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England first up for Junior Green Army in South Africa

After four months delay, what is another day as the Junior Green Army will belatedly get their World Cup campaign up and running on Saturday afternoon against England.

In this frequently adjusted tournament, David Passmore’s side had been due to play Ukraine on Friday morning but, despite their Herculean efforts to take part, this week saw those hopes formally end. It means Ireland are now in a three-team group with two to advance to the quarter-finals. 

** You can read more about Ukraine’s efforts to take part in Mary Hannigan’s Irish Times article here

“We are delighted to be here in this beautiful venue and excited to get going,” said Passmore ahead of the event. “It is such a disappointment that Ukraine won’t be here and we send our best wishes and support for them. 

“Our aim while we are here is to be the best we can, individually and collectively, and if we can, who knows where it will take us. Of course, we want to win every game!”

The first fixture is now against a reasonably well known opponent, Ireland having travelled to England for a training camp a couple of weeks ago and having enjoyed a series win over GB last summer.

But just 10 of the 20 players were named for the December date for this World Cup, showing quite a turnaround in the interim with 13 teenagers involved.

South Africa, in the final group game, will be a more experienced line-up and some well-known opponents with Kayla de Waal, Tamlyn Kock and Olympian Edith Molikoe part of the indoor tour party to Gormanston in February.

“It is a massively important event for the development of these players,” Passmore added of the special opportunity to test their mettle on such a stage and against different style of opposition. 

“They have been in our system for three or four years but developing outside of Europe and playing teams from all around the world on a different continent, only then can you establish and understand where they are going in hockey.” 

Domestically, it’s phase one of the women’s EYHL2 playoff series with Corinthian up against Cork C of I and Queen’s hosting UCC.

In both cases, the hosts will be the favourites. Corinthian built up for the date with a good value 3-2 win in midweek against Monkstown, ending the sky blues perfect record in Leinster and EYHL2 competition.

Cork C of I, though, have won their last two trips on the road – at NUIG and Lurgan – which ultimately saw them through. 

UCC go to Queen’s without the services of key player, the Potchefstroom-based Caoimhe Perdue. 

Saturday 2nd April 2022

Women

Junior World Cup

Pool A: Ireland v England, Potchefstroom 4pm

EYHL Division 2

Quarter-Final: Corinthian v Cork C of I, Whitechurch Park, 1.15pm; Queens University v UCC, Malone Playing Fields, 12.45pm

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Whelan helps Rovers take men’s EYHL title down to last day

Ben Whelan’s brick wall performance saw Three Rock Rovers withstand a Glenanne onslaught to edge a 2-1 win on Thursday night and make sure the men’s EY Hockey League title goes down to the final day.

The result lifts Rovers to within two points of Lisnagarvey who go to Banbridge on Saturday while the Dubliners have a match-up at Rathdown against Monkstown.

In the Thursday win, Glenanne made most of the early running but could not find a way through with Harry MacMahon somehow blocking a full power Shane O’Donoghue shot from mid-circle on the right post. 

Against the run of play, a deflected crash ball was blocked by goalkeeper Alex Henry but only as far as Ben Johnson (pictured) who slapped in the only goal of a first half, marked by a number of cards.

In their second half, the Glens got level when a baseline foul led to a stroke which O’Donoghue flicked high into the goal. Three Rock replied quickly, Jody Hosking left with plenty of time to smash in a corner which had been blocked by the number one runner with nine minutes gone in the second half.

After that, it was one-way traffic with Glenanne pushing on, needing a win to keep up their chances of making the top two. But they could not find a way beyond Whelan who made a plethora of good stops as the Glens ran up seven corners, the pick of them from a Richie Shaw sweep from the injection area and, with two minutes left, plucking an O’Donoghue drag out of the top corner.

It means the destination will not be determined until Saturday but Garvey hold the aces at this stage, a draw likely enough when they go to Bann. It is a meeting of two sides in strong form with the Hillsborough club on a five game winning streak while Banbridge have not lost since early October.

The Havelock hosts are guaranteed a home quarter-final in the playoffs and a win would give them a potentially easier draw on paper.

At Rathdown, meanwhile, Monkstown are hoping to become the first side other than Lisnagarvey to beat Three Rock this season; indeed, Rovers have not lost to anyone else since November 2019.

Outside of the top table, there are lots of other issues to be decided. Relegation is a straight contest between Corinthian and Pembroke. With a 12-goal advantage on goal difference over Pembroke, it looks like a draw might be enough for the reds when they host YMCA at Whitechurch Park.

Pembroke’s game against UCD starts 45 minutes before Corinthian get under way and so will potentially set a target midway through the final fixture. Both of the relegation-threatened sides have only won once since the turn of the year.

Annadale and YMCA are intertwined in pursuit of sixth place and the final playoff place. YM are in the box seat with a one-point advantage and that game against Corinthian. Dale go to Glenanne, needing a result to have a chance of a quarter-final spot.

The promotion playoff series also kicks off in earnest. Clontarf face a hasty rematch against Cork Harlequins, aiming to reprise their 6-1 win from three weeks ago. Quins were understrength that day due to Covid issues while the Bulls had a slightly tricky midweek 2-1 win over Dublin North.

Instonians host Bandon at Shaw’s Bridge with a number of the west Cork side hoping to add to a memorable week, the likes of Ian Perrott, Angus Seigne, Callum McCourt and Harry Forsey part of the All-Ireland schoolboys winning side.

