Archive for month: September, 2023

EYHL Division 1 Men (Round 3)

UCD 4 (Alan Sothern, Adam Galbriath, Mark Collins, Josh Filgas)   CORINTHIAN  3 (Davy Howard 2, Robbie Clarke)

THREE ROCK ROVERS 3 (James Walker, Jody Hosking, Ali Empey)  GLENANNE 1  (Shane O’Donoghue)

ANNADALE 2 (David Tremlett, Spencer Pinion)  LISNAGARVEY 6 (Oliver Kidd, Matthew Aughey, Ben Nelson x 2, Daniel Nelson, James Lorimer)

MONKSTOWN  1 (Mark Gibbons)  YMCA  2 (Harry McCarthy, Grant Glutz)

INSTONIANS  2 (Thomas Orr, Mark Eames)  BANBRIDGE  3 (Matthew McKee, Johnny Mc Kee, Charlie Rowe)

Newly promoted UCD picked up their first League points of the new season by beating fellow newly promoted side Corinthian 4-3 at the National Stadium in Belfield. The visitors started strongly and exerted pressure early on in the first quarter. The first short corner fell to the Reds but they were unable to convert it into a shot on target and the students survived. Having conceded 11 goals in their first two matches, UCD were anxious to concede as few goals as possible and certainly not any in the opening stages. As the game wore on and UCD didn’t concede they created a few opportunities to score of their own. Growing into the game, UCD took the lead through a penalty corner converted by Alan Sothern. Adam Galbraith scored the second from a field goal within two minutes and it was 2-0 UCD at the end of the first quarter.

Corinthian began the second quarter strongly and dominated possession in the early stages. It was pretty much nip and tuck for the remainder of the second quarter. It was still 2-0 at half-time. The third quarter saw Corinthian on the attack again in the early stages. UCD defended well. Corinthian got on the scoresheet through a Robbie Clarke converted penalty corner in the 41^st minute to make the score 2-1 to UCD.  Corinthian were awarded a penalty stroke in the 45^th minute, which was converted by Davy Howard and Corinthian equalised to leave the score 2-2. UCD were awarded a penalty corner in the 50th minute and Mark Colins put it in at the far post, after the ball rebounded off the goal post to leave UCD leading 3-2. Josh Filgas from open play increased the UCD lead in the 68^th minute and UCD were leading 4-2 going into the final seconds when Corinthian were awarded a penalty corner. Davy Howard converted his second of the game. And it was the last action of the match which finished UCD 4 Corinthians 3.

UCD: GK Ross Clarke, Ben Stewart, Mark Smyth, Callum Hewitt, Kevin O’Dea [capt], Mark Collins, Josh Gill, Samuel Ryder, Ethan Flynn, Adam Galbraith, Josh Filgas  SUBS USED: Conor Walsh, Sam Walker, Alan Sothern, Harry Lynch, Andrew Fox.

CORINTHIAN:  AJ Browne (GK), Neil Pelow, Craig McKay, Robbie Clarke, Max Neill, Ross Howard, Tristan Cooke, Davy Howard (C), Peter Caruth, Daniel O’Dal, Ian Stewart.SUBS USED: Sam Maxwell, Ben Murphy, Max Wright, Josh Greaney, Callum McCourt, Josh Greaney

Three Rock Rovers took on Glenanne at Grange Road and ran out winners by three goals to one. James Walker gave Three Rock Rovers the lead in the 22^nd minute from open play. They led 1-0 at half-time. Glenanne equalized in the 37^th minute from Shane O’Donoghue’s converted penalty corner. Three Rock regained the lead on the hour mark through Jody Hosking’s converted penalty corner. The points were secured in the 69^th minute when Alistair Empey scored from open play to secure a 3-1 win.

Lisnagarvey visited Annadale and maintained their 100% record and made it 20 goals scored in three games with a 6-2 away win. Oliver Kidd converted a penalty corner to give them a 1-0 lead on 12 minutes. Matthew Aughey increased their lead on 15 minutes from open play to put them 2-0 ahead. Ben Nelson made it 3-0 in the 20^th minute and added another to make it 4-0 in the 23^rd minute. Daniel Nelson made it 5-0 in the 25^th minute and Annadale finally got on the scoresheet on the half hour through David Tremlett to leave them trailing 1-5 at half time. Spencer Pinion got a second goal for Annadale from a converted penalty corner in the 58^th minute to make it 5-2 to Lisnagarvey but any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out completely when James Lorimer got the final goal of the game for Garvey in the 65^th minute from another penalty corner to seal the 6-2 win.

