The Royal School Armagh crowned Kate Russell All Ireland Schoolgirls Champions

Friday, Mar 22: The second and final day of the Kate Russell All Ireland Senior Schoolgirls’ Championships took place in Armagh today with the hosts The Royal School of Armagh in poll position after Day 1, St. Angela’s in second place and Wesley College in third. Each of the five participating teams had two more round robin games to play before the final positions were decided and the Champions, second and third place prizes awarded.

 

DAY 2/ GAME 1: COLAISTE IOGNAID 0  WESLEY COLLEGE 6

Colaiste Iognaid, the Connacht provincial representatives, had been on the receiving end of a couple of hidings on Day 1 and went into this game with the defending champions determined that this trend would not continue. The first quarter was scoreless. Milla Fulton gave Wesley College the lead and exerted enormous pressure during the latter end of the second quarter. Half time score was Colaiste Iognaid 0 Wesley College 1. Galway’s Colaiste Iognaid defended their goal tenaciously and ensured that when the half time hooter blew they were only a goal behind. Colaiste Iognaid forced their first penalty corner in the third quarter as an indication of their improved performance in this particular match. Milla Fulton was yellow carded as was Sarah Ruttle so at one stage Wesley College were down to 9 players in the third quarter but Colaiste were unable to turn their numerical advantage into a goal. It remained 0-1 to Wesley at the end of the third quarter. One of Wesley’s most impressive performers was Annabel Squires, who is also an Under 19 cricket international player for Ireland. Wesley’s first penalty corner of the fourth quarter went wide. A second penalty corner saw Milla Fulton force a save from Iognaid keeper Emily Fitzgerald, but  Evelyn Quick reacted quickest to the rebound for Wesley almost within a minute to make it Colaiste Iognaid 0 Wesley 2. A third penalty corner for Wesley College resulted in the Dublin school being awarded a penalty stroke and Milla Fulton got her second of the game, when she made no mistake to leave Wesley College 3-0 ahead. Sarah Ruttle made it 4-0 for Wesley a minute later. Annabel Squires teed up Stewart who found Milla Fulton in space and she completed her hat-trick to make it 5-0. Culbert  found Sarah Ruttle made it 6-0 to Wesley just before the end.

 

DAY 2/ GAME 2: THE ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH 1  KILKENNY COLLEGE 0 

Hosts Royal School went into their third game of the tournament top of the table with a 100% record. Looking to add to their points total, Grace McCool scored for Royal School in the first quarter. And they enjoyed a period of ascendancy in that first quarter which ended with Royal School 1-0 ahead. Kilkenny College managed to keep Daisy Nicholson of Royal School off the scoresheet after her hat-trick exploits on Day 1 against Colaiste Iognaid. But this was a close and tightly fought game and remained so till the final hooter. In the second quarter, Kilkenny enjoyed more possession but were unable to carve out the equaliser needed. They had created numerous chances which produced a fair share of penalty corners that they were unable to convert. It was still 1-0 at half time. In the third quarter Kilkenny forced a penalty corner their fifth of the game but their captain Amy Handcock was unable to make it count. Play went from end to end during this quarter and Royal School Armagh goalkeeper Vicky Cupples had to be sharp to deny Kilkenny an equaliser in the closing stages of the third quarter. A succession of penalty corners for Kilkenny were repelled by an Armagh defense marshalled staunchly by goalkeeper Vicky Cupples and Joanie Cunningham.  Armagh then proceeded to take the initiative and forced a few penalty corners of their own but their was no further scoring. Lily Grace of Kilkenny College was chosen player of the match which ended Royal School Armagh 1 Kilkenny College 0.