Thursday 31st March 2022

Men

EYHL: Three Rock Rovers 2 (B Johnson, J Hosking) Glenanne 1 (S O’Donoghue)

 

Saturday 2nd April 2022

Men

EYHL Division 1: Banbridge v Lisnagarvey, Havelock Park, 2.45pm; Corinthian v YMCA, Whitechurch Park, 3.15pm; Glenanne v Annadale, St Andrew’s, 2.30pm; Monkstown v Three Rock Rovers, Rathdown, 2.30pm; Pembroke Wanderers v UCD, Serpentine Avenue, 2.30pm

EYHL2 Play-offs – Quarter-Finals: Clontarf v Cork Harlequins, Mount Temple, 3pm; Instonians v Bandon, Shaw’s Bridge, 3pm

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Ireland Under-16 girls team announced for Easter trip to Zwolle

The Irish Under-16 girls team has announced its panel for its first outing of 2022 as they travel to Zwolle, the Netherlands, for a Four Nations tournament, taking on England, Belgium and the host country.

This series will run from April 14th to 19th before the side have a series against Scotland in Edinburgh in early July and a further tournament in mid-July in Terrassa, Spain.

Fixture schedule (all Irish time)

Friday, April 15: Ireland v Belgium, 2pm

Saturday, April 16: Ireland v England, 4pm

Sunday, April 17: Ireland v Netherlands, 12pm

 

NAME SCHOOL CLUB PROVINCE
Aliya Davis Holy Child Killiney Muckross LEINSTER
Amy Handcock Kilkenny College Naas LEINSTER STH
Anna Campbell Crescent College Comp Crescent MUNSTER
Annie Cunningham Royal School Armagh Lurgan Ladies ULSTER
Aoife O’Meara Muckross Park College Pembroke LEINSTER
Charlie Bowman  (GK) Wallace Lisnagarvey ULSTER
Chloe Spencer Markethill High School Armagh ULSTER
Emilie O’Brien St Andrew’s Collerge Monkstown LEINSTER
Grainne Molloy (GK) Gaelcholáiste Na Mara Wicklow LEINSTER STH
Isobel Field Loreto Foxrock Avoca LEINSTER
Katie Heron Killicomaine JHS Portadown ULSTER
Kia McCartney Coleraine Grammar Coleraine ULSTER
Maebh McLoughlin Sligo Grammar Pembroke CONNACHT
Milla Fulton Wesley College Pembroke LEINSTER
Millie Jerman Hioly Child Killiney Monkstown LEINSTER
Orla Young Hughes Rathdown School Monkstown LEINSTER
Rachel Lennon Portadown College Portadown ULSTER
Rebekah Lennon Kilcomaine Jnr High Portadown ULSTER
Sarah Byrne Loreto Foxrock Avoca LEINSTER
Scarlet Taylor Royal School Armagh Armagh ULSTER
Sophie English Mount Anville Pembroke LEINSTER
NON TRAVELLING RESERVES
Emma Simmons Kilkenny College Enniscorthy
Lucy McGoldrick St. Conleth’s Avoca
Roisin O’Brien Crescent College Comp Crescent
 Grace McCool Royal School Armagh Armagh
Dina Finn Brighton College Brighton & Hove
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Bandon GS leave it late to end 17-year All-Ireland wait

All-Ireland Schoolboys Championships final

Bandon Grammar 2 (J Lucas, S Dale) Banbridge Academy 2 (M Stevenson, A McKee), Bandon win shoot-out 3-1.

Sam Dale went down in All-Ireland Schoolboy Hockey folklore with a breathtaking late goal for Bandon Grammar and then subsequently completed the job in the shoot-out to overcome Banbridge Academy in the final at Wesley.

It ended a 17-year wait for Bandon, harking back to the days of the Harte twins and Jason Lynch, and Dale was relishing the moment after the final whistle.

“We never give up; that’s what we are about!” he said afterwards. “The perfect team, we have such great desire – late goal in the semis, late goal in the final and that is why this team is so special! We bind together and never give up!”

His side looked set for narrow defeat at the hands of a hugely talented Banbridge but Dale summoned up an outstanding backhand strike that whizzed into the top corner with two minutes left to earn a 2-2 draw in normal time.

And after goalkeeper Harry Forsey kept out three Bann shoot-outs, Dale stepped up to dodge one way and then impudently lob over Conor Part to start the celebrations with a 3-1 success.

It crowned a perfect day for the west Cork side as they edged by King’s Hospital in the semi-final thanks to another Dale goal and one from the superb Mark Collins.

Banbridge had earlier eliminated Midleton College 4-0 in the semis with Charlie Rowe, Cody Large, Tommy Dobson and Adam McKee on the mark.

They carried that momentum into the final with Matthew Stevenson planting a low drag-flick into the bottom corner in the first quarter for a 1-0 advantage which they held into half-time.

Bandon got level when a long reverse-stick pass made it to Justin Lucas a minute after the break but Bann were back ahead quickly, McKee getting his second of the day and, initially, his side looked more likely to net again before Bandon fought back.

They won a series of corners and when Rowe picked up a yellow card, the Munster side sniffed a chance, the big one falling to Dale on the circle’s edge. He still had plenty to do but his strike was true and perfectly executed, leaving Part unable to get enough of his hands to the rising shot. Forsey gave Bandon the instant initiative in the shoot-out with a stroke save from Rowe, laying the base for the winning moment.