The next match took place at Rathdown School where Monkstown hosted YMCA in the second part of an EHYL double header.  A tightly contested first half produced no goals and it was 0-0 at half time. Things got a bit livelier after the break. Harry McCarthy gave YMCA the lead in the 37^th minute from open play and Grant Glutz made it 2-0 to the visitors from a penalty corner in the 51^st minute. Mark Gibbons got a goal back for Monkstown in the 67^th minute but it was too little, too late as YMCA ended up winning 2-1.

The late match took place at Lagan College where Instonians hosted Banbridge.  The first half was scoreless and then Matthew McKee put the visitors 1-0 ahead in the 40^th minute. Instonians responded through Thomas Orr with a goal from open play in the 43^rd minute. Bann restored their lead in the 46^th minute through Johnny McKee. But Mark Eames got Instonians back level in the 51^st minute, Bann finally got the winner with three minutes left through Charlie Row with another goal from open play.

EYHL Division 1 Women (Round 2)

LORETO 2  (Hannah McLaughlin, Rachel Kelly)  CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 0

CORINTHIAN 0 UCD 1 (Mikayla Power)

OLD ALEX 1  (Aoife Taaffe)  ULSTER ELKS 1 (Gabriella Scott)

RAILWAY UNION  6 (Ailish Long, Niamh Carey 2, Michelle Carey, Kate Dillon, Orla Fox )  PEGASUS  1 (Zara Malseed)

MONKSTOWN 1  (Jennifer Hamill )  PEMBROKE WANDERERS 3 (Milla Fulton, Sally Campbell, Orla Macken)

Loreto played Catholic Institute in Beaufort and in the first quarter there were no goals. It was identical in quarter two and it was still 0-0 at halftime. A third quarter couldn’t separate the teams but it all changed in sixty seconds in quarter four. Loreto were awarded a penalty stroke in the 57^th minute which was converted by Hannah McLaughlin. Rachel Kelly added a second within a minute to seal a 2-0 victory.

In the reverse of their respective men’s team’s fixtures Corinthian hosted UCD at home in EYHL Women’s Division 1. Mikayla Power gave UCD the lead at St. Columba’s College against Corinthians scoring both her own and the team’s first of the season. The goal was enough to secure UCDs first win of the season as the gamed ended in a 1-0 win for the defending champions.

Old Alexandra collected their first League point of the season when holding Ulster Elks to a 1-1 draw at Alexandra College. Elks took the lead in the 17^th minute through Gabriella Scott. The lead lasted less than a minute as Aoife Taaffe grabbed an equaliser for Alex a minute later also from open play.

Railway Union indicated that they mean business this season with an emphatic 6-1 win over Pegasus. Ailish Long gave Railers the lead in the 3^rd minute. Ireland international Zara Malseed got an equalizer for Pegasus a minute later. Railway Union regained their lead in the 11^th minute through Niamh Carey’s converted penalty corner. Michelle Carey made it 3-1 from a converted penalty corner in the 18^th minute and they lead 3-1 at half time. Railway increased their lead early in the third quarter through a Kate Dillon goal from open play on 36 minutes. Railway were awarded a penalty stroke in 48^th minute which was converted by Orla Fox to make it 5-1 and the scoring was completed when Niamh Carey got her second of the game from yet another penalty corner in the 65^th minute . It finished Railway Union 6 Pegasus 1 .

Monkstown took on Pembroke Wanderers in the late game at Rathdown School. Milla Fulton gave Pembroke Wanderers the lead and further goals from Sally Campbell and Orla Macken secured victory. Monkstown responded through a consolation goal from Jennifer Hamill.