 

AFTER MORNING  ROUNDS

 

TEAMS P W D L F A GD PTS
THE ROYAL SCHOOL 3 3 0 0 10 1 9 9
WESLEY COLLEGE 3 1 1 1 7 3 4 4
ST ANGELAS COLLEGE 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 4
KILKENNY COLLEGE 3 1 0 2 5 2 3 3
COLAISTE IGNAID 3 0 0 3 2 19 -16 0

 

DAY 2/ GAME 3: COLAISTE IOGNAID 0  ST. ANGELA’S 2

St. Angela’s took the lead through Aine Power from a converted penalty corner in the first quarter. They added a second in the second quarter when St. Angela’s were awarded a penalty stroke. Aine Power converted with aplomb to register her second goal of the game.  It was Colaiste Iognaid 0 St. Angela’s 2 at half-time. Colaiste Iognaid had a penalty corner near the end of the third quarter, but they didn’t score. Aine Power and Beth Ann O’Farrell combined but could find no way past the Colaiste Iognaid defense early in the fourth quarter from another penalty corner. St. Angela’s finished strongly, forcing a couple of penalty corners late on, but they did enough to finish the game, winning 2-0 and remaining unbeaten going into their final pool match with Royal School Armagh who had 3 wins from 3 and 9 points. St. Angela’s having drawn one of their three matches to this point now need to beat Royal School Armagh in that match to win the Championship. St. Angela’s Aine Power was selected player of the match by the commentary team.

 

DAY 2/ GAME 4: WESLEY COLLEGE 3  KILKENNY COLLEGE 2

Two teams whose championship aspirations were over managed to produce the most entertaining game of the tournament so far. Wesley College took the lead with a goal through Imogen Stanley to put themselves 1-0 ahead. Kilkenny College got back on terms with a goal from Sara Sheehan to make it 1-1. Milla Fulton restored Wesley Colleges lead. It was 2-1 to Wesley at the end of the first quarter. Amy Handcock equalised for Kilkenny College with a converted penalty corner early in the second quarter to make the score 2-2. Kilkenny had a number of chances to take the lead during this quarter but did not convert them and it remained 2-2 at half-time. Wesley College goalkeeper Lucy Bond was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the third quarter but it remained 2-2 heading into the final quarter. In the closing moments of the game Milla Fulton sent it in and the Kilkenny College keeper played it and it fell to Laura Heaney to make it 3-2 to Wesley College. That was how it was when the final hooter blew. Amy Handcock of Kilkenny College was chosen as player of the match by the commentary team.

 

DAY 2/ GAME 5: THE ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH 2  ST. ANGELA’S COLLEGE  2 

First played second in the final match of the Kate Russell All Ireland Senior Girls Hockey Championship in Armagh. Schools Champions of Ulster versus Schools Champions of Munster to decide the outcome. Both teams went into this game undefeated. After some end to end play early on Royal School Armagh took the lead through a goal from Grace McCool in the first quarter. 1-0 to Royal School Armagh, in a march that St. Angela’s needed to win to secure the championship. A draw would do the hosts to secure the title.

It was still 1-0 to Royal School at the end of quarter one. St. Angela’s started the second quarter strongly and  Nicole Clarke equalised from a converted penalty corner for them early in the second quarter.

Royal School responded when Hanna Redmond got a goal somewhat against the run of play to leave Royal School leading 2-1 at half-time. St. Angela’s got a penalty corner at the start of the third quarter Emma Naughton converting to make it 2-2. It was 2-2 at the end of the third quarter.  Royal School Armagh were awarded a penalty corner early in the fourth quarter. From this penalty corner they were awarded a penalty stroke. Up stepped Joanie Cunningham, and she hit the post, what a let off for St. Angela’s College, and the score stayed at 2-2.  This was the first penalty stroke missed of the entire tournament.  Daisy Nicholson went on a solo run and looked certain to score for Royal School Armagh but she missed the target but they won a penalty corner with their next effort. Royal Armagh’s penalty corner didn’t produce a goal and

St. Angela’s won possession back with two minutes to go. But Royal School Armagh held out for the draw they needed to win the championship for the 5th time. Royal School Armagh’s Rianna Gillespie was selected as player of the match by the commentary team on the livestream. Ellie Stephenson of Royal School Armagh was voted Player of the Tournament.

 

 

TEAMS P W D L F A GD PTS
THE ROYAL SCHOOL 4 3 1 0 12 3 9 10
ST ANGELAS COLLEGE 4 2 2 0 6 3 3 8
WESLEY COLLEGE 4 2 1 1 10 5 5 7
KILKENNY COLLEGE 4 1 0 3 7 5 2 3
COLAISTE IGNAID 4 0 0 4 2 20 -18 0

 

DAY 2 RESULTS

COLAISTE IOGNAID 0-6  WESLEY COLLEGE

THE ROYAL SCHOOL 1-0 KILKENNY COLLEGE

COLAISTE IOGNAID  0-2 ST. ANGELA’S

WESLEY COLLEGE 3-2 KILKENNY COLLEGE

THE ROYAL SCHOOL 2-2  ST. ANGELA’S.

