Clubs vote YES to All Ireland League

Banbridge and Lisnagarvey will go head to head in an IHL next year. Pic: Rowland White / Presseye

The voted followed lengthy discussions at Sunday morning / afternoon’s Irish Hockey Association EGM.

Any successful motion required 75% of the representatives present at the Stillorgan Hotel to vote in favour.

Option One of a full IHL season for both divisions of the men’s league with a full season for IHL1 in the women’s game and an end of season tournament for division two was voted down, only receiving 51% of the votes in support.

Option Two was then passed with 87.8% voting in favour.

That means, from next season, Banbridge are all but nailed on to be playing in a full IHL season from next season along with the top four or five clubs in Ulster, the top four or five in Munster and top one or two in Munster, depending on the result of a play-off.

IHL Division Two will take the form of an end of season tournament.

Banbridge Ladies will also aspire to take part in an IHL in future years. The top Ladies division will also be a full IHL season, with IHL2 an end of season tournament.

What do YOU think of the vote? We want all reaction. Email us at the address above or tweet @BanLeader.

For full reaction to the historic vote, see Tuesday’s Banbridge Leader.