The Herbie Sharman Trophy also went down to a shoot-out with Wesley landing their third trophy of the season, edging out St Andrew’s in the final after the game ended scoreless in normal time. It added to their Leinster Senior League and Cup victories.

Both Dublin sides won through in the semi-finals 2-1 with St Andrew’s beating High School and Wesley getting the best of Friends School, Lisburn.

Bandon Grammar: Harry Forsey, Ian Perrott, Trenton Spencer, Josh Hamilton-Foott , Tiarnan Brown, Alan Buttimer, Jamie Horgan, Mark Collins, Callum Mc Court, Sam Dale, Angus Seigne, Justin Lucas, Glen Gash, Conor Hoban, Charlie Gilbert, Gustav Von Der Schulenberg, Ewan Cullinane, Sean Landy

Banbridge Academy: Connor Part, Luke Watt, Aaron Baxter, Seb Best, Ben Walker, Adam McKee, Ben Pollock, Josh Brownlee, Matthew McKee, Tommy Dobson, Charlie Rowe, James Evans, Cody Large, Matthew Spence, Matthew Stevenson, Lukas Moles, Ben Farson, Denver Golbey

All-Ireland Schoolboys Championships

Semi-final: Banbridge Academy 4 (C Rowe, C Large, T Dobson, A McKee) Midleton College 0; Bandon Grammar 2 (S Dale, M Collins) King’s Hospital 1 (J Kenny)

Final: Bandon Grammar 2 (J Lucas, S Dale) Banbridge Academy 2 (M Stevenson, A McKee), Bandon win shoot-out 3-1

 

Herbie Sharman Trophy

Semi-final: St Andrew’s 2 High School 1; Wesley College 2 Friends School 1

Final: Wesley College 0 St Andrew’s 0, Wesley win shoot-out

Wesley College celebrate their Herbie Sharman Trophy success

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Hockey Ireland seeking application for new members for Board of Directors

Hockey Ireland is seeking applications for new members for the Board of Directors with expressions of interest for consideration welcomed up to 17.30 Friday 8th April, 2022.

The Board is responsible for the governance of hockey in Ireland, ensuring the delivery of our Mission, Core Values and Strategy.

The board is looking to recruit for a variety of roles, while also creating a databank of suitable candidates for future vacancies. The areas of expertise include Financial Management, Governance, High Performance, Communications, Project Management, Human Resource Management, Legal, Coach/Umpire Education, Volunteer Management, Strategic Planning, Child Welfare, Commercial, Marketing, IT.

We are seeking to further strengthen the skill set and gender balance within the Board. As a Director, you have input into the deliverance of our strategy and will contribute with insight and experience at meetings.

For full information on the role of Board member, click here or on the image below: https://irelandhockey.sportlomo.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HI-Job-Final-Final.pdf

To register your interest for these vacancies, please email the Company Secretary to request an application form which will ask you to detail your interest in/reasons for applying for the role, experience as it pertains to the potential roles and detailing other assets which you could bring to Hockey Ireland. Please return via email along with a current CV to secretary@irelandhockey.sportlomo.com. All expressions of interest are request by 17.30 Friday 8th April. Representatives of the Board of Hockey Ireland will consider all applications and invite selected candidates for interview that will be held in April. Please direct any queries to the Company Secretary on secretary@irelandhockey.sportlomo.com.

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Midleton, Bandon, King’s Hos and Banbridge battle for Tasmanian Shield

The unique 2021/22 Tasmanian Shield All-Ireland Schoolboys Championships will be decided on Wednesday with Banbridge Academy, Bandon Grammar, Midleton College and King’s Hospital vying for the title.

This season, to avoid Covid complications in the usual October slot, the 16-team tournament was spread over five months, building this week’s semi-finals and final which will take place in Dublin 16.

Both the semis are on at Grange Road at 11am with 2015 champions Banbridge – the most recent winners from this quartet – up against Midleton who are looking to reach their first ever final having made it to the final four back in 2010.

King’s Hos are another looking to reach the final for the first time; they meet Bandon who reached three successive finals between 2003 and 2005, winning at the third attempt. The final will be played at 4.30pm in Wesley College

The Herbie Sharman Trophy will also have its final four play out; Friends will play Wesley in Booterstown while St Andrew’s are up against High School at St Columba’s in the semi-finals with the final to be played at Wesley at 2.30pm.

 

Tasmanian Shield

Banbridge Academy

The Banbridge Academy boys have worked hard this season and have been very successful thus far. With a number of Irish and Ulster Under-16 and Under-18 players in the squad, the team have progressed undefeated in Ulster so far this season. 

Before Christmas, the team defeated Wallace High School in a close final to win the McCullough Cup and then beat Friends’ School in the Ulster Schools’ Burney Cup Final. Twins Charlie and Louis Rowe along with Matthew McKee have become EYHL regulars for Banbridge HC this year, and Ben Pollock, Tommy Dobson and Aaron Baxter have also featured in Ireland’s top league on numerous occasions. 

Cody Large will hope to be back to his best after a recent illness, and Seb Best is striving to get fully fit after a long-standing injury. Head Coach Simon Jess is desperate to get his hands on the coveted Tasmanian Shield after missing out a number of years ago. 