 

We spoke to Royal School Armagh head coach Greg Thompson after their Championship win:

“It was a very competitive tournament from start to finish. St. Angela’s pushed us all the way I am very glad we held out in the end. Going into today we had done the double-double (Ulster Schools League and Cup in 2023 and 2024). We have lots of experience in the squad about 9-10 have represented Ulster at this stage and some of those have gone on to represent Ireland at underage level. We will lose 5 of this squad at the end of this year, they are doing A Levels and will head off to University. The Firsts have done the treble, the seconds and thirds have won their Cups and the Under 14s have won their competitions as well. The girls across the school are hardworking and committed. We only opened the new pitch in September to be standing here and looking at the girls celebrating it’s all come together very well. We’d like to thank all the parents, the sponsors and everyone who helped us to host the tournament.” 

 

 

 

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The Kate Russell All Ireland Schoolgirls Championships underway, Day 1 Results.

Thursday, Mar 21: Kate Russell was one of the most influential figures in the history of the Irish Ladies’ Hockey Union (ILHU). The inaugural Kate Russell All Ireland Schoolgirls’ Championships took place in 1980 to honour her memory and legacy.

The schools participating in the 2024 two-day tournament are Wesley College, St. Angela’s , Kilkenny College, Colaiste Ignaid and The Royal School Armagh, with all games taking place at The Royal School.

Day 1 today and the hosts got things underway taking on Colaiste Ignaid and it ended in a 7-1 win for Royal School Armagh.

In the second game St. Angela’s College took on Kilkenny College and St. Angela’s won this game 1-0.

The third game of the day was between Wesley College and Royal School Armagh; this would be Wesley’s first game of the tournament and the second for the hosts. The Royal School Armagh won this game 2-0.

The fourth game was between Kilkenny College and Colaiste Ignaid and Kilkenny bounded back from their earlier defeat to win 5-1.

In the fifth game of the day Wesley College took on St. Angela’s  this game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Day 2 and final day takes place tomorrow March 22, with fixtures commencing 9.30am. All games are available to view for free on hockey Ireland TV.

 

RESULTS 

ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH 7-1 COLAISTE IGNAID

KILKENNY COLLEGE 0 -1 ST. ANGELA’S COLLEGE

WESLEY COLLEGE 0 – 2 ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH

KILKENNY COLLEGE 5-1 COLAISTE IGNAID

WESLEY COLLEGE 1- 1 ST. ANGELA’S.

 

TEAMS  P W D L F A GD PTS
THE ROYAL SCHOOL 2 2 0 0 9 1 8 6
ST.ANGELA’S COLLEGE 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 4
KILKENNY COLLEGE 2 1 0 1 5 1 4 3
WESLEY COLLEGE 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2 1
COLAISTE IGNAID 2 0 0 2 2 12 -10 0

 

To view the Livestream, click HERE

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Core Funding for 2024 Announced

 

Sport Ireland today confirmed core funding of €410,000 for Hockey Ireland in 2024, representing a 7% increase of the 2023 allocation of EUR 383,000.

Overall, 2024 represents a record level of core funding for Sports Bodies with €30 million in core funding support to sporting organisations, including €17.3m investment for 58 National Governing Bodies of Sport and €11.4m investment for 29 Local Sports Partnerships.

Speaking at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus today, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne T.D., said:

“The continued increase in core funding for sports bodies demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting Irish sport and will ensure that sport bodies can continue to provide valuable opportunities for everyone to participate in sport, in line with our National Sports Policy.”  

Chief Executive of Sport Ireland, Dr. Úna May, commented: 

“Sport Ireland welcomes this additional investment and is confident the NGBs, LSPs and Funded Bodies will continue to play a vital role as we enter the latter stages of the Government’s National Sports Policy.”

