FIH PRO LEAGUE Season 5, India

IRL Men lose to Australia in second FIH Pro League game 

Bhubaneswar – FIH Pro League 2023-24 (M)
Match No.11 Australia v Ireland
Picture : Ireland line up for the national anthem prior to the match

IRELAND  0  AUSTRALIA  5

Ireland took on Australia in Bhubaneswar India in their second ever FIH Pro League match and began well enjoying a share of possession in the opening minutes without carving out any clear cut opportunities. Michael Robson was playing his 150th match for Ireland in this game and Ben Walker was back in the side having missed out on the Olympic Qualification tournament in Valencia through injury. Both sides exchanged long corners early on without any reward. Australia fielded a relatively inexperienced side on this occasion, and it was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter.

 

The second quarter saw Australia take it up a gear. Australia took the lead through a goal from open play that was deflected past substitute goalkeeper James Milliken by Tom Craig in the 17th minute. Tim Cross won the first penalty corner of the match for Ireland in the 20th minute. Shane O’Donoghue’s drag flick was deflected behind for a long corner. Tom Craig had the ball in the net for Australia in the 21st minute but the Umpire had already blown his whistle for a penalty corner. Jeremy Hayward converted that penalty corner in the 22nd minute to make it 2-0 to Australia. Tim Cross forced a long corner having taken down an aerial pass near the byline in the 26th minute and from that corner forced another penalty corner for Ireland. Shane O’Donoghue’s shot went wide to the right. Australia then increased their lead as Flynn Ogilvie went down the right and found Tom Craig his short pass to Beale was deflected to Ky Willott who got his first goal of the game to make it 3-0 in the 28th minute and that was the score at half time.

 

Australia had the better of exchanges in the early part of the third quarter. Matt Dawson had the ball in the goal for the Aussies but unfortunately for them, his shot which had originated outside the semi-circle didn’t get the touch inside the semi-circle required for it to count.  James Milliken made a fine stop from Jack Welch in the 39th minute and it got worse for Ireland in the 43rd minute when Nathan Ephraums made it 4-0 from open play. Jamie Carr returned to duty between the posts for Ireland at the start of the final quarter and Australia were reduced to 10 players for two minutes when Dan Beale was green carded in the 49th minute. Ireland managed to win themselves a short corner while the Kookaburras were shorthanded. The penalty corner found Luke Madeley whose initial effort was blocked the ball rebounded to Sean Murray whose shot was saved by Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter.  Ireland had another chance to score a minute later when a deflected effort was heading towards goal when Andrew Charter blocked it. In the 56th minute Ky Willott made it 5-0. The Irish referred the goal to the video umpire on the grounds of potential danger. She overruled them and awarded the goal and Ireland lost their referral. In the closing seconds Ireland were in the Australian semi-circle but were unable to get that consolation goal it finished Ireland 0 Australia 5.

 

After the game we spoke to Ireland Head Coach Mark Tumilty:

 

“It’s a good learning for us, this game. Our basics let us down at times. We looked dangerous in the final third, but we needed to be more clinical in the attacking end of things and more switched on at the back end. You get punished at this level for the slightest errors and when chances come your way you have to be clinical and convert those chances.  

“We’ll rotate the squad as we move through this phase in Bhunaneswar and in Rourkela and the five guys who didn’t feature today will come back into consideration to start on Thursday against Spain. They are familiar opposition we have played them often over the past eighteen months or so including the recent tournament in Valencia, so we know each other’s style of play well.”

 

IRELAND: Jamie Carr (GK), Luke Madeley, Tim Cross, John McKee, Matthew Nelson, Shane O’Donoghue, Sean Murray (C), Michael Robson, Ben Walker, Sam Hyland, Nicholas Page.

SUBS USED:  Daragh Walsh  (6 mins), Jonathan Lynch  (7  mins), Luke Witherow (5 mins), Charlie Rowe (7mins),  Conor Empey (6 mins), Peter McKibbin (7 mins) James Milliken (GK) (6 mins)

 

AUSTRALIA:  Andrew Charter (GK), Jake Harvie,  Matt Dawson,  Nathan Ephraums, Tim Howard,  Aran Zalewski,  Ky Willott,Flynn Ogilvie, Daniel Beale (C),  Tim Brand,  Jeremy Hayward

SUBS USED: Tom Wickham (3 mins),  Tom Craig (5 mins), Corey Wever  (5 mins), Joshua Beltz (5 mins), Jack Welch (5 mins), Jayden Atkinson (6 mins)

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Hockey Ireland Pathway Traveling Squads Announced

Hockey Ireland Underage Squads Traveling for Match Series against England in Lilleshall

 

 

Dublin, February 12: Three Ireland representative squads – Under 16 girls, Under 16 boys and Under 18 boys arrived in Lilleshall today to begin a three-match series against England.

All three teams will have a game each on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday against their England counterparts and after the final matches will return straightaway to Ireland on Thursday.

These games which coincide with the school breaks on both sides of the Irish Sea are excellent preparation for what it takes to play international hockey in these respective age brackets.

 

Mick McKinnon Pathway Manager for Hockey Ireland said ahead of the games:

“It’s a pretty full-on schedule, each team will face three games in three days, and it will be hockey all the way for the duration. There are one or two new coaches who have come in so the players will be getting to know what tactics and styles of play they have in mind going forward.

