Hockey is a sport played around the world. It is very popular in countries such as India, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Australia and Ireland. In the next coming weeks I am going to tell you about different tournaments in these countries.
To Start it all off, we are going to Ireland my home country. Hockey is quite popular here but doesn't have the same number of players as rugby, soccer or native Irish sports hurling and gaelic. Hockey is played mostly in schools with several big competitions through out the year. Ireland is split in to four regions/provinces Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connaught.
The biggest of all the schoolboy competitions in Ireland's 4 provinces is the 'All Irelands'. This is where a host school from somewhere in Ireland holds the event and the top 16 schoolboy teams come and compete over 3 days to try and win. There are 4 groups, with 4 teams in each. The first 2 days of the competition are group games. If you finish first in you group you then proceed to play against one of the other 3 Irish schools that qualified out of their own group. On the Friday the semi finals and the final takes place, this is the day that separates all the teams. Who's the fittest team and who wants it the most. There is nothing better than playing in the All Irelands and becoming Irish champions.
photo credits to @ThreeRockRovers