Hockey Ireland wishes to thank the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and the Department of Sport and Physical Education as well as Sport Ireland for their support as we look to grow and develop our sport across the Island of Ireland.

 

For the full report, click HERE

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HOCKEY IRELAND WEEKEND DOMESTIC FIXTURES PREVIEW: SATURDAY MARCH 23 AND SUNDAY MARCH 24 

HOCKEY IRELAND WEEKEND DOMESTIC FIXTURES PREVIEW: SATURDAY MARCH 23 AND SUNDAY MARCH 24 

 

This weekend sees the semi-final round of the Men’s Irish Senior Cup and the first semi-final in the Women’s Irish Senior Cup. We also have the semi-finals in the Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge.

All of these matches take place in addition to a full round of fixtures in the EY Hockey League Division 1 and 2 for both Men and Women.

 

SATURDAY. 23 MARCH 2024

 

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 1

GLENANNE V YMCA 13:30 ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE

THREE ROCK ROVERS V LISNAGARVEY 14:00 GRANGE ROAD

MONKSTOWN V BANBRIDGE 14:20 RATHDOWN SCHOOL

INSTONIANS V CORINTHIANS 14:30 SHAWSBRIDGE

UCD V ANNADALE 14:45  NATIONAL STADIUM UCD

 

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1

PEGASUS V UCD  12:45 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY SPORTSGROUNDS

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE V OLD ALEXANDRA 12:45 ROSBRIEN

PEMBROKE WANDERERS V LORETO 12:45 SERPENTINE AVENUE

CORINTHIANS V MONKSTOWN 13:15 ST.COLUMBA’S COLLEGE

ULSTER ELKS V RAILWAY UNION 14:30 ULSTER UNIVERSITY SPORTGROUNDS JORDANSTOWN

 

EYHL  MEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A

PEMBROKE WANDERERS V BANGOR. 15:00 SERPENTINE AVENUE

AVOCA V BANDON. 14:30. NEWPARK SCHOOL

 

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B

RAILWAY UNION V COOKSTOWN. 13:30 PARK AVENUE

CORK HARLEQUINS V CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND 14:45 HARLEQUINS PARK

 

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A

KILKENNY V AVOCA. 12:00 KILKENNY COLLEGE

CORK HARLEQYINS V GREENFIELDS. 14:45 HARLEQUINS PARK

 

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B 

MUCKROSS V ARDS. 13:00  MUCKROSS SCHOOL

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY V LURGAN. 14:00 DANGAN

 

MEN’S IRISH HOCKEY CHALLENGE SEMI-FINAL

WESTON V PSNI 15:00 GRIFFEEN PARK

CI MEN V  LIMERICK  14:30 CIYMS SPORTS COMPLEX

 

SUNDAY MARCH 24, 2024

 

MEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS 

LISNAGARVEY V THREE ROCK ROVERS  14:00  COMBER ROAD

BANBRIDGE. V COOKSTOWN 15:00 HAVELOCK PARK

 

WOMEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL

LORETO V CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 13:40 LORETO BEAUFORT

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Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up – Friday March 15 and Saturday March 16

FRIDAY MARCH 15TH 2024

EY HOCKEY LEAGUE WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A 

AVOCA 2 KILKENNY 2

Avoca, who lost out on winning the Leinster Women’s Division 1 title on Tuesday last losing to eventual champions Muckross, faced into a must win match on this occasion against Kilkenny on Friday night. Finishing 2nd in the Leinster Women’s Division 1 may not be enough to secure a place in the 2024/25 EYHL 2 if Monkstown and Corinthians both get relegated from the Women’s EYHL Division 1. Both clubs before this game started, occupied places 9 and 10 in the top Division which of course are automatic relegation spots. As there are only 3 guaranteed places for Leinster Division 1 sides in next season’s competition two of these would be occupied, as things stand, by two current members of the EYHL Division 1 namely Monkstown and Corinthians. This meant that Avoca needed to win the EYHL 2 or at least reach the final to have any chance of getting promoted in the next two years, assuming Monkstown do not avoid relegation.