ROUND 3 of the EY Hockey League Men’s Division 1 gets underway on Saturday September 30 when Instonians host Banbridge at Shawsbridge. Instonians who have yet to pick up a point thus far in the 2023-24 season, face a Banbridge side that had victory snatched from them last time out by a last gasp equalising goal from Glenanne. Glenanne themselves are on the road again this time for the much shorter trip to Grange Road in Rathfarnham where they take on Three Rock Rovers. Both sides have 4 points out of a possible 6 from their opening two rounds of games. UCD take on Corinthian at Belfield. Corinthian won the EYHL 2 last season and beat UCD in the final. Both sides also finished in the top three in the Leinster Division 1A last season. Corinthian have 4 points out of 6 from their opening two rounds of games. UCD have zero points so far in their opening games but also have shipped 11 goals during those two fixtures and will need to shore up their defense immediately if they are to achieve anything in the League this season. Although they scored 4 times last week against Lisnagarvey they managed to lose the game 8-4. Annadale play Lisnagarvey and the latter have scored 15 goals in their first two outings and are currently on top of the table, two points clear of all the others and the only remaining side with a 100% record. Annadale got their first points last weekend with a 4-1 win over Instonians. Monkstown take on YMCA in the late game at Rathdown School. They have a win and a loss so far this season and will be looking to add to their points tally at home to a YMCA side still in search of their first point of the campaign.

ROUND 2 of the Women’s Division 1 gets underway on Saturday also, with Corinthian hosting EYHL Division 1 champions UCD. Last season’s EYHL2 winners were beaten by the 2022 Irish Senior Cup winners Catholic Institute in their opening game while UCD were held scoreless by the EYHL winners from 2021-22 Pembroke Wanderers last time out. Loreto take on Catholic Institute at Beaufort and having gotten off to a brilliant start to the campaign have lived up to the belief of many, that they are favorites for this year’s title with 9 current senior international squad members in their line-up. Insta themselves are fresh from a home win against Corinthian. Old Alexandra take on Ulster Elks, and last season’s Ulster Premier Division Champions and EYHL 2 runners up had a good 3-1 win in their opening match. Alex have 0 points so far following an opening day defeat to Railway Union. Union themselves host Pegasus and will be looking to add to that victory last week. Pegasus were thumped 4-0 at home by Loreto last week. Monkstown host Pembroke Wanderers looking for their first League points of the campaign. Having lost to newly promoted Ulster Elks last week they will be hoping to get a positive outcome against Pembroke who drew 0-0 away to UCD last weekend.

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 R1 PREVIEW:

The 2023-24 EY Hockey League Women’s Division 1 begins this weekend and the first round of fixtures have turned up some interesting ties. Catholic Institute will host newly promoted Corinthians. Pegasus will take on last season’s EY Champions Trophy winners Loreto. Old Alexandra have Dublin Derby against Railway Union. Defending League Champions UCD take on 2021-22 Champions Pembroke Wanderers at Belfield and newly promoted Ulster Elks will host Monkstown.

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 1 R2 PREVIEW:

Round 2 of the EY Hockey League Men’s Division 1 gets underway on Friday night with a derby in Belfast where Annadale take on Instonians at Lagan College. The action continues on Saturday afternoon with Corinthians who were visitors to Grange Road in week 1, securing their first League point, hosting a Monkstown side who beat UCD in their first fixture by 3-0. YMCA who were beaten 5-1 by Banbridge on the opening day of the season in Havelock Park will host Three Rock Rovers who were held at home in their first game. Banbridge, fresh from their 5-1 win over YMCA, host Glenanne this weekend while UCD take on 2022-23 EYHL Men’s Division runners-up Lisnagarvey at Belfield.

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE

LAST SEASON: 4th

Catholic Institute ended 2023-24 in 4^th place in the League and qualified for the Champions Trophy. Not as memorable as the previous campaign where they finished 2^nd in the title race and had won the Cup. They at least made their defense of that title go all the way to the final step before surrendering the Irish Senior Cup.  They also experienced European Hockey for the first time in their history. Lessons learned in the latter campaign by the coaching staff and playing squad alike may see them finish in the top three again this season.

Emilie Ryan Doyle’s arrival from Old Alex, which coincides with her studying at UL should strengthen the depth of their defensive core and she should be on Shannonside for the length of her studies into the bargain. They begin their campaign with a home game against newly promoted Corinthian.

CORINTHIAN 

LAST SEASON: WON EYHL 2 (1ST IN LEINSTER DIVISION 1) 

Corinthian gained promotion from Leinster Division 1 and EYHL 2 last season, making it a promotion double alongside their senior men’s team who did likewise. They begin their campaign with a trip to Rosbrien, the only sand-based surface in the Division which opponents Catholic Institute have turned into something of a fortress in recent seasons. Corinthian will be keen to get off to a good start and avoid being in the battle against the drop too early in the campaign. Ultimately, Corinthian will be looking to establish a foothold in EYHL Division 1 this season and kick on from there in subsequent seasons. Their pitch at Whitechurch, which is probably the highest from an altitude standpoint in the city of Dublin, hosted the EYHL 2 playoff weekend last season. They were dominant in the Leinster Division 1 last season and will find the step up a challenge they need to rise to early on.