Banbridge Academy

In his first full season in charge of the 1st XI in 2018, his troops dismissed the powerhouses of both Wesley College and St Andrew’s only to fall at the final hurdle to surprise winners Newtown. The covid pandemic took away the opportunity for two talented Banbridge squads to win the ultimate prize, so they could not be more motivated to go all the way this season. It would be a fitting way to celebrate Mark Cordner’s 25 years of steering boys’ hockey in the Academy.

Squad: 1. Connor Part (GK) 3. Luke Watt. 4. Aaron Baxter. 5. Seb Best. 6. Ben Walker. 7. Adam McKee. 8. Ben Pollock. 9. Josh Brownlee. 10. Matthew McKee (VC). 11. Tommy Dobson. 12. Charlie Rowe (C). 13. James Evans. 14. Cody Large. 15. Matthew Spence. 17. Matthew Stevenson. 19. Lukas Moles. 20. Ben Farson. 24. Denver Golbey (GK)

Coach: Simon Jess; Assistant Coach: John Clarke; Manager: Colin Walker. Teacher in Charge: Mark Cordner.

 

Bandon Grammar School

Bandon Grammar School come into the All-Irelands in great shape having won Section One of their group with success against Friends School, Cookstown High and Newpark while they have also taken the Munster Senior A league and the cup crown last week with success against Midleton.

Irish underage players like Mark Collins, Ian Perrott, Callum McCourt and Sam Dale are the key players while goalkeeper Harry Forsey has impressed on the club front with Bandon HC. 

Squad: 1. Harry Forsey GK 5. Ian Perrott (VC) 6. Trenton Spencer 4. Josh Hamilton-Foott   2. Tiarnan Brown 3. Alan Buttimer 17. Jamie Horgan 10. Mark Collins (Capt) 9. Callum Mc Court 16. Sam Dale 8. Angus Seigne 19. Justin Lucas 20. Glen Gash 11. Conor Hoban 7. Charlie Gilbert 13. Gustav Von Der Schulenberg 14. Ewan Cullinane 18. Sean Landy GK

Manager: Melvin Buttimer; Head Coach: Ashley Smyth; Assistant Coach: Ross Smyth.

Bandon Grammar School

 

King’s Hospital 

The King’s Hospital management team of Angus Dunlop and Peter Caruth may argue that this year’s squad have overachieved in getting to a Leinster Schools cup final, and the last four of the All Irelands. With only three sixth years in the squad, the KH side were looking to be competitive in the league, with a view to pushing on next year with a more experienced side. 

However, momentum gained during the All-Irelands group stages, carried the team to a cup final date with Wesley, and a second All Ireland semi-final in two successive attempts. KH were beaten in the semi-final by eventual winners High School the last time the tournament was played in 2019.

The backbone of the team is made up of Leinster representatives Bryan Lydon and Andrew Crowe in defence, with Rex Dunlop pulling the strings in midfield, and Cian Tucker a dangerous presence in the opposition circle. The squad have also benefited from this year’s intake into the boarding house in KH, with three German students prominent during the cup run.

Their group run saw them pick up a morale boosting 3-0 win over St Andrew’s in the group stages while the turning point in the season came in a tricky second round tie away to Sullivan Upper. 2-0 down after five minutes, the team rallied to win a thriller 6-4, Tucker with a hat-trick in a gutsy squad performance. Ashton were well beaten in the final group game, as KH qualified form the semi finals with an unblemished three from three.

Squad: 1. Michael O’Leary 2. Ruairi Lyons 4. Henry Thompson 5.Casper von Kries 6. Moritz Titho 7. Rex Dunlop 9. Cian Tucker 10. Bryan Lydon 12. Colm Gaffney 13. Scott Kenny 14. Dylan Ronan 15. Jake Quinn 16. Jordan Awunah 17. Andrew Crowe 18. Philip Cole 19. Alex Derrien 20. Josh McDonald 21. Cian O’Dowd

Coach: Angus Dunlop; assistant coach: Peter Caruth; goalkeeper coach: Sean Butler; manager: Derek Tucker

 

King’s Hospital

Midleton College (pictured above)

The east Cork side went through in the most dramatic fashion possible as they edged a three-way tie on points with their goals scored column being the ultimate decider in Section 4. 

With their group games complete – two draws and a 5-0 win over Methody – they had to wait and hope for High School and Wallace HS to draw and so it came to pass, their 11 goals scored in three games proving the decisive factor. They also reached the Munster Schools Cup final but were undone by Bandon GS in the final.

Johnny Spillane is the top scorer and captain and he is backed up by Leaving Cert students Ben and David Ryan, Paul Curtin and Arron Brohkorb who provide solidity across the midfield and defensive lines.

Up and coming young players Evan Bolster, Sean Curtin, Daragh Daly and Robert Olden play a key role, too. Mult-talented Kyle Read, Eoghan Smyth and Richie Daly commit to hockey within the school even with a huge commitment with club and provincial rugby as part of the extended Munster underage panels, reaching the regional Under-16 Schools Cup final. Bailey Stuart dons the pads with Ronan Murphy strong in defence.