To be fair to the home side they did get off to a good early start and took the lead through a Sorcha McCooey goal from open play in the 9th minute. Avoca were awarded a penalty stroke and captain Anna Richardson made no mistake in the 27th minute to give Avoca a seemingly comfortable 2-0 lead in the 27th minute. Just before half time Kilkenny got on the scoresheet through captain Paula Farrell who converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute to leave the half time score 2-1 to Avoca. Niamh Spratt-O’Shea converted a penalty corner to give the Marble City side an equalising goal in the 47th minute and that turned out to be the final score Avoca 2 Kilkenny 2.

 

SATURDAY MARCH 16TH 2024

GREENFIELDS 2 CORK HARLEQUINS 5

Yvonne O’Byrne opened her account for Cork Harlequins in this EYHL  Women’s Division 2 Pool A clash at Dangan, in the 16th minute with a goal from open play. Greenfields equalised when Zara O’Toole scored from open play in the 20th minute to make the score 1-1. Yvonne O’Byrne added a second from a converted penalty corner in the 27th minute to restore Harlequins lead 2-1. She added a third from open play in the 33rd minute and a fourth in the 52nd minute to leave the Corkwomen 4-1 ahead.  Zara O’Toole got her second of the match for Greenfields in the 62nd minute to make it 4-2 to Harlequins and Harlequins captain Michelle Barry added a fifth goal to secure a 5-2 win for Quins.

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 1 

CORINTHIAN 1 GLENANNE 3

Glenanne fresh from their dramatic 5-5 draw with defending champions Banbridge last Sunday, got out of the blocks and were 1-0 up through a goal from open play by Jason Rogan in the 20th minute. Shane O’Donoghue opened his account in the 39th minute, converting a penalty corner. A 51st minute penalty stroke converted by Shane O’Donoghue marked his second of the game and put the visitors 3-0 up in the 51st minute. Corinthians got on the scoresheet a minute later when a Max Neill penalty corner left the final score Corinthians 1 Glenanne 3.

 

BANBRIDGE 2 THREE ROCK ROVERS 2 

Three Rock Rovers took on defending champions Banbridge in the fortress that is Havelock Park. They took the lead in the 7th minute through a goal by Alistair Empey from open play. It was 1-0 to the visitors at the end of the first quarter.  Banbridge got back on terms through Louis Rowe in the 28th minute also from open play and another goal by Matthew McKee had the home side leading 2-1 by half-time. Just when it looked like the League leaders had done enough to win the match Ben Johnson got a late equalising goal for the visitors when he converted a 68th minute penalty corner to leave the final score 2-2.

 

LISNAGARVEY  2  YMCA 3

Lisnagarvey in 2nd place at the start of play failed to capitalise on leaders Banbridge dropped points when they lost a 5 goal battle to visitors YMCA.

Ross Henderson gave the Dubliners the lead in the 24th minute. They led 1-0 at half-time. Tevin Kok increased their lead in the 36th minute with a goal from open play. Ross Henderson got his second of the game in the 45th minute from open play to leave YM leading by 3-0. Garvey eventually got on the scoresheet through Matthew Nelson’s converted penalty corner in the 52nd minute.

 

ANNADALE  2 MONKSTOWN 4

Annadale hosted Monkstown at UUJ in this EYHL Men’s Division 1 game. David Vincent opened the scoring for the visitors in the 3rd minute from open play. Geoff Cole increased Monkstown’s lead in the 20th minute. David Vincent got his second of the game to make it 3-0 to Monkstown in the 28th minute. Annadale responded through Adam McAllister 42nd minute from open play. Spencer Pinion added a second goal for Annadale in the 51st minute to make it 3-2 to Monkstown and Sam Hohn’s 63rd minute converted penalty corner secured the win for Monkstown on a scoreline of Annadale 2 Monkstown 4.

 

UCD 2 INSTONIANS 2

For both sides in this clash at the National Stadium in Belfield this amounted to a must win fixture. Going into this game UCD were in 9th place in the League table and Instonians were in 10th having collected their first League point of the season last week at the 12th attempt. UCD took the lead in the 10th minute when player/coach Alan Sothern converted a penalty corner to put the students 1-0 up.  Just on the stroke of half-time Ben Palmer equalised for the Belfast side with a converted penalty corner to leave both sides level 1-1 at half-time. Alan Sothern got his second of the game from another penalty corner in the 56th minute to put UCD 2-1 up. And just when it looked as if the students had done enough to secure the win, Ben Palmer converted a second penalty corner in the 66th minute to ensure a share of the spoils for 10th placed Instonians.