“We will be on campus in Lilleshall and getting straight down to business as soon as we arrive. Each team has a squad of 20 over here and the coaches will be rotating to ensure each of the players gets some playing time against England. There will be more competitions and they will be back in action during the Easter break with teams going as far afield as Germany, Belgium and Poland. So, offers of sponsorship of all types for these squads are very welcome.”

 

Full squad lists as follows:

U16 Girls

 Player Name                                        Province                                           School                                                                          Club

Aisling Meehan Leinster Holy Child Killiney Monkstown HC
Anna Butler Leinster St Andrew’s College Monkstown HC
Caitlín Gribbin Ulster Rainey Endowed School Rainey RFHC
Daisy Costello Leinster Muckross Park College Muckross Hockey Club
Emma McEntee Ulster Friends School Lisburn Lurgan Ladies HC
Evie Girvan Ulster Royal School Dungannon Portadown Ladies HC
Evie Thompson Ulster Portadown College Portadown Ladies HC
Hollaí Quinn Leinster The High School Corinthians HC
Holly Farrell Leinster Mount anville Secondary school Pembroke Wanderers HC
Kate Collins Munster Bandon Grammar School Bandon HC
Kyah kelly Munster Newtown school, Waterford Waterford HC
Laoise Nelson Overseas Player Kent College Pembury Sevenoaks HC
Lara Wilson Ulster Wallace High School Lisnagarvey HC
Leah Galbraith Ulster Portadown College Portadown Ladies HC
Lily May Kelleher Munster Scoil Mhuire, Cork Cork Harlequins
Lucy Fox Leinster Wesley College YMCA
Lucy McCaffrey Ulster Wallace High School South Antrim
Nieve Caldwell Ulster Coleraine Grammar School Ulster Elks
Ruby Johnston Ulster Banbridge Academy Dromore Ladies HC
Sophie Tate Ulster Banbridge Academy Portadown Ladies HC
Team Manager Anita Patterson
Head Coach Shirley McCay
Assistant Coach Ross Hetem

U16 Boys

                       Name                                             Club                                                              Province                                                   School

Alfie Le Quesne YMCA Leinster Temple Carrig Greystones
Dylan Evans Bray hockey club Leinster Temple Carrig
Edward Irwin Cookstown Hockey Club Ulster Cookstown High School
Finn Thompson Lisnagarvey Hockey club Ulster Wallace High School
Harry Thompson Annadale Hockey Club Ulster Sullivan Upper School
Hayden Jones Waterford Hockey Club Munster Newtown Secondary School
Isaac Kelso Cookstown Hockey Club Ulster Cookstown High School
Jake Fulton Leinster
Johnny Woods YMCA HC Leinster Wesley College
Liam Walsh Portrane Leinster Sutton ParkSchool
Louis McDaid Cork C of i Munster Ashron
Noa Mulvey Portrane HC Leinster Skerries Community College
Oliver Graham YMCA Leinster Nord Anglia International School
Oliver Tumilty Lisnagarvey HC Ulster Wallace High School
Riagan Dunne Glenanne Leinster Colaiste Eanna Rathfarnham
Robbie McAreavey Instonians Ulster Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI)
Robert O’Brien RAILWAY UNION Leinster The High School Dublin
Sam Holmes Instonians Ulster RBAI
Seb Holley Bangor HC Ulster Bangor Grammar School
Toby Slye O’Connell Railway Union Leinster St Andrews College
Team Manager Barton Shannon
Head Coach Ronan Hickey
Assistant Coach Denis Pritchard

U18 Boys

                        Name                                                           Province                                                        School                                                                             Club

Max Nicholson Ulster Banbridge Academy Banbridge HC
Ben Law Ulster Campbell College Belfast Bangor Hockey Club
Jamie Horgan Munster Bandon Grammar C of I
Harry St Leger Leinster St Columbas College Corinthian Hockey Club
Max Caulwell Leinster Wesley College Corinthian Hockey Club
Scott Kenny Leinster Kings Hospital Corinthian Hockey Club
Robert Olden Munster Midleton College Cork Church of Ireland
Sean Curtin Munster Midleton College Cork Harlequins
Matthew McAreavey Ulster RBAI Instonians Hockey Club
George Palmer Ulster RBAI Instonians Hockey Club
Michael Hollway Ulster RBAI Instonians Hockey Club
Tom Archbold Ulster Friends Lisnagarvey HC
John  Cunningham Ulster RBAI Lisnagarvey HC
Milo Thompson Ulster Wallace High School Lisnagarvey HC
Matthew McLearnon (GK) Ulster Wallace High School Lisnagarvey HC
Zach Silverman Leinster St Andrew’s College Three Rock Rovers
Oscar Pasley Leinster The High School Three Rock Rovers
James Coffey Leinster Wesley College Three Rock Rovers
Peter Montgomery Leinster Wesley College Three Rock Rovers
Ryan Williams Munster Newtown School Waterford Waterford
Team Manager Will Bartley
Head Coach Brinsley Powell
Assistant Coach Joel Cathcart
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Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up – Sunday Feb 11

EY HOCKEY LEAGUE WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 RETURNS

 

Three of the four fixtures frozen off in Round 11 were down for decision today, Sunday Feb 11.

