Archive for year: 2023

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 1 

ANNADALE 4 (Spencer Pinion 1 min, Owen McElhinney 24 min, Fergus Gibson 53 min & 67 mins)   INSTONIANS 1 (Gavin Lecky 29 mins)

CORINTHIAN  3 (Max Neill 7 mins, Ian Stewart 16 mins, Sam Maxwell 33 mins) MONKSTOWN  2 (Davy Carson 49 mins, Lee Cole PS 67 mins)

YMCA 0  THREE ROCK ROVERS 1  (Ben Johnson 18 mins)

BANBRIDGE 3 (David Finlay 10 mins, Charlie Rowe 38 mins, Louis Rowe 45 mins) GLENANNE  3 ( Shane O’Donoghue PS 15 mins, & PC 61 mins, Gavin Gibney 34 mins  )

UCD 4 (Andrew Luke Galbraith, Harry Lynch, Ben Stewart x2) LISNAGARVEY 8 ( Matthew Aughney , |Oliver Kidd, Jonny Lynch, Peter McKibbin ,  Ben Nelson, Daniel Nelson, Matthew Nelson , Andrew Williamson)

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 

PEGASUS 0  LORETO  4 (Rachel Kelly 4 & 10 mins, Síofra O’Brien 42 mins, Caoimhe Perdue 61 mins)

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 3 (Aoife Hickey 8 mins, Anna Horan 52& 53 mins)   CORINTHIAN  1 (Jessica Mc Grane 67 mins)

OLD ALEXANDRA 0 RAILWAY UNION 2 (Leah Warren 55 mins, Ailish Long 57 mins)

UCD  0  PEMBROKE WANDERERS  0 

ULSTER ELKS  3  (Serena Campuzano 20 mins, Bethany Harper 35 mins, Jessica McMaster 58 mins)  MONKSTOWN   1  (Chloe Watkins PS 8 mins)

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 1 ROUND UP

The action began at Queen’s University Sportsgrounds where Annadale took on Instonians in a Belfast derby and took the lead in the first minute through Spencer Pinion, who converted a penalty corner in the first minute. They went 2-0 up through a penalty corner from Owen McElhinney on 24 minutes. Instonians got one back before half time through a goal from Gavin Lecky from open play.

Annadale restored their two goal lead with a goal from open play converted by Fergus Gibson.

Fergus Gibson made the points safe for Dale in the 67th minute with his second of the match from a penalty corner to seal a 4-1 win. Annadale get their first points of the new season while Instonians remain pointless from their two outings so far.

Corinthians took on Monkstown at St. Columba’s College and Max Neill gave the hosts a lead in the 7th minute. Ian Stewart increased their lead on 16 minutes. Sam Maxwell’s goal on 33 minutes left Corinthians 3-0 at half time. Monkstown got back on the scoresheet through Davy Carson in the 49th minute and then were awarded a penalty stroke which Lee Cole  duly converted leaving Corinthians leading 3-2 with three minutes to go and that’s how it finished.

YMCA began their home campaign at Wesley College with a visit from Three Rock Rovers

It was the visitors who took the lead through Ben Johnson, converting a penalty corner in the 18th minute which proved to be the only goal of the game. Despite the home side being reduced to 10 players in the 9th minute when Aaron Bailey was green carded, and on 36 minutes when Harry Mc Carthy was green carded and finally in the 41st minute when Scott Ruttle was green carded, the goal game at a time when both teams were at full strength.

Banbridge had their second consecutive home game against Glenanne at Havelock Park.

David Finlay gave Bann a 1-0  lead on 10 minutes.  Glenanne were awarded a penalty stroke which was converted by Shane O’Donoghue in the 15th minute to leave it 1-1.  Glenanne then took the lead through a Gavin Gibney field goal on 34 minutes to make the score Banbridge 1 Glenanne 2 at half-time  Then began the comeback Charlie Rowe equalised in the 38th minute and his brother Louis Rowe scored in the 45th minute to leave Bann leading 3-2 at the end of quarter three. But Glenanne weren’t finished and they snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat when Shane O’Donoghue grabbed an equaliser, converting a penalty corner in the 61st minute and it finished Banbridge 3 Glenanne 3

The Battle of the Blues took place in UCD where the newly promoted students took on last season’s runners-up Lisnagarvey fresh from a six goal margin of victory in their season opener.

