Archive for month: February, 2024

Hockey Volunteers Recognised in National Volunteers in Sports Awards Ceremony

Thursday February 29, Dublin: Hockey was well represented today as the Federation of Irish Sport honoured its list of recipients for the 2023 Volunteers in Sports Awards.

Three of our very own took to the stage to receive their awards as County recipients, and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication to hockey and their well-deserved honour. Please be upstanding for:

• Cathyrn Watson, Ballymoney Hockey Club – Antrim
• Sally Kavanagh, Waterford Hockey Club – Waterford
• Ruth McDonagh, Bray Hockey Club – Wicklow

The awards, celebrating the depth and breadth of volunteering in sporting communities nationwide, included as special guest speaker, Minister Thomas Byrne, Minster of State with responsibility for Sport and Physical Education, which is testament to the commitment at government level to supporting and recognising the vital role of volunteers in advancing sports participation and community development.

With a record-breaking number of entries, the 2023 Volunteers in Sport Awards saw nominations from over 50 different sporting disciplines, highlighting the widespread impact of volunteering ranging from mass participation sports to new and emerging sports.

Cathyrn, Sally and Ruth represent the dedication, values and support of all volunteers throughout hockey without whom our sport couldn’t survive let alone thrive. Congratulations to our three superstars and our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers across our hockey community.

A relatively quiet weekend in the top Divisions of the EY Hockey League, with only one fixture in each Division, but a busy programme in EYHL 2 and in cup competitions. Here are the national fixtures for the weekend:

 

SATURDAY MARCH 2ND 2024

MEN’S EYHL DIVISION 1

THREE ROCK ROVERS V YMCA  13:00  GRANGE ROAD

 

WOMEN’S EYHL DIVISION 1

RAILWAY UNION  V LORETO  13:30  PARK AVE.

 

MEN’S EYHL 2 POOL A 

PEMBROKE WANDERERS  V QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY   13:00   SERPENTINE AVE

BANGOR  V BANDON  14:30  BANGOR AURORA

 

MEN’S EYHL 2 POOL B 

CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND V COOKSTOWN  12:00  GARRYDUFF

CORK HARLEQUINS  V SOUTH ANTRIM 14:45  HARLEQUINS PARK, FARMER’S CROSS

 

WOMEN’S EYHL 2 POOL A

CORK HARLEQUINS  V  BELFAST HARLEQUINS   12:45  HARLEQUINS PARK, FARMER’S CROSS

GREENFIELDS  V AVOCA  14:30 DANGAN

 

WOMEN’S EYHL 2 POOL B 

MUCKROSS   V UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK   13:00  MUCKROSS PARK
ARDS V LURGAN  14:30 LONDONDERRY PARK

 

MEN’S IRISH HOCKEY CHALLENGE QUARTER FINAL SECOND LEG

CI   V PORTRUSH   14.30  CIYMS SPORTS GROUNDS

MIDLETON V LIMERICK   15.00  MIDLETON

 

WOMEN’S IRISH HOCKEY CHALLENGE

KILKEEL  V TIPPERARY   14.30  KILKEEL HIGH SCHOOL

WATERFORD V BANGOR  14.00  NEWTOWN SCHOOL

 

MEN’S IRISH HOCKEY  JUNIOR CUP

LISNAGARVEY  V THREE ROCK ROVERS  14.30 COMBER ROAD

UCD V BANBRIDGE   14.45  NATIONAL STADIUM, BELFIELD

RATHGAR V CORK  13.00  CHURCH OF IRELAND  HIGH SCHOOL

CORINTHIAN V PORTRANE  11.30  ST. COLUMBA’S COLLEGE

 

WOMEN’S IRISH HOCKEY JUNIOR CUP

RAILWAY UNION V CORK HARLEQUINS   15.30 PARK AVENUE

UCC V PEGASUS  13.00 THE MARDYKE

ULSTER  ELKS  V PEMBROKE WANDERERS   14.30  JORDANSTOWN

LORETO V CATHOLIC INSTITUTE   15.30   BEAUFORT

MEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINALS

The World’s Oldest Club Hockey Cup

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SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24th, 2024

THREE ROCK ROVERS 5 UCD 3
An eight goal thriller at Grange Road ended with a late consolation goal for UCD who had been trailing 5-2 for a spell. Alastair Empey and Rex Dunlop with two goals apiece and a further goal for Zach Silverman had put Three Rock Rovers in the driving seat. It ended 5-3, Mark Smyth scoring twice for the visitors and Conor Walsh also on the mark for the visitors. Given results elsewhere on the day and that the only other quarter-final is an all-Ulster affair between Instonians and Cookstown, Rovers are the only non-Ulster side left in the competition.