 

CORINTHIANS   0 –  3  CATHOLIC INSTITUTE

Bottom of the table Corinthians went into this game still in search of their first win of the campaign. Indeed their first League point would have also been a sign of progress. A Naomi Carroll hat-trick without reply ensured their travails would go on for another week.

She opened her account in the 8th minute, converting a penalty corner. Corinthians 0 Catholic Institute 1. It was that score also at the half time break. In the closing minutes of the third quarter Naomi Carroll scored from open play to make it 2-0 on 43 minutes. Naomi Carroll completed her hat-trick in the 59th minute with another goal from open play to leave the final score Corinthian 0 Catholic Institute 3.

 

LORETO 4 PEGASUS  2

Loreto went into this game with a 100% record having won all 10 of their pre Christmas break games in this Division. Síofra O’Brien opened the scoring for Loreto in the 9th minute with a goal from open play. It was 1-0 at half-time. Stefanie Ardis equalised for Pegasus in the 38th minute again from open play 1-1. Sarah Torrans converted a penalty corner in the 40th minute to restore Loreto’s one goal lead and make the score 2-1. Sarah Torrans increased their lead to 3-1 with a second converted penalty corner of the game in the 48th minute. Stefanie Ardis got her second of the game for Pegasus to make the score 3-2 in the 54th minute. Hannah Matthews converted a penalty corner in the 68th minute, and Loreto maintained their 100% record in the EYHL Women’s Division on a scoreline of Loreto 4 Pegasus 2.

 

MONKSTOWN  1  ULSTER ELKS 2

Seventh placed Monkstown hosted eighth placed Ulster Elks in this clash at Rathdown with only one League point separating the teams at the start of play. The visitors started brightly and took the lead when Leah Maguire converted a penalty corner in the 15th minute. You have an inkling things might be going your way when you have a goal like the one which increased Ulster Elks lead in the 24th minute. Lucy Craig’s converted penalty corner took a fortuitous deflection, went up into the air and looped over the goalkeeper’s head into the roof of the net without endangering anybody in the goalmouth at the time. Ulster Elks led 2-0. Just before half-time Monkstown were back in the game when Chloe Watkins converted a penalty corner in the 32nd minute. In the second half Monkstown enjoyed more possession and created a few more chances indeed they hit the backboards twice but unfortunately the shots originated outside the semi-circle and didn’t receive the deflections necessary for them to count on the scoreboard. In the end Ulster Elks emerged with a 2-1 win and leapfrog Monkstown into 7th place in the League table.

 

MONKSTOWN:  Martha Duignan, Aliya Davis, Emily Kealy, Sophie Moore, Claire O’Reilly, Rebecca Carthy, Natasha Twomey, Aoibhinn Murdoch, Suzanne Kelly, Amelia Jerman, Orla Young -Hughes, Charlotte O’Neill, Chloe Watkins

ULSTER ELKS: Gemma Ferguson, Katie Craig, Bethany Harper (C), Chloe Stewart, Lucy McKimm, Katie McKee, Bethany Scott, Lucy Craig, Jessica McMaster, Charlotte Beggs, Kirsty McLarnon, Serena Campuzano, Gabriella Scott, Sarah Byrne, Erin Getty

 

IRISH MEN’S SENIOR CUP

 

GLENANNE  3 -1  CORK HARLEQUINS 

Other ties played this weekend saw Three Rock Rovers beat Queen’s University 4-1 while YMCA had an impressive 2-1 win over Monkstown.

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EuroHockey Indoor Championship II, Women: Sunday Feb 11 – Final/ Day 3 Report

IRL Indoor Women beat Luthuania in thrilling finish to take Gold at EuroHockey Indoor Championship II in Galway 

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Sunday February 11, Galway: Day 3 began in Galway with a pool game between Croatia and Sweden.

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CROATIA 7 SWEDEN 4 

These two teams produced an 11-goal thriller for the early arrivals at the Kingfisher Centre in Galway. Iskra Bedenko opened the scoring for Croatia after 12 minutes to put them 1-0 up. Dora Jelcic  added a second a minute later to leave them 2-0 up but Sweden responded through Laetitia Schrader who converted a penalty stroke in the 17th minute, 2-1 Croatia heading to half time. Lucija Buzjak converted a penalty corner in the 19th minute to make it 3-1 and Martina Petretic converted another penalty corner to leave the half time score Croatia 4 Sweden 1. Petra Hrupec scored again for Croatia in the 22nd minute to make it 5-1 and then Sweden got awarded a penalty stroke which Klara Moberg converted in the 29th minute to make it 5-2. Croatia responded through Sasha Abramovic in the 30th minute to make it 6-2 but Sweden converted a penalty corner by Emilia Kalling-Smith in the 31st minute to reduce the deficit to 6-3. Klara Moberg converted another penalty corner for the Swedes in the 38th minute and Iskra Bedenko rounded off the scoring in the final minute for Croatia to leave the final score Croatia 7 Sweden 4.

