork on 1st March 2014. A full list of the IHL fixtures can be found here.