Squad: 1. Bailey Stuart (Gk), 2 Sean Curtin , 3.David Ryan (Vc),4. Arron Brohkorb, 5. Darragh Daly , 6.Ronan Murphy, 7.Ben Ryan, 8. Paul Curtin, 9.Kyle Read, 10. Johnny Spillane (Capt), 11 Robert Olden , 12.Andrew Sweetnam, 13 Daniel Spillane, 14. Evan Bolster, 15 Richard Daly, 16 Oscar Curtin , 17 Eoghan Smyth (Gk), 18 . Bruno Riviere

Coach: Clive Seale; Manager: Eric Callendar

 

Herbie Sharman Trophy

High School

The 2019 overall winners are looking to win an All-Ireland schools title for a second successive campaign. They missed out on the main semi-finals on goals scored to Midleton in a slightly frustrating season in which they are unbeaten in league on all fronts but have not quite translated that into silverware to date. In the Leinster league, they drew with both St Andrew’s and Wesley along with winning against King’s Hospital 4-1 while they bowed out in the cup semi-final to eventual winners Wesley 3-2. 

Ben Pasley, Charlie Beattie, Alex Lynch, Sam Maxwell, Tom Whelan, Oscar Pasley and Isaac Lindsey are all part of Leinster squads while their Senior 2 side won the Leinster Senior Trophy and their league section, showing good strength in depth.

Squad: Luke Stevens GK, Darragh Sullivan, Luke Fitzpatrick, Sam Walsh, Marcus Empey, Sean O’Brien, Eli Breen (Captain), Charlie Beattie, Sam Maxwell, Oscar Loftus, Alex Lynch, Tom Whelan, Oscar Maguire, Adam Hearne (GK), Oscar Pasley, Isaac Lindsey, Chris DeLacy, Andrew Robinson, Matthew O’Doherty.

Coach: Paul Fitzpatrick, Assistant Coach: David Howard, Manager: Sarah Gray, Physio: Aliceia Rugg

 

Friends School

After a slow start to season the team are finding a little better form post-Christmas and progressed to the Burney Cup final. Ulster U18 player Mackenzie Connor carries the goal threat having scored 36 goals already this season. Captain Jamie Anderson leads the side from defence and he is supported by Ulster U18 goalkeeper Scott Hosick. The Archbold brothers have also represented Ulster and pose an attacking threat.

Squad: 1 Scott Hosick GK, 2 Finn Markwell, 3 Tom Archbold, 4 Ben Aughey, 5 Scott PAtterson, 6 Ethan McDonagh, 7 Harry Archbold, 8 Alex Irwin, 9 Robbie MAyne, 10 MAckenzie Connor VC, 11 Callum Mohan, 12 NAthan Cherry, 13 Thomas Edwards GK, 14 Jamie Anderson C, 15 Carter McClure, 16 Adam Neill, 17 Harry Barbour, 18 Joel Wilkinson

Coach: Craig Cunningham, Asst Coach: Ollie Kidd, Manager: Robin McKay

 

Wesley College

The Leinster Senior Cup and League winners just missed out on a semi-final berth when Banbridge Academy got the best of them 2-0 in the final round of fixtures. They go into the Herbie Sharman Trophy where they will meet Friends School in the semi-final.

Squad: 1 Harvey Burgess, 3 Andrew Fox, 4 Alex Mulligan, 5 Ben Keating, 6 Josh Gill, 7 Sam Smalley, 8 Ben Stewart, 9 Alex Keyes, 10 Mark Smyth, 11 Ed Collins, 12 Andrew Brown, 13 Pierce Ryan, 14 Conor Walsh, 16 Ben Nathan, 17 Gordon Bernon, 20 Andrew Armitage, 21 Sam Chapman, 22 Peter Walker

Head coach: Natalie Fulton, Assistant coaches: Brinsley Powell, Jonathan Harte; Manager: Kathryn Henderson

 

Tasmanian Shield

Semi finals: Midleton College v Banbridge Academy, Grange Road, 11am; King’s Hospital v Bandon GS, Grange Road, 11am

Final: Wesley College, 4.30pm 

 

Herbie Sharman Trophy

Semi finals: Friends School v Wesley College, Booterstown, 10.30am; St Andrew’s v High School, St Columba’s, 10.30am

Final: Wesley College, 2.30pm

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Junior Green Army finally en route for Junior World Cup adventure in South Africa

Ireland’s Under-21 women’s side have finally departed this week for the refixed Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom in South Africa with the tournament getting under way on Friday at the Northwest University.

It has been quite a journey to get the tournament played. The competition was originally set to be played in December until the discovery of the Omicron variant saw it put on hold. The Covid-19 pandemic had already seen a number of changes in entrants while Russia were subsequently excluded earlier this month with Austria taking their place.

It meant a rejig of the group stage line-up with Ireland now set to face Ukraine in the first game of the competition. Their involvement has been part of a big effort on behalf of the hockey community with Polish Hockey aiding their efforts to cross the border to Walcz; the Dutch federation has since been their host, offering facilities to train and prepare in Rotterdam.

After the Ukraine date, the Junior Green Army will meet England – whom they played in a series this month at Lilleshall – before facing home nation South Africa. A top two place in the opening phase will put Ireland into the quarter-finals.

David Passmore’s side has one change from the squad named for the initial dates in December with 17-year-old Mikayla Power joining the panel.

The Wesley College schoolgirl has enjoyed a remarkable season, lining out for the Irish senior indoor international side while her debut adult season outfield with Old Alex has yielded several goals in the EY Hockey League. She replaces the injured Charlotte Beggs from that line-up.