LORETO 

LAST SEASON: 2nd 

Despite the disappointment of losing the title on the final day of last season, they can have few complaints given the haul of silverware currently residing in the Beaufort Trophy cabinet. EY Champions Trophy and Jacqui Potter Cup winners in 2022-23 have been strengthened by the arrival of internationals Hannah McLaughlin and Caoimhe Perdue from UCD and UCC respectively. They have also only lost one player from last season’s squad. Therefore, they are in poll position to challenge for the EYHL title again this season and perhaps go one better. A tricky opening day fixture away to Pegasus at Queen’s University in Belfast though will need to be negotiated adeptly to get that campaign off to a successful start.

MONKSTOWN 

LAST SEASON: 8th  

Monkstown came 8^th in last season’s League campaign but winning the Irish Senior Cup made it a better debut season following their promotion at the end of the 2021-22 season that may have been anticipated. The loss of many experienced players who had helped them secure that promotion and their replacement by in house youth, made the achievement of staying up and adding a trophy even more remarkable. The younger players are a year older and wiser will be led on the field by veteran international player Chloe Watkins who returned to the national panel a few weeks ago. They begin their season with a battle against recently promoted Ulster Elks in Jordanstown who have added some experienced performers to the squad which secured promotion last season. It will be a tough test for the Irish Senior Cup holders.

OLD ALEXANDRA

LAST SEASON: 3rd

Despite having what looked like the strongest squad this time last year on paper, they were unable to sustain their title challenge beyond the end of March. They did reach the Champions Trophy play offs ultimately coming up short and not making the final. There have been some significant changes to the squad during the close season with two retirements and a transfer to Catholic Institute being the headline ones.

PEGASUS 

LAST SEASON: 6^th

Pegasus had a core group of experienced players last season, guiding a larger group of younger players. With a similar dynamic in their squad this season, their younger players will be one year older wiser and most likely better. At least three of the five teams that finished above Pegasus last season could be described as in transition. And if that proves to be the case on the field then perhaps a top five finish for Pegasus may well be a realistic target.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS

LAST SEASON: 5^th

League winners in 2021-22, they had a relatively disappointing season in 2022-23 even though they had a crucial role in deciding who would win their title by beating Loreto on the final day of the campaign. They had a strong squad and while they lost some experienced individuals in the 2022 close season, in Gillian Pinder and Aisling Naughton to name but two, they probably would feel that 5^th place was not a fair reflection of the talent at their disposal. This season veteran defender Leah Maguire has moved back to the North, from where she came and will be an Ulster Elk in 2023-24.  A serial winner whose experience will be missed it remains to be seen whether this will be a season of transition for Pembroke or whether they will return to being contenders like they had been not so long ago. A trip to defending champions UCD should prove a trickier opener than this time last year when they beat Belfast Harlequins 6-1.

RAILWAY UNION 

LAST SEASON: 7th 

The arrival of Michelle and Niamh Carey back from UCD should provide extra goal scoring power to a Railway Union side which disappointingly missed out on a Champions Trophy playoff spot last season by a very narrow margin. They hook up with other former students in Kate Lloyd, Katie Mullen, Orla and Sarah Patton and going even further back Holly Jenkinson. There should be a great blend of youth and experience at Park Avenue in 2023-24 and realistically Railers ought to be a top 6 side this season at the very least.

ULSTER ELKS

LAST SEASON:  EYHL 2 RUNNER-UP (ULSTER PREMIER DIVISION WINNERS)  

Ulster Elks won their Ulster Premier Division title last season with a 100% record and only lost two competitive matches an Irish Senior Cup tie and the EYHL 2 final. The addition of Leah Maguire the former UCD and Pembroke Wanderer defender will make them even more difficult to score against and that should provide them with the platform necessary to secure their place in the EYHL Division 1 again next season.