UCD had numerous chances to put this game out of sight and must rue their missed chances. Instonians to their credit kept plugging away and took the opportunities they got.  Newly reappointed coach Stephen Redpath has returned to take up the reins in an effort to pull Instonians out of the mire. And even with 5 games remaining this task might be a bridge too far. But two points from two outings does represent something of an improvement and is definitely a positive turnaround despite the seemingly impossible nature of the task at hand.

 

UCD: Ross Clarke, Samuel Ryder, Kevin O’Dea (C), Josh Filgas, Adam Luke Galbraith, Callum Hewat, Bryan Lyndon, Harry Lynch, Conor Walsh, Mark Collins SUBS USED: Mark Smyth. (6 mins), Sam Walker  (6 Mins), Alan Sothern (7 mins), Benjamin Stewart (10 mins)

INSTONIANS: Finlay Marney, Matthew Steele, Philip Hamill, Ben Palmer, Ross Kelly, Stephen Kelso, Gavin Lecky, Andrew Corry, Gabriel Tenner, John Colville, David Arneill  SUBS USED: Matthew McCord (9 mins), Matthew Martin (10 mins), James Palmer (10 mins), Joshua Kidd (15 mins), Ethan Young (27 mins)

 

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1

LORETO 4 ULSTER ELKS 1

Loreto are the EYHL Champions for 2023/24 having beaten Ulster Elks by 4-1 and reaching 43 points. Even if Loreto lost all their remaining fixtures and second placed Railway Union won all their remaining fixtures including their game in hand the maximum they could get is 41. Síofra O’Brien converted a penalty corner to give Loreto the lead in the 6th minute 1-0. Caoimhe Perdue made it 2-0 when she converted a penalty corner in the 23rd minute. Rachel Kelly made it 3-0 from open play in the 38th minute. Ulster Elks responded straightaway  when Chloe Stewart scored from open play to make it 3-1. Hannah McLoughlin converted a 54th minute penalty corner to make the final score Loreto 4 Ulster Elks 1.

 

MONKSTOWN 0 CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 2

Monkstown’s battle against Catholic Institute took an unpromising turn at Rathdown where they lost 0-2 at home to 2022 Irish Senior Cup winners Catholic Institute. The current cup holders found themselves behind in the 15th minute when Ireland international Naomi Carroll scored from open play. It was still 1-0 at half-time. Despite Monkstown’s best efforts the score remained 0-1 in favour of the Shannonsiders going into the closing stages and Laura Foley added a second goal in the 67th minute to secure the win for Catholic Institute, by 2-0.

 

CORINTHIAN 1  PEMBROKE WANDERERS 2

Bottom of the table Corinthians took on Pembroke Wanderers at St. Columba’s College and found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. Hannah Irwin scored for Pembroke Wanderers in the 5th minute from open play to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Isobel Field increased the visitor’s lead in the 8th minute to leave Pembroke 2-0 ahead and they led by this margin at half-time. There was no scoring in the third quarter and just when it appeared Pembroke might have kept a clean sheet, Lynne Pomeroy scored for the hosts in the 67th minute from open play to leave the final score Corinthians 1 Pembroke Wanderers.

 

OLD ALEXANDRA 2 PEGASUS 1 

Pegasus came down from Belfast in search of League points to put daylight between themselves and ninth placed Monkstown. The first two quarters were scoreless and it remained 0-0 at half time.  Alex Speers gave Pegasus the lead in the 36th minute from open play. The lead only lasted six minutes as a 42nd minute goal from Bethany Russ from open play equalised matters at 1-1. Old Alex completed the turnaround and secured all the points when Elva Kerr scored from open play in the 68th minute to make the final score Old Alexandra 2 Pegasus 1.