PORTUGAL 3  SLOVAKIA 3

Portugal picked up their first point of the Pool II A of the European Indoor Championship in Galway by holding Slovakia to a 3-3 draw. The Slovaks had surprisingly held Ireland to a 5-5 draw in the final game of Saturday’s action. Portugal were awarded a penalty stroke in the 8th minute converted by Ana Nogueira. Slovakia responded in the 9th minute through Barbora Pucherova from open play to make it 1-1. Slovakia made it 2-1 when Karolina Vyskocova  got the first of her two goals on the day converting a 13th minute penalty corner. Portugal equalised in the 15th minute through Duianiela Nunes from open play. Ana Nogueira got her second goal of the game for Portugal in the 15th minute when she converted a penalty corner to give Portugal a 3-2 lead.  Slovakia secured a share of the spoils in the 39th minute  when Karoline Vyskocova converted a penalty corner to leave the final score Portugal 3 Slovakia 3

IRELAND  5 LITHUANIA 1 

Ireland went into their final pool match of the tournament trailing leaders Lithuania by 2 points with a simple mission. Nothing less than a win over Lithuania would be good enough to secure promotion to the top tier of European Indoor Hockey. There was no scoring at all in the first quarter. All the goals in this game came in the hectic final 10 minutes. Dovile Juraite opened the scoring for Lithuania in the 20th minute and Lithuania led 1-0 at half time. Orla Fox converted a penalty corner to get Ireland on level terms in the 31st minute. 1-1 a final result like this would have given Lithuania the title, however.

Lithuania’s hero  Dovile Juraite quickly became a villain. She was yellow carded in 32nd minute and Ireland fired in a few goals while her team were shorthanded. Chloe Brown converted the penalty corner in the 32nd minute to make it 2-1 to Ireland. Milla Fulton scored from open play in the 34th minute to make it 3-1 to Ireland. Chloe Brown converted her second penalty corner of the day to make it 4-1 to Ireland in the 35th minute and in the 39th minute Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke which Orla Fox converted to make the final score 5-1. This put Ireland in first place by one point and secured the gold medal in this tournament plus the right to play in the higher echelon of European Indoor Hockey in the next tournament.

IRELAND:- Emma Buckley (GK ) ; Sarah Patton, Mikayla Power, Chloe Brown, Orla Fox , Milla Fulton

SUBS USED : Kate Hora [39 mins GK] ;  Laura Graham [4 mins]  Orla Patton (C) [ 4  mins] Orla Macken [22 mins]  Ellen Robinson [ 7  mins]

FINAL STANDING 

IRELAND 1st place  13 points +21 Goal difference

LITHUANIA 2nd place 12 points +12 goal difference

CROATIA 3rd place  9 points +5 goal difference

SLOVAKIA  4th place 5 points -4 goal difference

SWEDEN 5th place 3 points -10 goal difference

PORTUGAL 6th place 1 point -24 goal difference

Images courtesy of: Alwyn Robinson Photography
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EuroHockey Indoor Championship II, Women: Saturday, Feb 10 – Day 2 Report

Sweden got things underway on day 2 against Slovakia in the opening game.

SWEDEN 1 SLOVAKIA 4

Nora Thien gave the Swedes a lead in the 13th minute from open play Sharlota Medikova equalised for Slovakia when she converted a penalty corner in the 19th minute and her second of the game from open play put Slovakia ahead in the game for the first time in the 32nd minute. Karolina Vyskochová increased the Slovaks lead converting a penalty corner in the 33rd minute giving them an extended 3-1 lead going into the closing stages. Barbora Pucherova sealed the win with a fourth for the Slovaks in the final minute and the final score was Sweden 1 Slovakia 4.

 

LITHUANIA 4 CROATIA 2

Lithuania took on Croatia in the second game of the day . Dovile Kukliene converted a penalty corner in the 6th minute to make it 2-0 and Viktorija Bogdanova added a third in the 7th minute to put Slovakia 3-0 ahead. Dovile Kukliene got her second of the match from open play in the 9th minute to leave Slovakia leading 4-0 and in a seemingly comfortable position. Croatia attempted to claw their way back though and were on the scoreboard in the 12th minute when Lucija Nizek converted a penalty stroke. Iskra Bedenko’s 23rd minute goal made it 4-2.

 

IRELAND 9  PORTUGAL 1

Ireland took on Portugal in their third Pool A match of the EuroHockey Indoor Championship in Galway. Chloe Brown’s converted penalty corner in the 4th minute gave Ireland the lead. Ireland went further ahead when they were awarded a penalty stroke and Orla Fox made no mistake 2-0 Ireland . Portugal got their first goal of the tournament in the 9th minute when Ana Nogueira converted a penalty corner to make it 2-1. Milla Fulton added a third for Ireland in the 11th minute  3-1. Sarah Patton scored in the 22nd minute to make it 4-1. Milla Fulton converted a penalty corner  to make it  in the 24th minute to get her second of the match to make it 5-1 for Ireland.  Jenny Mc Carlie scored in the 25th minute to make it 6-1. Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke in 32nd minute and Orla Fox got her second of the match to make it 7-1.  Ellen Robinson added another goal in the 35th minute to make it 8-1. Sarah Patton converted a penalty corner in the 40th minute to make it 9-1.

IRELAND: Kate O’Hora (GK), Laura Graham, Orla Fox,  Chloe Brown ,Jenna McCarlie, Ellen Robinson

SUBS USED: Sarah Patton (4 mins), Mikayla Power, (5 mins), Orla Patton (C) (6 mins), Milla Fulton (4 mins), Orla Macken (6 mins)

 

LITHUANIA  4 SWEDEN 0

Dovile Kukliene opened the scoring for Lithuania in the 12th minute from open play. Dovile Kukliene got her second of the game from a penalty corner in the 18th minute.