UCD

LAST SEASON: EYHL DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS  

The students won their first EYHL Women’s Division 1 title in 5 years last season by securing the title on the final day of the season after Loreto lost away to Pembroke Wanderers. But there have been a few changes as some of the players that secured that title have graduated and moved back to their original clubs. The loss of Ireland internationals Michelle and Niamh Carey (both to Railway Union) and Hannah McLoughlin (to Loreto) will be keenly felt even though, the UCD scholarship programme has been very successful at attracting some of the best young talent back into the club to replace their experience, it may take some time for the newbies to settle in so retention of their title might be a big ask. The three departees were three of the top four goalscorers in the club last season.  A good Senior Cup run and a tilt at the Champions Trophy might be more realistic targets for 2023-24. Mikalyla Power, newly arrived from Old Alexandra, will be hoping to score some of the goals lost by the departure of the big three mentioned earlier.

The EY Hockey League Men’s Division 1 commences for 2023-24 this coming Saturday Sept 16 with a full program of 5 matches.

10 teams will play each other home and away over 18 rounds to decide the League title. In addition, the top 6 will contest the end of season EY Champions Trophy, which will also decide which Club represents Ireland at European Club level hockey.

Banbridge had a clean sweep last season, winning both the League title and Champions Trophy as well as adding the Irish Senior Cup title to their extraordinary treble. Lisnagarvey came 2nd in the League and also were the beaten finalists in the Irish Senior Cup. YMCA secured 3rd place on goal difference from Three Rock Rovers in 4th. Glenanne, having begun the season strongly, ended up 5th. Monkstown and Annadale filled 6th and 7th place respectively.  Instonians were in the bottom three most of the season but survived by finishing seven points clear of the bottom two in 8th place.

The two new clubs in this season’s EYHL Men’s Division 1, UCD and Corinthians were newly promoted at the end of last season replacing Cookstown and Pembroke Wanderers who by finishing in the bottom two places last season suffered automatic relegation to the Ulster Premier Division and Leinster Division 1A respectively.

Fixtures: Saturday 16^th September:

• Monkstown v UCD, Rathdown, 13:00
• Three Rock Rovers v Corinthian, Grange Road, 13:00
• Banbridge v YMCA, Havelock Park, 14:45
• Lisnagarvey v Instonians, Comber Road, 15:00
• Glenanne v Annadale, St. Andrew’s, 15:00

EYHL 2023-24 Club Overviews:

THREE ROCK ROVERS

LAST SEASON: 4TH

Three Rock Rovers begin the new season with a young squad who will be hoping to improve on last season’s fourth place finish in the EY Hockey League. New coach Ashlin Freddy, replaces his fellow countryman South African Elun Hack, after a spell working with his homeland at the Tokyo Olympics and the winning FIH Nations Cup side last December. Irish Under 21 International Evan Jennings returns after a year away on an Erasmus, former Wales International James Kyriakides returns after a season with Waterford, and younger players Oscare Pasley, goalkeeper James Coffey, Zach Silverman and Sam Rothwell step up from the Underage section. They will hook up with veteran Ali Haughton and recently capped senior Internationals Ben Johnson who was joined in the Irish shirt by clubmates Mark Samuel and Ali Empey both of whom made their senior debuts this summer. Three Rock will be hoping to finish higher than fourth this season but secure a Champions Trophy berth nevertheless.

CORINTHIANS

LAST SEASON: WON EYHL 2 (1ST IN LEINSTER DIVISION 1A)

Corinthians, gained promotion from Leinster Division 1 and EYHL 2 last season, making it a promotion double alongside their senior women’s team who did likewise, after winning both divisions whilst being unbeaten. They have gained a few new players, be it in the form of returnees from studies/work, players who are moving to Dublin as well as some Leinster movement. The squad has great continuity as well as a nice age balance with youth players making the step up, a core group between ages 23-28, with some older heads adding the experience and know how. The aim is to maintain top flight status but also continue to build on the massive strides made as a group over the last few years. Goalscoring has been a strength in the past and they will continue to look to create chances with their speed and linkups, but will also need to focus on being more defensively tight than their previous EY1 campaign in order to stay up and progress.

MONKSTOWN

LAST SEASON: 6TH

Monkstown came a disappointing 6th in last season’s League campaign and a glut of injuries midway through the campaign came back to haunt them at the end of the season. The number of defeats in the run up to Christmas as a result of missing those players is something that hampered them last season. This year they will be looking to improve on 6th place and be challenging for honours. Irish internationals Lee Cole and Jeremy Duncan are among the key performers for the Rathdown based side this season.  They begin their season with a battle against fellow Sky Blues UCD at Rathdown School and there has been a number of performers over the years who have played for both clubs and this season will be no different in that regard.