The other 2 quarter-finals on Saturday results were as follows :

LISNAGARVEY 4 YMCA 1

GLENANNE 1 BANBRIDGE 3

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25th, 2024

INSTONIANS  1 COOKSTOWN 4

Cookstown defeated Instonians to reach the last four of the Men’s Irish Senior Cup. This added to their clinching of Ulster Men’s Premier League title last weekend has made this a very good 10 days for Cookstown. Cookstown were awarded a penalty corner early on, but Instonians’ keeper Marney Finlay saved it. Despite this, they ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in the end, thanks to a hat-trick for eliminating EYHL opposition in the process.

This win confirms the four teams in the draw for the semi-finals as: Banbridge, Cookstown, Lisnagarvey and Three Rock Rovers.

WOMEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINALS

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25th, 2024

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 3 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 0

Catholic Institute beat Queens University 3-0 at Risbrien on Sunday afternoon. Two first half goals by Leah Clery had them 2-0 up by half-time Naomi Carroll added another in the second to see the 2022 Cup winners into the semi-finals of this year’s competition.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS 0 UCD 4

A scoreless first half was prevented by a single goal when Leah O’Shea converted a penalty corner for UCD in  the 31st minute.  It was 1-0 at half time.  A scoreless third quarter was followed by a busy fourth. Emma Paul led the way for UCD with a converted penalty corner in the 56th minute to make it 2-0 to UCD. UCD were awarded a penalty stroke in the 58th minute to make it 3-0 and Anna McCarthy converted another penalty corner in the 64th minute to send the 2020 winners into the last four on a 4-0 scoreline.

LORETO 5 ULSTER ELKS 3

Another eight-goal thriller at Beaufort. Jessica McMaster put Ulster Elks 1-0 ahead from a penalty corner. Loreto responded scoring three on the bounce, two goals from Rachel Kelly and one from Mia Jennings to lead 3-1. Bethany Harper got one back from a penalty corner to make it 3-2. There were further goals for Loreto by Yasmin Pratt and Emma Pasley and Jessica McMaster got her second penalty corner for Elks to leave the final score Loreto 5 Ulster Elks 3.

WOMEN’S IRISH HOCKEY TROPHY

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On Saturday in this competition there were wins for Glenanne and Lisnagarvey.  The results as follows :-

LISNAGARVEY 2 MOSSLEY 0

GLENANNE 2 DUNGANNON 1

MEN’S IRISH HOCKEY TROPHY

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Only one tie down for decision this all Ulster clash between North Down and Belfast Harlequins ended in a win for the home side.

NORTH DOWN 3 BELFAST HARLEQUINS 2

EY HOCKEY LEAGUE WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 1 PEMBROKE WANDERERS 1

Roisín Begley gave the home side the lead in the 22nd minute with a goal from open play.

Just as it looked like Institute had held out for the win, Pembroke Wanderers were awarded a penalty corner. Sinéad Loughran, a University of Limerick alumnus, converted the effort to give the visitors a share of the spoils it ended 1-1.

 

OLD ALEXANDRA  1 UCD 1

A geographical rivalry was played out at Alexandra College where Old Alexandra hosted UCD.

The first half was scoreless and UCD had the better of the scoring chances. This pattern continued into the third quarter, and it was no surprise when an Emma Paul penalty corner gave UCD a 1-0 in the 52nd minute. A goal from UCD graduate Abi Russell gave the home side a share of the spoils and UCD collected their 7th draw of the League campaign as the game ended Old Alex 1 UCD 1.

 

ULSTER ELKS 1 CORINTHIANS 1

Bottom of the table side Corinthians collected their first League point of the season in this 1-1 draw with Ulster Elks at Jordanstown. Corinthians took the lead when Christine Powell converted a penalty corner in the 35th minute to leave the visitors 1-0 ahead at half-time.

Elks pegged back the lead on 61 minutes when Bethany Scott scored from open play.

 

PEGASUS 3 MONKSTOWN 1

Ninth placed Pegasus hosted Eighth placed Monkstown at Queens University this afternoon. Both sides went on to this game level on points with only goal difference separating them. A win for either side would them put daylight between themselves and their rivals and drop them into the bottom two of the table. Stefanie Ardis opened the scoring for Pegasus in the late game with an open play goal after 4 minutes. Alex Speers made it 2-0 in the 6th minute and Stefanie Ardis with her second of the game made it 3-0 in the 29th minute. Monkstown made a game of it when they converted a penalty stroke in the 44th minute Chloe Watkins doing the honours but it ended 3-1 to Pegasus. Pegasus go 8th in the table and Monkstown slip into 9th. Interesting times for both of these teams with four games to go.