Renata Grigiene converted a 25th minute Penalty stroke  and then Dovile Kukliene in the 36th minute converted a penalty corner completing her hat-trick. It finished Lithuania 4 Sweden 0.

 

CROATIA 7  PORTUGAL 2

Croatia took the lead through Petra Hrupec who converted a penalty corner in the 2nd minute. Sasha Abramovic scored a goal from open play in the 7th minute to make it 2-0 to Croatia. Dora Jelcic added a goal in the 8th minute to make it 3-0 to Croatia and Iskra Bedenko made it 4-0 in the 13th minute.  Ana Nogueira converted a penalty corner in the  15th minute to get Portugal on the scoresheet. Sasha Abramovic got her second of the game in the 17th minute to make it 5-1 to Croatia and Dora Jelcic got her second of the game in the 19th minute to leave Croatia 6-1 ahead. Ana Nogueira added a second goal of the game for her tally to make it 6-2. Monika Vajdic rounded off ther scoring for Croatia in the final minute to leave the score Croatia 7 Portugal 2.

 

SLOVAKIA 5 IRELAND 5

Ireland’s hopes of winning this competition suffered a hammer blow in the final match of the second day when they were held to a 5-5 draw by Slovakia. Slovakia took an early lead in the 3rd minute when Martina Surinova scored from open play. Ireland equalised a minute later when Orla Fox tucked away a penalty stroke to make it 1-1. Jenna McCarlie scored again for Ireland in the 12th minute to make it 2-1. Mikayla Power added another goal to put Ireland 3-1 ahead and Laura Graham scored again in the 19th minute to leave Ireland 4-1 up at half time. Slovakia stormed back in the second half Karolina Vyskocova scored in the 26th minute to make it 4-2. Sharlota Medvikova converted a penalty corner in the 28th minute to make it 4-3 to Ireland. Barbora Pucherova equalised for the Slovaks in the 36th minute to make it 4-4. Ireland looked to have won the game when Mikayla Power scored in the final minute. Sharlota Medvikova converted a penalty corner just before the end to leave the final score 5-5.

IRELAND: Emma Buckley,  Sarah Patton, Mikayla Power, Chloe Brown, Orla Fox, Milla Fulton

SUBS USED: Ellen Robinson (2 mins), Jenna McCarlie (4 mins),  Laura Graham (4 mins), Orla Patton (c) (5 mins), Orla Macken (6 mins)

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Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up – Saturday, Feb 10

EY Hockey League 2 

 

EYHL2 MEN’S POOL A

Week 4 of the EYHL 2 got underway with two ties in the Men’s Pool A.

BANGOR  2  PEMBROKE WANDERERS 4

James Maginnis gave the visitors the lead in 15th minute when he converted a penalty corner for Pembroke Wanderers. Ross Breytenbach made it 2-0 for Wanderers with a goal from open play in the 30th minute. Bangor responded a minute later when Ryan Burgess converted a penalty corner 31st minute. Bangor drew level in the 43rd minute when they were awarded a penalty stroke from which Matthew Armstrong-Sanchez made no mistake to make it 2-2. Scott Sullivan restored Pembroke’s lead converting a penalty corner in the 52nd minute and Cian Murphy sealed the win for Wanderers in the 63rd minute from open play to leave the final score Bangor 2 Pembroke Wanderers 4.

 

BANDON  2 AVOCA 6

Bandon had no answer for the firepower of the Leinster Division 1 A opposition at Bandon Grammar school in this EYHL 2 Pool A clash. Hayden Vaitekenas opened the scoring from open play in the second minute. He got his second of the game in the 22nd minute to leave Avoca 2-0. Less than a minute later Christopher Ryan scored another goal for Avoca from open play to make it 3-0. In the 24th minute Bandon mustered a response when Fion O’Leary scored to make it 3-1 at half time. Avoca scored in the 44th minute through Andrew Tutty to make it 4-1. Christopher Ryan got his second goal of the game in the 49th minute to make it 5-1. Fionn O’Leary got his second of the game in the 56th minute to put a bit more respectability on the scoreline, but Avoca finished strongly when Andrew Tutty got his second of the game to make the final score 6-2 in the final minute.

 

EYHL 2 MEN’S POOL B 

CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND 2 CORK HARLEQUINS 2

A Leeside derby, an all-Munster Division 1 clash, and a rivalry going back to early in the last century if not further, this game had everything one could wish for. And nothing could separate the sides after four quarters of hockey at Garryduff. Jonathan Spillane gave the hosts the lead in the 9th minute 1-0 Church of Ireland. Sean Landers 28th minute penalty stroke increased their lead to 2-0. The visitors responded through John Hobbs in the 35th minute converting a penalty stroke. Julian Dale ensured a share of the spoils for the visitors when he converted a penalty corner in the 62nd minute. The final result being Cork Church of Ireland 2 Cork Harlequins 2.

 

COOKSTOWN 3  RAILWAY UNION 1

Cookstown and Railway Union played out a closely fought two quarters and the deadlock wasn’t broken until the 32nd minute when Mark Crooks converted a penalty corner to leave the hosts 1-0 ahead at the break.  Callum Anderson’s goal from open play in the 44th minute increased the hosts lead to 2-0  and Scott Mc Cabe’s goal in the 55th minute for Cookstown probably put the game beyond Railway Union giving Cookstown a 3-0 advantage. Jan Trejbal gave Railway Union a consolation by getting on the scoresheet in the 66th minute  with a goal from open play to leave the final score Cookstown 3 Railway Union 1.