UCD

LAST SEASON: EYHL 2 RUNNERS-UP (3RD IN LEINSTER DIVISION 1A)

The students returned to the topflight despite a disappointing first half of the season, back on the same level as their Women’s team in the topflight of the EYHL. Unbeaten in the Leinster Division 1A after Christmas they carried this form into their EYHL 2 campaign and reached the final thus securing their place in the topflight for the current season. Defeat to Corinthians in that decider meant it was runners up medals for the squad who will be competing in the top Division for the first time since 2021-22 after only one season in Leinster Division 1A.  All promoted sides need to pick up their first win early into the campaign to avoid being basement battlers all season long. This time around the target, for UCD,  will be to retain their position in the topflight this season and build on the track record they had under a former coach Michael Styles when they were last in the EYHL Division reaching their first Senior Cup Final in 2020. Key players include Irish international Kevin O’Dea .

BANBRIDGE

LAST SEASON: 1ST IN EYHL, EY CHAMPIONS TROPHY and IRISH SENIOR CUP WINNERS

Banbridge had a season of the ages last year winning the EYHL title and adding the Irish Senior Cup to make a double. They also added the Champions Trophy ensuring EHL qualification as well. Eugene Magee, former international retired at the end of last season at the ripe old age of 37 and he will be a big loss. However, Banbridge have a knack of developing talent and have a production line coming from Banbridge Academy and their own structures churning out fine young players on a consistent basis and it won’t be much of a surprise to see them having yet another successful campaign. Experienced midfielder Philip Brown who missed the latter half of 2022-23 through injury should be available to begin the campaign which may well be his final one as a player.

YMCA

LAST SEASON: 3RD

YMCA had an outstanding season finishing in 3rd place last season.  They pipped Three Rock Rovers to that position on goal difference beating Instonians 7-2 on the final day of the season to secure it on goal difference.  They did finish 6 points behind second placed Lisnagarvey and 10 points behind League Champions Banbridge and they will be looking to narrow that gap if not close it altogether and try to bring a League title back to Wesley College at season’s end. Former coach Jason Klinkradt has moved on so a change in direction at this stage, under the new coach, could go one of two ways.

LISNAGARVEY

LAST SEASON: 2ND

Lisnagarvey were second in the League last season having led it for several weeks. They lost to Banbridge during the Champions Trophy campaign so they must be eager to get back to winning ways this season having dominated the League in previous seasons. Garvey should be among the favourites to potentially steal Banbridge’s crown, but it should be a very competitive Division this year all round. Like Bann, Garvey only lost 1 League game last season, but 6 draws in an 18-game program is what did the damage to the Comber Road outfit’s championship aspirations. Turning those draws into wins this time around could be the key to winning the title.

INSTONIANS

LAST SEASON: 8TH

Instonians escaped the drop last season and will be looking to consolidate a bit further up the table during 2023-24 season. They begin their campaign with a very difficult away trip to Comber Road to take on a Lisnagarvey side who were runners-up in both League and Cup to double winning, near neighbours, Banbridge. Although Instonians finished 7 points clear of relegation in the end, it was touch and go for several weeks for the club. Their target must be to avoid the bottom 3 to 4 spaces in the table this season. They will need to improve defensively as they conceded 66 goals last season, almost twice as many as 7th placed Annadale.

GLENANNE

LAST SEASON: 5TH

Glenanne had been in contention for the title most of the season but ended their league campaign 12 points behind eventual winners Banbridge in 5th place. This would have been seen as a disappointing end to the season. Goals scored won’t be a problem for them this season as Glenanne were the second highest scorers in the Division last season, but they  conceded over two per game and will need to be a bit tighter at the back to be real title contenders in 2023-2024.

ANNADALE

LAST SEASON: 7TH

Annadale had a very mixed season. At one point they seemed to be knocking on the door for a top 5 finish but fell away. This year they will be looking to improve on a 7th place finish which saw them finish 13 points clear of Instonians but only one league position above them. With Irish international Tim Cross hopefully returned to fitness, after an injury that kept him out of the international squad during the summer, they should do better this season.

Other Hockey fixtures this weekend:

Inter Provincial Series, Sunday 17^th September

• U16 Boys

Munster v Leinster, UCC, 12:00

• U18 Boys

Munster v Leinster, UCC, 14:00