 

EYHL 2 MEN’S POOL A

AVOCA 2  PEMBROKE WANDERERS 2

This all Leinster Division 1 A clash was a closely fought encounter at Newtown Park school.

Luca Prendergast opened the scoring in the 6th minute to give Avoca a 1-0 lead.

Cian Funge doubled their lead in the 39th minute to leave the hosts 2-0 ahead in quarter 3.

But Pembroke Wanderers   fought their back into the game . Ross Breytenbach converted a penalty corner in the 48th minute and

Henry Thompson from open play in the 55th minute ensured a share of the spoils for Wanderers with a goal from open play.

 

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 5 BANGOR 0

This all Ulster league clash was anything but a closely fought encounter.

Queen’s took the lead through Adam Reddick from open play in the 13th minute.

Conor Irwin converted a penalty corner in the 31st minute to make it 2-0 to the students.

Cody B Large scored twice in the 35th and 36th minutes to make it 4-0 .

Conor Irwin scored his second penalty corner of the match in the 53rd minute to make the final score Queens University 5 Bangor 0.

 

EYHL 2 MEN’S POOL B 

SOUTH ANTRIM 2 CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND 4

Ulster League side South Antrim took on Cork Church of Ireland at the Friends School in Lisburn. And the visitors made the long trip home worthwhile by taking home all of the points on offer. Oliver Patterson opened the scoring for the hosts in 39th minute, converting a penalty corner. Under 18 international Rob Olden responded for the Munster Division 1 side converting a penalty corner in the 44th minute. Max Turner restored the lead for South Antrim in the 51st minute, converting a penalty corner to put the Ulster side 2-1 up. Jonathan Bruton equalised for C of I in the 53rd minute from open play. 2-2. Gearóid Cashman made it 3-2 for the visitors in the 62nd minute and Jonathan Spillane secured the win for the Corkmen with another open play goal with three minutes to go. It finished South Antrim 2 Cork Church of Ireland 4.

 

RAILWAY UNION 1 CORK HARLEQUINS 5

Julian Dale opened the scoring for the visitors with a converted penalty corner in the 11th minute. He got his second of the game from open play in the 35th minute to leave Cork 2-0 ahead at the half time break. Julian Dale completed his hat-trick in the 41st minute from a converted penalty corner, to make it 3-0. He added his fourth goal of the game with another penalty corner in the 51st minute. Andrew Dale proved goalscoring for Cork Harlequins is a family affair by adding the 5th to leave the visitors 5-0 ahead. Jan Trejbal got a consolation goal for Railway with a 66th minute goal from open play to leave the final score Railway Union 1 Cork Harlequins 5.

 

EHYL 2 WOMEN’S POOL A

KILKENNY 1 CORK HARLEQUINS 4

Leinster Division 1 side Kilkenny hosted Munster Division 1 side Cork Harlequins in this EYHL 2 Women’s Pool A clash at Kilkenny College. Yvonne O’Byrne put the visitors 1-0 ahead in the 29th minute when she converted a penalty corner. Michelle Barry put the visitors 2-0 up with a goal from open play in the 39th minute. Yvonne O’Byrne got her second of the game when she scored from open play in the 46th minute to leave the visitors 3-0 ahead. Sophie Naughton’s 48th minute got Kilkenny on the scoresheet and back in the match for a spell, but Joy Sampson scored in 63rd minute for Harlequins to snuff out the hopes of a comeback. Kilkenny 1 Cork Harlequins 4.

 

BELFAST HARLEQUINS 5 GREENFIELDS 0

Connacht Division 1 side Greenfields decided to play both their home and away games in Dublin at the National Sports Campus and it made sense for both clubs economically speaking to do so. There was no need for either side to overnight in either city given that Dublin was closer to Galway than Belfast and also closer for the Ulsterwomen than Galway. Jennifer McAuley opened the scoring for Harlequins in their temporary ” home” with a goal from open play on the 3rd minute. Emma Fraser increased the lead for the Ulsterwomen a minute later 2-0 Harlequins.  Amy Cummings-Bell made it 3-0  in the 41st minute.  Jennifer McAuley added a fourth from a converted penalty corner in the 46th minute. Katherine Welsh man put the tin hat on a 5-0  win with a goal from open play in the 52nd minute. Belfast Harlequins 5 Greenfields 0

EYHL 2 WOMEN’S POOL B 

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 4 ARDS 1

Abi O’Mahony gave UCC the lead with a goal from open play in the 7th minute. Julia McCarthy converted a penalty corner in the 20th minute to make it 2-0 for UCC. Abi O’Mahony  got her second open play goal of the game on the 30th minute to out the students 3-0 ahead. Emma O’Sullivan put the game beyond redemption with her open play goal in the 40th minute to leave the students 4-0 up. Alana Doyle’s 47th minute Penalty Stroke proved to be just a consolation goal for the Ulsterwomen it finished 4-1 to UCC.