UCD’s men suffered a similar defeat at home to Garvey who racked up eight goals this week having gotten seven the previous week. Garvey scored in the first quarter. Both sides swapped 2 goals a piece in the second quarter to leave the half time score UCD 2 Garvey 3. Garvey got 3 goals in quarter three to leave them 6-2 ahead. They increased their lead to 8-2 in quarter four before UCD got 2 late goals to leave the final score UCD 4 LISNAGARVEY 8

Goalscorers for UCD: Adam Luke Galbraith, Harry Lynch Benjamin Stewart x2 Goalscorere for Lisnagarvey: Matthew Aughney, Oliver Kidd, Jonny Lynch, Peter Mc Kibbin, Ben Nelson, Daniel Nelson, Matthew Nelson, Andrew Williamson

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 ROUND UP

The EYHL Women’s Division 1 First round of season 2023-24 fixtures got underway at Queen’s University where Pegasus hosted Loreto. It was the visitors that struck first, Rachel Kelly scoring from open play in only the fourth minute. She grabbed her second of the game in the 10th minute. It was 2-0 at the end of the first quarter and remained 2-0 at the half -time break.

Síofra O’Brien added a third for Loreto in the 42nd minute. Caoimhe Perdue made it 4-0 to Loreto with a 61st minute goal from a penalty corner.

Catholic Institute hosted promoted side Corinthians at Rosbrien. The hosts took an early lead through Aoife Hickey and led 1-0 at half-time. Anna Horan made it 2-0 in the third quarter and got her second of the game to leave Insta leading 3-0. Jessica McGrane got a consolation goal for the visitors three minutes from time. It finished Catholic Institute 3 Corinthians 1

Dublin derby at Alexandra College saw Old Alexandra host Railway Union. After a very tight first quarter and an equally tight second it was 0-0 at half time. Railway Union took the lead in the 53rd minute when Leah Warren converted a penalty corner to put them 1-0 ahead. In the 55th minute Railway Union increased their lead through an Ailish Long goal from open play and it finished Old Alexandra 0 Railway Union 2

Defending champions UCD took on Pembroke Wanderers in a derby at Belfield.

It was a bit of a reunion as the Pembroke Wanderers squad had six former UCD players in their ranks most of whom had played at some point under current UCD coach Miles Warren. Both sides have been continuous members of the EYHL since it became a season long League format in 2015-16 season. Also given the familiarity of both sides with each other it’s probably not a big surprise that the game ended  in  stalemate. And given the high quality of defenders in action in this game, in both camps, probably even less of a surprise that it was scoreless.  UCD 0 Pembroke Wanderers 0

Ulster Elks took on Monkstown at the University Sportsgrounds in Jordanstown.  And got off to a successful opening day in the end but it wasn’t the start they would have wished for.

Monkstown were bolstered by the return to the ranks of experienced players Laura Pinder and Sarah Greene and indeed took the lead early on when they were awarded a penalty stroke which Chloe Watkins converted the 8th minute. Elks responded in the 20th minute when Serena Campuzano converted a penalty corner. Bethany Harper gave Elks the lead when she scored from open play in the 35th minute and Jessica McMaster sealed the 3-1 win for Elks scoring from open play in the 58th minute. Final score Ulster Elks 3 Monkstown 1

BANBRIDGE  5 (Jake Rowe, Louis Rowe, Josh Moffatt, Matthew McKee, Owen Magee) YMCA 1 (Fionn Marriott)

The first part of the Ulster double is the proof of the old adage you should not poke a bear. YMCA did not bear this in mind on their visit to EYHL, Irish Senior Cup and Champions Trophy holders Banbridge as they took an early lead through Fionn Marriott.  They managed to hold on to this lead until five minutes into quarter three when they conceded a penalty stroke. This was converted by Jake Rowe to put Banbridge level. Louis Rowe gave Banbridge the lead shortly after this and Bann led 2-1 at the end of quarter three.  Things remained tight until six minutes from the end when Josh Moffatt made it 3-1 to Banbridge. In an effort to get back on terms YM withdrew their goalkeeper in favour of another attacker and found themselves further behind when Matthew McKee scored a fourth. Owen Magee made the final score 5-1 just on the hooter.

MONKSTOWN 3 (Daniel O’Donovan, Lee Cole, David Vincent )  UCD 0

UCD were taught very early on in this game what it was like to be back in the EYHL Men’s Division 1. Daniel O’Donovan opened the scoring from a field goal in the 5^th minute. Monkstown were awarded a penalty stroke in the 9^th minute which Lee Cole converted. They led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. David Vincent converted another open play goal for Monkstown in the 34^th minute to leave Monkstown leading 3-0 at half -time. UCD were better in the second half being tighter in defence and carving out some opportunities during both quarters, but they singularly failed to convert any of these chances. They felt they should have been awarded a penalty stroke during quarter four, but the incident wasn’t even awarded a penalty corner. Frustration led to Alan Sothern being green carded 54^th minute and Josh Filgas being yellow carded in the 57^th minute. Both decisions were protested from the sideline to no avail.  A clean sheet for Monkstown and three points in the bag from their first outing. The students have Lisnagarvey as visitors next weekend. It doesn’t get any easier in this division.