Beggs was one of a pair of players who were part of the senior squad that earned World Cup qualification in Pisa last October. The other is Olympian Sarah McAuley who established herself in the senior side last summer, debuting at June’s EuroHockey Championships before heading to Tokyo for the Games.

It shows the pathway from the Junior Green Army through to the senior panel and a number of other players have since been assimilated into the current senior Irish setup on a more permanent basis. This includes goalkeepers Ellie McLoughlin and Holly Micklem, KJ Marshall, Caoimhe Perdue and Siofra O’Brien.

Perdue is the first graduates of Cashel New Inn Hockey Club to reach this elite level and will share the leadership duties with Caitlin Sherin. Sherin is joined by Loreto club mates Christina Hamill, Lisa Mulcahy, O’Brien, Aoife Taaffe and Yasmin Pratt.

Former Banbridge player Nadia Benallal – now based in Nottingham – Harvard student Siofra Murdoch also played with the senior panel last week in their training series against Great Britain at Bisham Abbey. Benallal links up once again with former club mate Ellen Reid who is now at university at Loughborough in England.

UCD provide a healthy tranche of players to the line-up with Emma Paul, Amy Elliott, Sophia Cole and Rachel Kelly joining McAuley, Marshall and McLoughlin in the panel.

Anna Horan, meanwhile, has earned her place in the panel following an excellent campaign with Catholic Institute since her return from the US where she played with UConn Huskies.

Speaking about the tournament, coach Passmore said: “We are delighted to be finally making the journey to South Africa to pit our wits against some of the best nations in world hockey after all the ups and downs.

“This group has put in a sustained high volume of training from last summer and all the way through the winter months to get their chance to play in a Junior World Cup, a first for Ireland.

“It was tough with the late postponement of the event before Christmas when the players were building to a mental and physical peak. Combining those preparations with college exams and a really busy club season, this new date has created challenges but we are pleased to have managed to play international series in Valencia and Lilleshall and hope to hit the ground running in Potchefstroom.

“We want to say a huge thank you to the many people who have supported our journey to date. Uniphar, SoftCo and Park Developments have provided vital sponsorship to an ever-changing programme and we are also indebted to the player’s universities for working with them to adjust schedules and exams to allow them to perform at their optimum.

“Facing Ukraine in the first game of the tournament will be an extremely emotional occasion for our opponents and we have immense respect and admiration for their force of will to get to this stage. Their arrival in South Africa is testamant to their resilience and the support in the hockey community and we stand with them.”

Ireland squad for women’s Junior World Cup; April 1-12, 2022; Potchefstroom, South Africa (club/third level institution)

Ellie McLoughlin (GK) UCD UCD
Holly Micklem (GK) Old Alex UCD
KJ Marshall UCD UCD
Caitlin Sherin (co-captain) Loreto DCU
Sarah McAuley UCD UCD
Emma Paul UCD UCD
Anna Horan Catholic Institute Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
Ellen Reid Loughborough Students Loughborough University
Caoimhe Perdue (co-captain) UCC UCC
Siofra Murdoch Harvard University, USA
Christina Hamill Loreto TU Dublin
Amy Elliott UCD UCD
Lisa Mulcahy Loreto UCD
Sophia Cole UCD UCD
Siofra O’Brien Loreto TU Dublin
Nadia Benallal Beeston, England Nottingham Trent University
Rachel Kelly UCD UCD
Yasmin Pratt Loreto IT Carlow
Aoife Taaffe Loreto UCD
Mikayla Power Old Alex Wesley College (secondary school)

2022 Junior World Cup schedule (Potchefstroom, South Africa; all times Irish)
Pool A

Friday, April 1: Ireland v Ukraine, 8am

Saturday, April 2: Ireland v England, 4pm

Monday, April 4: Ireland v South Africa, 10am

Wednesday, April 6 to Tuesday, April 12: playoff/classification matches

 

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Pembroke, Insta, Garvey and Monkstown into ISC final

The changing of the guard continues at the top table of the women’s game as Pembroke and Catholic Institute will contest the women’s Irish Senior Cup final in late April having led the way in the EYHL.

The latter will be looking to win the title for the first time while Pembroke have not won the cup since 1975.

Insta left it late on Sunday afternoon in Rosbrien to turn things around as UCD – winners of three of the last four editions of the cup – looked set to be the first club to win in Limerick this season thanks to a Hannah McLoughlin penalty corner strike.

But two goals from Naomi Carroll in the last 10 minutes saw Institute turn the game on its head for a 2-1 success in front of a big home crowd. It will be their third final appearance, their most recent coming in 1984.

UCD came out of the traps quicker and scored a corner in the seventh minute through McLoughlin and they kept up an intense level of pressure through the second quarter but the hosts hung tough.

The Limerick side found their feet in Q3 and ramped up their game significantly in the closing stages. A super ball from Ciara Moloney picked out Carroll to deflect into the top corner and they had a string of good chances before taking the vital one with two minutes left, a passing movement which Carroll took to her left and cracked in on her reverse.

Pembroke, meanwhile, showed no hangover from their EYHL celebrations on Saturday as they beat Pegasus 2-0 at Serpentine Avenue with Orla Macken and Gillian Pinder’s penalty stroke in the second half making the difference.

Catholic Institute’s Anna Horan, Muireann Scanlon and Roisin Upton celebrate. Picture: Max Fulham

On the men’s side, reigning champions Lisnagarvey were pushed to the absolute limit at the unfamiliar Beaufort surrounds as they beat Glenanne in an epic shoot-out.