 

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY 2 MUCKROSS 3

Leinster Division 1 table toppers Muckross travelled to Dangan to take on University of Galway in the EYHL 2 Pool B. Mian Phelan-Sweeney gave Muckross the lead from a converted penalty corner in the 8th minute. Ailbhe Phelan equalised for University of Galway in the 19th minute. Caroline Mathew’s scored from a converted penalty corner in the 13th minute to restore the lead for Muckross to 2-1. Aisling McGrath from open play but the students back level in the 61st minute at 2-2. Caroline Mathews got her second goal of the match converting another penalty corner to secure the win. Muckross coming away with a 3-2 win.

 

AUSTRALIA 4 IRELAND 1

 

Australia took on Ireland in the sixth fixture of the India phase of the FIH Pro League in Rourkela today. The table toppers eventually overcame a game Ireland team with a powerhouse second half performance to win by 4 goals to 1.

Interviewed pre match on the Watch Hockey live stream Ireland head coach Mark Tumilty stated that the primary aim was to get into the final third more often. Ireland did precisely that in the first quarter forcing a long corner in the 3^rd minute. After a good team move orchestrated by Daragh Walsh, Sean Murray got the final pass and forced two saves from Australian keeper Andrew Charter in the 4^th minute. Australia had their first real shot in anger in the 9^th minute when James Milliken saved from Daniel Beale.

Australia forced their first penalty corner of the match in the 11^th minute. Blake Govers shot from the corner was saved by Milliken. It was scoreless at the end of the quarter. Australia started the second quarter well forcing their second penalty corner of the match in the 17^th minute. Saved at the line by Milliken at the expense of another short corner. Umpire made Australia retake this one as one of the Irish runners had broken too early. Australia hit this one wide off the outside of the upright.

Australia forced their 5^th penalty corner of the game in the 21^st minute Blake Govers shot towards the roof of the net but James MIlliken managed to keep it out of the net with his raised stick at the expense of a long corner.  Overall, in quarter two Australia dominated possession and Ireland defended well. Ireland had a few circle entries in the 24^th minute. In the final minute Australia had a shot across the goal mouth after a free hit and that one went wide.  0-0 at half time.

Australia didn’t score from their 8^th penalty corner, but they did however from their 9th. Blake Govers converting in the 33^rd minute  1-0 to Australia. Nathan Ephraums converted another penalty corner in the 40^th minute to increase their lead to 2-0. But Ireland responded in the 44^th minute when Shane O’Donoghue converted their first penalty corner to make the score 2-1. Blake Govers put Australia further ahead in the 52^nd minute converting a second penalty corner for his second goal of the game, to make the score 3-1 to Australia . Player of the match Jack Welch got a goal from open  play in the 56th minute to leave the final score Australia 4 Ireland 1.

 

Speaking after the match Ireland Head Coach Mark Tumilty said:

“For a few of the Australia goals we got unfortunate with some of the deflections. We have to defend a bit better outside the circle. We conceded very quickly after scoring and that’ s something we need to work on. We have grown in the tournament and now we need to get something on the board before we go home. I think we deserve something from this tournament and that will be our main focus going into those final games.”

 

AUSTRALIA: Andrew Charter (G), Corey Weyer, Jake Harvie, Tom Wickham, Jacob Anderson, Joshua Beltz, Blake Govers, Jayden Atkinson,  Tim Howard, Flynn Ogilvie, Daniel Beale  SUBS USED: James Collins (3 mins), Jack Welch (3mins), Lachlan Sharp (4 mins) Ky Willott (4 mins),  Nathan Ephraums (5 mins),  Eddie Ockenden (C) (5 mins)

 

IRELAND:  James Milliken (GK), Luke Witherow, Lee Cole, Shane O’Donoghue, Nicholas Page, Peter McKibbin, Sean Murray (C), Daragh Walsh, Jeremy Duncan, Ben Walker, Jonathan Lynch SUBS USED: Peter Brown (5 mins), Conor Empey (5 mins),  Matthew Nelson (5 mins), Kevin O’Dea (5 mins), Charlie Rowe (6 mins), Sam Hyland (8 mins)