THREE ROCK ROVERS 1 (James Walker) CORINTHIAN 1 (Peter Caruth)

Three Rock Rovers and newly promoted Corinthian shared the spoils in a feisty Marlay derby at Grange Road to start the new Men’s EY Hockey League season. In rain-soaked conditions, the reds started well, winning the first corner and drawing a strong stop from Ben Whelan before the hosts came into the contest. Mark Samuel used his pace to draw a brilliant first save of the day from new Corinthian arrival Duncan Fischer who had an excellent debut between the posts, closing out the first quarter 0-0. Rovers got into foul trouble in Q2, suffering three sin-binnings in quick succession to go down to eight players for a short spell and – when back to nine – Corinthian took the lead. It came from a corner which was switched left to Peter Caruth whose attempted power-slap snuck in through a couple of sticks. Back to 11, the hosts stepped up and were level from a corner, James Walker cleaning up after Ben Johnson’s initial shot was blocked – 1-1 on the half-time hooter. And they carried that momentum into the second half but could not make use of six corners in quick succession with Robbie Clarke’s excellent charging down the barrel a feature. Fischer also kept out a series of Rovers’ overload attacks as they clung on to parity. In the endgame, with a number of cards, the reds almost nicked it with Max Neill’s backhand shot fizzing centimetres wide. There were debuts for Three Rock teenagers Oscar Pasley and Sam Rothwell; Isaac Johnson also played his first game for the club following switch from Pembroke. Alex Flynn returned to Rovers from UCD. Missing for Three Rock were Jody Hosking ( through a suspension carried over from last season), Ali Haughton, James Kyriakides, Ryan Spencer, Ross Canning. 13 youth players in Three Rock’s  match day squad of 16. Corinthians gave debuts to Duncan Fischer and Daniel O’Daly. Joshua Greaney back at the club following studies in Loughborough University in England.

GLENANNE 3 (Jake Pillow, Gary Shaw, Richard Couse) ANNADALE 1 (David Lawless)

Jake Pillow, making his EYHL debut for Glenanne gave the Greens an early lead at St. Andrew’s and they also led 1-0 at the break. The game remained tight until the end of the third quarter and it was still 1-0 as the fourth quarter began. Gary Shaw increased Glenanne’s lead to make it 2-0. Annadale, in trying to get a goal on the scoreboard withdrew their keeper in favour of another attacker. They won a penalty corner which was converted by David Lawless to make it 2-1. Richard Couse popped up with a final goal for Glenanne to leave the final score 3-1.

LISNAGARVEY  7  ( Ben Nelson, Daniel Nelson, James Lorimar, James Corry, Andy Williamson, Oliver Kidd x 2) INSTONIANS 1  (Tommy Orr)

And if you hadn’t learned already from previous information, not to poke the bear, here’s more proof of the pudding. In the Ulster derby at Comber Road, visitors Instonians had the temerity to take the lead against Lisnagarvey through Tommy Orr. Lisnagarvey through Daniel Nelson and Andy Williamson managed to regain control of the game and led 2-1 at half-time. Further goals after the break from Ben Nelson, James Lorimar, James Corry and a brace from Oliver Kidd were enough to secure all three points for Garvey and top spot in the table on goal difference by virtue of their 7-1 win over Instonians.

All results from today’s fixture on the Hockey Ireland website, here: https://irelandhockey.sportlomo.com/results/

The EYHL sees ten men’s and ten women’s teams from around the island of Ireland come together to compete. Matches are scheduled to take to the pitch for the first round of the Men’s EYHL this weekend on Saturday 16th September, with the first round of the Women’s EYHL the following weekend on Saturday 23rd September. EY Hockey League Division 2 (EYHL2) returns to action in January 20th, 2024.

Covering all four provinces, the all-island EYHL will see twenty of Ireland’s top male and female clubs battle it out to become league champions over 20 weeks of exciting, fast-paced hockey. The top six in each competition advance to the EY Champions Trophy at the end of 18 rounds, with the ultimate champion for the season being determined at an end of season festival, showcasing the men’s and women’s grand finals on an equal basis.
EY Ireland will continue as official sponsor of the Irish Hockey League, Ireland’s highest performing hockey competition on the island of Ireland having extended their title partnership for a further three years in September 2022.

