Thursday, April 30: Hockey Ireland’s Development Team marked a significant milestone this month with the successful delivery of two inaugural Senior Indoor Schools Tournaments for boys and girls. Held in the indoor sports facilities at Gormanston, co. Meath, the events welcomed over 300 young players from across Leinster, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster in a first-ever celebration of indoor hockey at school level.
The tournaments served as an exciting first experience of indoor hockey for many of the 8 boys’ teams and 18 girls’ teams who took part. The format, played over two action-packed one-day events, saw roughly 100 boys and 220 girls compete in a series of high-energy matches. With four indoor courts in play simultaneously, over 60 matches were completed across both competitions, showcasing an impressive level of skill, and enthusiasm.
In the Girls’ competition, Loreto Beaufort and High School Dublin were crowned champions following a series of closely contested matches. In the Boys’ event, Newtown School emerged victorious, displaying outstanding technical ability and game understanding throughout the day.
Organised and delivered by Hockey Ireland’s Development Team, the tournament benefited greatly from the dedication of school staff, umpires, volunteers, and a particularly enthusiastic group of Transition Year students from Loreto Balbriggan, whose support helped ensure the smooth running of the events.
“This initiative was about more than just competition,” said Kenny Carroll, Regional Development Officer at Hockey Ireland. “It was about introducing the indoor format to schools, giving players a chance to experience a new dimension of the game, and highlighting how indoor hockey can sharpen basic skills that are highly transferable to the outdoor game.”
The overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, coaches, and spectators reinforces the value of this initiative. With strong demand and clear developmental benefits, Hockey Ireland now aims to establish the Indoor Schools Tournament as a permanent fixture in the annual calendar.
If your school is interested in learning more about indoor hockey, reach out to your Local Development Officer today!