 

EYHL 2 WOMEN’S POOL A 

Avoca were originally due to play Kilkenny and Greenfields from Galway were due to take on Cork Harlequins in the EYHL2 Women’s Pool A today. Neither of the two ties down for decision in this Pool took place owing to the involvement of both Avoca and Cork Harlequins in the Irish Senior Cup.

 

EYHL 2 WOMEN’S POOL B 

ARDS 1 MUCKROSS 1

Ulster Premier League’s Ards took on Leinster Division 1 side Muckross in this tie at Londonderry Park. And nothing could separate the two sides in the  first half.

Honor Powell gave the visitors the lead in the 44th minute from open play.  Ards responded through Ailish Carson who converted a penalty corner in the 52nd minute to leave things level at the final whistle. It ended Ards 1 Muckross 1.

 

LURGAN  0 UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY 0

 

MEN’S IRISH HOCKEY TROPHY 

 

KILKENNY 5 BRAY 0

 

MEN’S IRISH JUNIOR CUP

 

THREE ROCK ROVERS 4 PEMBROKE WANDERERS 1

UCD 4 KILKEEL 0 

 

WOMEN’S IRISH HOCKEY TROPHY

 

GLENANNE 4 BALLYMENA 0 

GREENFIELDS 1  LISNAGARVEY  5 

PORTRANE 2 DUNGANNON 6 

 

WOMEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP

 

CORK HARLEQUINS 1 CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 3

PEGASUS 7 AVOCA 1  

U.C.C. 1 LORETO 3

ULSTER ELKS 0  CORINTIANS 2

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 5  BALLYMONEY 0 

 

UCD 2 OLD ALEXANDRA 1

EYHL Women’s Division 1 rivals Old Alexandra and UCD played out a very closely fought Irish Senior Cup tie at the National Stadium in Belfield on Saturday. There was no scoring in the first quarter. Playing her final game for UCD ahead of her Erasmus stint in Australia didn’t faze Lucy Crowe in any way as she opened the scoring by converting a penalty corner in the 28th minute. Caoimhe Byrne made her return for UCD having missed the first half of the season due to her Erasmus stint in the USA. UCD increased their lead  in the 48th minute from open play through Leah O’Shea to lead by 2-0. Old Alexandra like UCD on this occasion were shorn of their Full International players got on  the scoresheet in the final minute when Aoife Taaffe finished off a nice well worked move to leave the final score UCD 2 Old Alexandra 1. So UCD go into the hat for the next round for Old Alexandra there is just the League left to concentrate on for the rest of 2023-24 season.

UCD:  Erika Gallagher, Aine Naughton, Katie-Jane Marshall, Ali Griffin, Lucy Crowe, Anna McCarthy, Katherine Egan. Emma Paul (C), Lauren Johnston, Florence Maughan, Sydney Weir McErlean SUBS USED: Caoimhe Byrne (6 mins), Leah O’Shea (8 mins), Lauren Moore (8 mins), Sophia Cole (10 mins)

OLD ALEXANDRA: Holly Micklem, Lindsay Power, Paula Oldenkott, Ella Malone, Sarah Byrne, Elva Kerr, Bethany Russ,  Robyn Hetherington, Isabella Dunlop, Zoe Hancock,  Abigail Russell (capt.) SUBS USED:  Allie Hetherington (7 mins), Aoife Taaffe (10 mins)

MEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP

THREE ROCK ROVERS 4 QUEENS UNIVERSITY 1

YMCA 2 MONKSTOWN 1 

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IRL Men’s first FIH Pro League game against The Netherlands ends in defeat

IRL Men’s first FIH Pro League game against The Netherlands end in defeat

NETHERLANDS 5 IRELAND1

 

The Netherlands, who are the number 1 ranked hockey team in the world, were the opposition for Ireland in their first ever FIH Pro League game in Bhubaneswar, India on Saturday. Ireland defended well in the opening stages and reduced Netherlands to speculative efforts. All t hat changed in the 12th minute when Tjep Hoedermans converted from a penalty corner to give them the lead. It was 1-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Dutch increased their lead, Jorrit Croon finished from open play following a good team effort to get him into the scoring position from which he put the ball into the goal on 21 minutes. But the Irish didn’t buckle and had their two best chances of the half late in the first quarter

In the second quarter Ireland were much more of a force in the attacking third of the field. Ireland forced a penalty corner and Pirmin Blaak denied Jeremy Duncan and Conor Empey had a shot come back off the post in the 29th minute .It was 2-0 at half-time. The Dutch increased their lead early in the third quarter, Jamie Carr fouled Jip Janssen who converted the resultant penalty stroke in the 35th minute. But within 60 seconds Sean Murray burst into the Dutch semi-circle and was fouled by Jorrit Croon. Croon sat out the next ten minutes on a yellow card and the Dutch were further reduced to 9 players for two minutes when Steijn Van Heijningen was green carded. The Irish appealed the original award of a free hit to the Video Umpire. He upheld the appeal and awarded a penalty stroke to Ireland which was converted by Lee Cole in the 36th minute. This made history being Ireland’s firstever goal in the FIH Pro League. Ireland however despite their best efforts were unable to make the numerical advantage count on the scoreboard.