The 2023-24 season launch also sees the introduction of a new league logo. The new logo design supports the updated league visual identity introduced earlier in 2023, and is designed to capture the contemporary and dynamic characteristics of the league as well as support an increase in the distribution of online content. The new logo foreshadows an ambitious programme of development planned for the league by Hockey Ireland and its title partner, EY.

EY Ireland has been the primary sponsor of the Irish Hockey League since 2016 with the formation of the EY Hockey League and its subsequent expansion to feature a second tier in 2019. The competition has since become universally known as the EYHL, a measure of the intrinsic link between sponsor and competition and provides an elite hockey competition on an equal basis to male and female players.

Frank O’Keefe, EY Ireland Managing Partner:

“We are very excited for the 2023/2024 season of the EY Hockey League. Our ongoing partnership with Hockey Ireland is a source of great pride for us all at EY. Hockey exemplifies strong team building and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equality – values that are central to everything we do at EY. We look forward to seeing these fantastic athletes in action over the course of the season. On behalf of EY Ireland I would like to wish all the participating teams the very best of luck.”

Anne McCormack, CEO of Hockey Ireland:

“Our ambition for the development and ongoing improvement of our top domestic Hockey league continues as we kick off the new 2023-24 EYHL season. The introduction of a new logo is just one example of how we constantly look to strengthen the league both on and off the pitch. Our partnership with EY Ireland is invaluable to raising the game, assisting with the organisation and promotion of the EY Hockey League, its high quality of matches, and ensuring clubs across the island are able to compete at the highest levels. We are really looking forward to some top-class matches taking place over the coming season as we embark upon what promises to be a highly competitive season.”

Links to all EYHL 2023-24 season fixtures here: https://irelandhockey.sportlomo.com/eyhl-2/upcomingfixtures

IRL – 1   ITA – 1  Match Report

Ireland will be in the Qualification groups for the 2024 Olympics next January in either China or Spain following a 1-1 draw with Italy in their final game at the EuroHockey Championships this morning. Group rivals Spain had played Scotland on Friday and surprisingly lost 2-1.

This meant that if Italy won today’s game with Ireland all four teams in Pool C would have finished on four points. The goal difference advantage meant that as long as it was a victory of two goals or less Ireland would still win Pool C and secure 5^th place in the tournament.

That in turn would achieve the two basic goals for Ireland from these games: One, secure Ireland a spot in the Olympic Qualification groups taking place in January 2024, and two, keep Ireland at the elite level with a place in the EuroHockey Championships in 2025.

Both sides showed endeavour and maintained their discipline in a scoreless first quarter. The second quarter was also uneventful. It only featured a single penalty corner, and that was for the Italians.

The half time score was 0-0.

Things got interesting in the third quarter as Italy went 1-0 up when Sofia Laurito converted a penalty corner. As outlined earlier, a 1-0 defeat would not have been a disaster as Ireland would still have won Pool C on goal difference and 5^th place would have been secured.

However, the Ireland team in 2023 are a different group and have a resilience that was missing in previous years. Trailing 1-0 at the end of quarter three, Ireland began the fourth and final quarter strongly and Naomi Carroll scored from open play in the 48^th minute to make the score 1-1.

What was also remarkable about this game was that both sides were disciplined throughout, and the umpires were not tempted to issue any cards to either side.

The game ended 1-1, Ireland secured a point, winning Pool C. In addition, securing 5^th place means that spot in the Olympic Qualification groups in January 2024 and a spot in the elite tier of European Hockey in 2025.

IRELAND: Ayeisha McFerran (GK), Sarah McAuley, Roisín Upton, Niamh Carey, Sarah Hawkshaw, Katie Mullan (C), Elena Neill, Charlotte Beggs, Caitlin Sherin, Katie Mc Kee, Deirdre Duke

SUBS: Michelle Carey, Hannah McLoughlin, Sarah Torrans, Naomi Carroll, Ellen Curran, Caoimhe Perdue

ITALY: Lucia Ines Caruso (GK), Emilia Munitis, Dalila Mirabella, Federica Carta (C), Sara Puglisi, Mercedes Pastor, Sofia Laurito, Lara Oviedo, Ivanna Pessina, Camila Machin

SUBS: Teresa Vittoria Dalla, Ailin Oviedo, Elettra Bormida, Antonella Rinaldi, Candela Caruso, Chiara Di Bella