 

UCD 1 RAILWAY UNION 2

Second placed Railway Union took on UCD at the National Stadium in Belfield in this EYHL Division 1 clash. Former student Niamh Carey opened the scoring for Railway Union  in the 6th minute. Railway had the lion’s share of possession and chances in the first half . The vistors still led by a soiltary goal at half time. UCD couldn’t convert a number of penalty corners in the third quarter and Railway Union increased their lead in the 64th minute when Emma Smyth scored from open play. What the Railway captain was capable of doing was replicated by Ireland international Sarah McAuley who scored from open play for the students to leave the final score UCD 1 Railway Union 2. Railway Union will most likely secure second place in this Division but Loreto are the Champions and have secured the first automatic semi-final place in the Champions Trophy. The second placed team in the Division also get an automatic semi-final spot so it’s anything but a consolation price as the post season race for an  EYHL place hots up.

UCD: Erika Gallagher, Aine Naughton, Katie-Jane Marshall, Caoimhe Byrne, Ali Griffin, Sarah McAuley, Sophia Cole, Lauren Moore,  Mikayla Power, Emma Paul (C), Anna McCarthy  SUBS USED: Sydney Weir McErlean (5 mins),  Leah O’Shea (6 mins), Florence Maughan (6 mins), Lauren Jonston (6 mins)

RAILWAY UNION: Emma Buckley, Sarah Patton, Niamh Carey, Michelle Carey, Lisa McCarthy, Aebhfinn Burke, Kate Mullan, Emma Smyth (C), Sarah Hawkshaw, Orla Fox, Lily Lloyd, Jenny Long, Kate Dillon, Niamh Shaw, Clodagh Ferry, Saoirse Griffin

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Hockey Ireland Weekend Domestic Fixtures Preview: Friday 15th and Saturday 16th

Here are the weekend fixtures in the EYHL Divisions 1 and 2 for both Men and Women. It begins on Friday night in the EYHL Division 2

EYHL 2 Women  POOL A  

Friday 15th March 

 Avoca v Kilkenny, 20:15, Newpark School 

Saturday 16th March  

Greenfields v Cork Harlequins, 14:30, Dangan 

 

EYHL Men’s Division 1

 Lisnagarvey v YMCA, 14:30, Queens University 

Annadale v Monkstown, 16:00, Queens University 

UCD v Instonains, 14:00, Belfield Water 

Banbridge v Three Rock Rovers, 13:30, Havelock Park 

Corinthian v Glenanne, 11:30, St Columbas College 

 

EYHL Women’s Division 1  

UCD v Railway Union, 12:00, Belfield Water 

Monkstown v Catholic Institute, 12:20, Rathdown 

Loreto v Ulster Elks, 13:30 Loreto Beaufort 

Old Alex v Pegasus, 13:30, Alexandra College 

Corinthian v Pembroke, 15:15, St Columbas College 

 

Men’s Irish Junior Cup Semi-final  

Corinthian v Portrane, 13:15, St Columbas College 

UCD v Banbridge, 15:45, Belfield Water 

 

Women ‘s Irish Junior Cup Semi-final 

Pembroke v Railway Union, 13:00, Serpentine Avenue

UCC  v Loreto  13:00  The Mardyke

 

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Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up – Sunday March 10

Things got hot today in the EY Hockey League Division 1 Men’s, including a ten-goal thriller as well as one Irish Junior Cup fixture.

 

INSTONIANS 1 ANNADALE 1

In the first of the EYHL Men’s Division matches down for decision Instonians hosted Annadale at Shawsbridge in an all Ulster clash. The visitors took the lead through a converted penalty corner by Spencer Pinion after 22 minutes and they held that lead until half time. Instonians got back on level terms with a goal from open play scored by Matthew McCord in the 44th minute and it ended 1-1.

 

LISNAGARVEY 5 UCD 0

Ninth placed UCD finish the two round weekend pointless having shipped 9 goals in 48 hours after their visit to Comber Road. When Garvey visited Belfield, UCD were on the wrong end of an 8-4 scoreline and while defensively this may have been an improvement for the second game in succession they failed to score. Lisnagarvey took the lead after only 2 minutes through a goal from Andrew Edgar from open play. Lisnagarvey increased their lead when captain Andrew Williamson converted a penalty corner in the 9th minute. Matthew Nelson grabbed a third goal for Lisnagarvey just before the half-time break. Ben Nelson further increased the lead for Lisnagarvey in the 54th minute to lead the Students by 4-0, Andrew Williamson got his second of the match and a Fifth goal for Lisnagarvey in the 56th minute converting a penalty corner to leave the final score Lisnagarvey 5 UCD 0. For Garvey bouncing back after their defeat to Banbridge. For UCD they stay in 9th place and are running out of games to avoid automatic relegation.