Any hopes of an Ireland comeback were thwarted by several saves by Pirmin Blaak and then by two goals within a minute for the Dutch. Jip Janssen converted a penalty corner in the 52nd minute to make it 4-1 and Steijn Van Heijningen’s effort hit off an Irish defender on its way to the net a minute later to seal a 5-1 win for the Dutch. The Irish had played well for most of the game and in the end some key saves from Jaime Carr prevented an even worse look to the scoreline. Duco Telgenkamp’s shot which flew over the crossbar in the dying seconds, proved to be the last action of the match. Ireland’s first game in the FIH PRO League ended in a defeat which to be fair would have been the bookies prediction ahead of the game. Ireland are back in action on Tuesday Feb 13 against Australia.

 

After the game we spoke to Head Coach Mark Tumilty:

“I didn’t think it was a 5-1 game. If we could have gotten a second goal in the third quarter, it would have been a different result. Pleased with our first half showing. We produced some very good hockey at times. Going forward at times too. Probably just a few individual errors cost us goals. Teams at this level punish errors ruthlessly. Our deep defence was good at times as it had been in Valencia recently. I thought Sean Murray was outstanding in the game today. On Tuesday we will face Australia, and this will be another challenge for us. We will need to fix a few things from today that we could do a bit better on.”

IRELAND:- Jamie Carr (GK), Luke Madeley, Tim Cross, John McKee, Daragh Walsh, Kevin O’Dea, Shane O’Donoghue , Sean Murray (C), Michael Robson, Lee Cole, Conor Empey SUBS USED:  BenJohnson (4 mins), Luke Witherow (5 mins) Jeremy Duncan (5 mins), Nicholas Page (5 mins), Peter McKibbin (7 mins), Peter Brown (7 mins)

NETHERLANDS :Pirmin Blaak , Jip Janssen, Lars Balk, Thierry Brinkman, Seve Van Ass, JorritCroon, Floris Wortelboer, Tjep Hoedemakers,  Koen Bijen, Joep DeMol, Steijn Van Heijningen  SUBS USED : Duco Telgenkamp (4 mins), Max DeBie (4 mins) Terrance Pieters (4 mins) Derck De Vilder (5 mins), Teun Beins (5 mins]), Jesper Brinkman (5 mins)

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EuroHockey Indoor Championship II-A, Women: Friday Feb 9 – Day 1 Report

IRL Indoor Women off to a winning start but Lithuania lead the pool on goal difference

 

The EuroHockey Indoor Championship II-A, Women, got underway today in Galway at the Kingfisher Centre. Slovakia took on Croatia in the opening game. Lucija Nizek opened the scoring for Croatia from a penalty corner in the 6th minute to give them a 1-0 lead. She converted a second penalty corner in the 19th minute made it 2-0. Iskra Bedenko made it 3-0 for Croatia. Dominka Chebenova got what proved to be a consolation for Slovakia in the 36th minute. Dora Jelcici  scored a fourth goal  in the 39th minute. It finished Slovakia 1 Croatia 4. Portugal took on Lithuania in the second of the day’s games and Dovile Juraite’s opening goals for Lithuania saw them lead 2-0 after 12 minutes. Dovile kukliene converted a penalty corner to put the Baltic republic 3-0 up on 17 minutes and Dovile Juraite’s penalty corner on 21 minutes completed her hat-trick and left her team 4-0 ahead. Dovile Kukliene got her second of the game to leave Lithuania 5-0 ahead in the 25th minute and a converted penalty corner by Karolina Raulnaityte in the 37th minute proved the final score of the game. It finished Portugal 0 Lithuania 0

 

IRELAND 7 SWEDEN 2

Hosts Ireland got their campaign underway against Sweden. Chloe Brown put the Irish one up in the 2nd minute. Mikayla Power scored twice in the opening half in the 3rd minute and 11th minute. Jenna McCarlie  added a fourth in the 16th  minute.  Laura Graham added a fifth goal in the  22nd minute and Jenna McCarlie with her second of the game made it 6-0 in the 23rd minute.  Sweden got on the scoresheet when Ylva Von Blanquet scored in the 27th minute to make it 6-1. Chloe Brown with a converted penalty corner got her second of the game to put Ireland 7-1 ahead in the 33rd minute. In the final minute Ylva Von Blanquet converted a penalty corner for Sweden, her second goal of the game, to make the final score Ireland 7 Sweden 2.

 

IRELAND: Emma Buckley  (GK), Sarah Patton, Mikayla Power, Chloe Brown, Orla Patton (C), Milla Fulton

SUBS USED:– Orla Fox (5 mins), Laura Graham (5 mins), Jenna McCarlie (5 mins), Ellen Robinson (6 mins),  Orla Macken [(mins)

 

After the first round of matches Lithuania led the standings on goal difference from Ireland.

Slovakia took on Lithuania in both teams second outing of the day in the next game. Sarlota Medvikova gave Slovakia a 1-0 lead when she scored in the 4th minute from open play.

Viktorija Bogdanova equalised for Lithuania in the 10th minute to make it 1-1 and her second of the game gave her team the lead for the first time in the game in the 18th minute to make it 2-1 to Lithuania. Dovile Kuklienke added a goal from open play in the 28th minute to make it 3-1 Lithuania and Karolina Raulnaitynte added another in the 29th minute to leave them 4-1 ahead on the half hour mark. She got her second goal of the game in the 39th minute to leave the final score Slovakia 1 Lithuania 5.