Jonny Lynch’s goal put Garvey in control but Richard Couse levelled in the fourth quarter to send the game to the shoot-out which went all the way to 8-7 before Daniel Nelson slotted the winner.

Monkstown will be Garvey’s opponent. They looked to be coasting when Jeremy Duncan scored twice in the first half, adding to one from Lee Cole to make it 3-0 against Cookstown but the Co Tyrone side – who ply their trade in the Ulster Premier Division – grabbed goals from Calum Anderson and Michael Kerr to give the Dubliners a real fright.

The two finals will take place on April 30 in Belfield.

Men
Irish Senior Cup semi-finals: Glenanne 1 (R Couse) Lisnagarvey 1 (J Lynch), Lisnagarvey win shoot-out 8-7; Monkstown 3 (J Duncan 2, L Cole) Cookstown 2 (C Anderson, M Kerr)

Women
Irish Senior Cup semi-finals: Catholic Institute 2 (N Carroll 2) UCD 1 (H McLoughlin); Pembroke 2 (O Macken, G Pinder) Pegasus 0

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EYHL2 quarter-final line-ups confirmed

Clontarf produced a second successive 6-1 to top Pool 2 of the men’s EYHL Division 2 with a stunning second half performance to propel them into the promotion playoffs.

Going into the tie, just one point separated the three sides in this tightest of groups and it looked set to go right down to the wire as the first half ended scoreless.

But the Bulls went on a second half rampage with David Vincent scoring a hat trick to see them to race to first place in the group and also send Cork Harlequins through in second place with Kilkeel missing out on the playoffs.

In Pool 1, Railway Union topped the table after a comeback win over Cork C of I, knocking the Garryduff side formally out of contention as a result.

Rob Sweetnam had C of I 1-0 up at the break before the prolific Mark English weighed in with a double and Munster man Andrew McGregor also scored for Railway to build a 3-1 lead.

Sweetnam got another back but Railway held on to make it 26 points out of a possible 30 and a straight route through to the playoff semi-finals.

Instonians took second place with a 4-0 win at Rathgar courtesy of a Stephen Kelso hat trick, earning a quarter-final spot.

In Pool 3, Cookstown won top spot with a hard fought 2-1 win over Bandon at Steelweld Park. First half goals from Max Anderson and Michael Kerr made the difference with Ross Smyth cutting the gap.

That win earned the Tyrone club a semi-final spot with Bandon into the quarters. There, they will go to Instonians while Clontarf are up against Cork Harlequins.

On the women’s side, the playoff places were formalised. Despite a 5-0 loss to Queen’s, Cork C of I got the last playoff place on offer from Pool 2, finishing in third place.

It was an emotional one with Zoe Wilson making her comeback from injury, netting twice for Queen’s in the victory.

Lurgan could have overtaken them had they produced a shock against Monkstown but it never materialised as they fell 8-1 with Anna O’Flanagan scoring four times.

Pool 1 was all but finalised before Saturday’s play. Ards’ 3-0 success against Galway confirmed top spot with Corinthian second after a 2-0 win over Trinity.

It means Ards and Monkstown are straight into the semi-finals of the promotion playoffs while Corinthian will face Cork C of I and UCC go to Queen’s in the other quarter-final.

Men
EYHL Division 2
Pool 1: Cork C of I 2 (R Sweetnam 2) Railway Union 3 (M English 2, A McGregor); Rathgar 0 Instonians 4 (S Kelso 3, J Kidd)
Pool 2: Kilkeel 1 (J Aiken) Clontarf 6 (D Vincent 3, J Mullins 2, W Eickholt)
Pool 3: Cookstown 2 (M Anderson, M Kerr) Bandon 1 (R Smyth); Portrane 4 (M Madsen 2, D Graham, S Graham) Mossley 1 (J Robinson)

Women
EYHL Division Two
Pool 1: Corinthian 2 (J McGrane, L McGrane) Trinity 0; Galway 0 Ards 3 (A Adams 3)
Pool 2: Monkstown 8 (A O’Flanagan 4, S Hoban-Logan, C Watkins, C O’Reilly) Lurgan 1 (Gordon); Cork C of I 0 Queen’s 5 (Z Wilson 2, A Jebb, E Getty, C Whiteside)

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Pembroke take women’s EYHL title as playoff and relegation places confirmed

Women’s EY Hockey League – day 18 round-up
Pembroke 1 (A Naughton) Muckross 0
Aisling Naughton’s spectacular second minute goal was enough to get Pembroke the 1-0 win against Muckross they needed win the women’s EY Hockey League for the first time.

Earlier in the day, Catholic Institute beat Belfast Harlequins 2-1 at Deramore Park to take the league down to the last fixture to determine the destination of the title.

It meant Pembroke had to get a victory against a side fighting for their lives to try and escape relegation. And the Serpentine Avenue hosts got off to a dream start when Naughton dove full length at the left post to turn in Ellen Curran’s excellent ball.

From there, Pembroke dominated the play in the first half but a tough of over-eagerness meant an insurance goal proved elusive with Rachel O’Brien hitting the post and a number of other chances bouncing across the face of goal.

That ratcheted up the tension in the second half as any Muckross break-out had the potential to scupper the celebrations and, with lots on the line, the green and whites found some rhythm.