 

Sweden took on Portugal in the penultimate game of Day 1.  Both sides having been on the receiving ends of heavy defeats in their opening games. Sweden got off to a good start when Nora Thien scored after 3 minutes. Paula Justus converted a penalty corner in the 18th minute to give the Swedes a 2-0 lead. Nora Thien got her second goal of the game in the 32nd minute to make it 3-0 to Sweden. Klara Moberg added a fourth in the 35th minute to leave the score 4-0 and Ylva Von Blanquet grabbed a fifth in the final minute to leave the final score Sweden 5 Portugal 0.

 

IRELAND 5 CROATIA 1

Ireland rounded off the days action in Galway with their second game of the day against Croatia. Teenager Milla Fulton opened the scoring for Ireland in the 4th minute converting a penalty corner.  Chloe Brown made it 2-0 from another converted penalty corner in the 7th minute. Ellen Robinson added a third goal in the 11th minute to leave Ireland leading 3-0.  Croatia got on the scoresheet in the 19th minute when Lucija Nizek converted a penalty corner and it was Ireland 3 Croatia 1 at that stage. There was no scoring in the third quarter.  Milla Fulton rectified that early into the final quarter with a goal from open play in the 33rd minute to make it Ireland 4 Croatia 1. Laura Graham added a further goal from open play in the 37th minute to make it Ireland 5 Croatia 1.  And that was the final score.

IRELAND: Emma Buckley (GK), Sarah Patton, Mikayla Power, Chloe Brown, Orla Patton (C), Milla Fulton

SUBS USED: Orla Fox (6 mins), Laura Graham (4 mins), Jenna McCarlie (4 mins), Ellen Robinson (8 mins),  Orla Macken (8 mins)

 

After two games Lithuania lead the pool on goal difference from Ireland both sides having secured 6 league points from their two outings. The action on Saturday gets underway at 10.30 a.m. when Slovakia take on Sweden.

 

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FIH Pro League debut for IRL Men against World Number 1 The Netherlands

FIH PRO LEAGUE 

 

Ireland’s Senior Men begin their FIH Pro League campaign on Saturday in Bhubaneswar India on Saturday at 12 p.m. Irish time against The Netherlands. After that India, the hosts, take on Spain at 2 p.m. Irish time. On Sunday Ireland are idle as the other four play against each other. Spain take on Australia at noon our time and India take on the Netherlands in the 2 p.m. game.

 

Action resumes on Tuesday February 13 where Ireland take on Australia at 12 noon and The Netherlands take on Spain at 2 p.m. Irish time. On Thursday February 15 Ireland have their third game in the series when they take on Spain at 12 noon Irish time and India take on Australia.

 

The first half of the India phase of this FIH Pro League season finishes on Friday February 16 when The Netherlands take on Australia at 12 noon and Ireland play hosts India at 2 p.m.  The five nations will relocate to Rourkela and that series will commence on February 19.

 

FIH PRO LEAGUE PLAYER QUOTES 

 

Michael Robson said prior to the squad’s departure for India:

 

“When we were in Valencia we were seeing pictures online of the crowds in the stadium in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela and it was something to enjoy in terms of the atmosphere.

“We’re just delighted to get going and can’t wait to play India over there. That’s the game we are most excited about.  Superb preparation, playing against the Top 8 teams in the world. It will certainly be  a steep learning curve.

“It will get us really well prepared for the run up to Paris 2024. We’ll be able to enjoy the Pro League and just soak up the atmosphere. The stakes and pressure were massive in Valencia. The stakes are huge in the Pro League too but the expectations are probably not as high. We are going to stick to the process and see what we can achieve performance-wise.”

“We are going to focus on our own performances and how we want to play. In Valencia we didn’t get bogged down with the opposition or with the end result. We’ve worked a lot on our deep defence, we certainly feel very comfortable in it, but it’s not something we want to default to. We still want to be on the front foot and play with the ball.”

“Certain circumstances occur in match situations. But if there’s one goal in it, we’re pretty comfortable with our backs to the wall . We’ve got good structures in place and we trust that.” 

 

Daragh Walsh, on getting into the FIH PRO League:

“When we initially got into the FIH Pro League, it was just a great spectacle and a great opportunity to be involved in it. But since Olympic qualification it’s become ideal preparation for the Olympic tournament in Paris later in the year. Since Covid we haven’t had a lot of opportunities to play top opposition. But in this first phase we will have 8 matches against 4 top class opposition that we don’t get to play against very often.”

On their knowledge of the Netherlands players:

“We have one or two players who play in the Netherlands and there’s a few of us in Belgium but there aren’t as many that our lads have experience of playing against at club level. We are aware of their qualities and that opening match will be a great benchmark for us as a squad.” 

On their aspirations for the FIH PRO League: “It’s going to be a big ask to stay up in this League and in order to do that we will have to target certain games. We’d be looking to get positive results against Argentina and Spain. Spain are definitely who we are most familiar with as we usually play them 5-6 times a year. Spain tend to win most of them so at this stage we probably are owed a victory over them. They are a top-quality side, it will be difficult, but doable.”

 

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