But Pembroke finished strong, controlling the final quarter as Aoife Glennon – an immense talent between the posts – kept out a range of shots from different angles.

“It’s just phenomenal to be able to finish it off like this, at home, in front of our crowd; absolutely buzzing,” Naughton said afterwards with the club landing the title for the first time having never breached the top four before in the EYHL.

“It is quite momentous. When a few of us joined a few years ago, we had a goal to bring the club to this level and we have a built a squad of not just 18; there’s 26 or so. And this is testament to that because we only played two matches at full fitness.

“We were delighted to get that early goal; we had plenty of chances and Muckross made it really difficult for ourselves. But we did have too many chances and we really do need to make sure of it if we are here again! But one’s enough!”

It also brings with it a guaranteed European ticket while for Muckross it means a drop back to EYHL Division 2.

Belfast Harlequins 1 (K Larmour) Catholic Institute 2 (R Upton, L Clery)
Catholic Institute can console themselves with a direct ticket to the EY Champions Trophy semi-final after a break-out performance in the regular season, finishing second overall.

Their win was built around goals from Roisin Upton and Leah Clery but they were also left with jangled nerves as Katie Larmour getting one back for Belfast Quins.

Needing a win to keep their title hopes alive, they started off brilliantly with Upton nailing a penalty corner drag-flick for her 13th of the competition this season.

But Quins, needing a win to secure their own fate at the time, were in no mood to lie down and they played their part in a corner exchange of an end-to-end first quarter. Clery doubled the advantage off the back of an outstanding run from Naomi Carroll but Larmour made sure there was no room for comfort with a corner goal; 2-1 at half-time.

And that was how it remained throughout the second half with Quins going closest to nicking one, hitting the post in the fourth quarter while they had two corners on the final whistle.

Insta, however, held on for a nervy win which meant Pembroke had to win their last game while Quins had to wait to see how Muckross fared. In the end, Quins stayed up on nine points.

UCD 0 Pegasus 2 (A Speers, L McKee)
Pegasus earned a home EY Champions Trophy quarter-final berth with two first half goals giving them the points against UCD.

Pegs were up and running nice and early. They had already gone close from a couple of corners before Lucy McKee broke the deadlock in the sixth minute – Shirley McCay’s ball up the middle was controlled on the 23-metre line and the forward weaved in and out of a couple of tackles before thumping home.

They moved two clear midway through the second quarter from their fourth penalty corner, a sweet move with McCay’s slap deflected in by Alex Speers.

Pegasus’s Emma Quinn. Pic: Adrian Boehm

UCD had a huge amount of pressure in the second half, running up five penalty corners, but each one was well dealt with by Megan Todd and her corner team while they also kept out a number of shots from the edge of the D to maintain their clean sheet and the three points.

For UCD, the result was just about enough to see them make it into the playoffs and a quarter-final rematch against Pegasus, edging out Railway Union on goal difference.

Old Alex 1 (S Robinson) Railway Union 1 (Z Delany)
Old Alex got enough from this tie to secure their place in the EY Champions Trophy quarter-finals at the expense of Railway Union who could have potentially overhauled them with a victory at Milltown.

It was an incredibly tight match, befitting how close things have been in mid-table all the way through the campaign. Railway had the early pressure with a high press working well before Alex broke out with Nikki Evans almost linking up with Mikayla Power.

Kate Dillon’s touch was well dealt with by Holly Micklem as Q1 ended scoreless and it remained that way through Q2 as Lena Tice’s corner slap was cleared and Evans had an effort snuffed out.

Into the second half, Kate Lloyd’s volley was repelled by Micklem’s left boot but it was Alex’s turn to camp in Railway territory and when Power won a corner, they went in front with Sarah Robinson deflecting in a Tice slap from the top.

Needing a win, Railway got their lifeline before the end of the third quarter when a bouncing past made it to Zara Delany at the far post to finish off.

Alex looked the more likely in the early staged of Q4 to score next with Evans and Abbie Russell firing shots but Railway remained a threat and had the big moments in the last few minutes. The Milltown side survived, though, and finish in fifth place and a date with Loreto in the playoffs.

Cork Harlequins 1 (M Barry) Loreto 5 (C Hamill 3, S O’Brien, Y Pratt)
Cork Harlequins welcomed Loreto to Cork for the final match of their 2021/22 EHYL 1 season with the Dublin team prevailing in a hard fought and enjoyable encounter.

Loreto were without Hannah Matthews, but otherwise had a full strength side for Paul Fitzpatrick to choose from. Joy O’Kelly replaced the injured Lorna Bateman in goal for Harlequins.

The halftime score of 0-0 resulted from an even game in which neither side found their composure in the circle.

The first goal was all important, and it was Loreto made the breakthrough with a skillful individual finish on the reverse from the dangerous Chrintina Hamill.

Harlequins had a chance to pull level from the flick spot in the 42nd minute, however Elizabeth Murphy’s strong stick save kept Loreto ahead. In fact, Hamill increased the Dublin side’s lead with a stroke in the 48th minute and completed her hat-trick a minute later to move the tie beyond Cork Harlequins.

Two further strikes for Loreto in the final quarter and a Michelle Barry consolation at the death meant a final score line of 5-1 to the visitors.Cork Harlequins finish the season at the bottom of the EYHL while Loreto have a quarter-final to prepare for.

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