 

GLENANNE  5 BANBRIDGE 5 

No, you are not imagining things. Glenanne and Banbridge played out a classic game of two halves which evolved into a ten-goal thriller in this EYHL Men’s Division 1 clash played at the home of Loreto Women’s Hockey Club in Beaufort owing to a previous booking for their regular home pitch in St. Andrew’s College. Jason Rogan put Glenanne 1-0 up in the 11th minute with a goal from open play. Banbridge responded in the 14th  minute when Philip Brown opened his account by converting a penalty corner. Glenanne proceeded to dominate proceedings. Shane O’Donoghue opened his account from a penalty stroke in the 20th minute to make it 2-1 to Glenanne. Kevin Venter converted a penalty corner to put Glenanne 3-1 ahead in the 24th minute and they led 4-1 at half-time thanks to a Shannon Boucher goal in the 34th minute and on the basis of their first half performance it was well deserved. Banbridge came out with a different mindset in the second half. Louis Rowe began the comeback with a goal from open play in the 40th minute. Jonny McKee reduced the deficit to two goals scoring for Lisnagarvey from open play in the 45th minute Glenanne now led 4-3. Philip Brown got his second goal of the afternoon converting a penalty corner to level the scoring at 4-4 in the 58th minute and then ten minutes later converted another penalty corner to complete his hat-trick and leave Banbridge leading 5-4 with only two minutes to go. Out of seemingly nothing Glenanne launched a counter-attack and were awarded a penalty stroke. Shane O’Donoghue again successfully converted the penalty stroke to leave the score 5-5. There were some disallowed goals and many other incidents but ten goals in an EYHL League remains something of a novelty.

 

GLENANNE: David Lawless, Taylor Kelly-Stack, Neil Byrne, Richard Couse, Bradley Venter (C), Luke Jackson,  Shane O’Donoghue, Kevin Venter, Gary Shaw,  Sam O’Connor, Jake Pillow SUBS USED: Fergal Keaveney (8 mins), Jason Rogan (8 mins), Shannon Boucher (26 mins), Marco Gayubo

BANBRIDGE: Luke Roleston, Alexander Tinney (C), Jonny Mc Kee, Peter Brown, Josh Moffett, Charlie Rowe, Philip Brown, Mark Cowan, Louis Rowe, Sam Farson  Owen Magee SUBS USED: Matthew Mc Kee (6 mins), Jake Rowe (7 mins), Hugh McShane (8 mins)

 

IRISH JUNIOR CUP (MEN’S)

And finally, our last result from the weekend in the Men’s Irish Junior Cup, Rathgar defeated Cork Church Of Ireland 3-2 in the shoot-out following a 2-2 draw in regulations time.

 

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Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results: Saturday March 9th

THURSDAY MARCH 7 2024

 

EY HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S DIVISION 1

THREE ROCK ROVERS 1 – 1 YMCA 

The postponed game from the previous Saturday went ahead on Thursday night at Grange Road. Tevin Kok gave the visitors, YMCA the lead in the 31st minute with a goal from open play. Ben Johnson equalised with a converted penalty corner in the 57th minute to secure a share of the spoils for Three Rock Rovers.

 

SATURDAY  MARCH 9 2024

 

BANBRIDGE 3-2 LISNAGARVEY

This Ulster derby was also the clash of the top two teams in the table at Havelock Park.  Lisnagarvey went ahead in the 6th minute through a Matthew Nelson goal from open play.

Jake Rowe equalised for Banbridge in the 18th minute scoring from a converted penalty corner to make it 1-1. Jonny McKee gave Bann the lead in the 35th minute from open play.

Matthew McKee increased the lead for Banbridge with a 61st minute goal from open play to leave Bann 3-1 ahead  . Lisnagarvey grabbed a late consolation goal when their captain Andrew Williamson converted a late penalty corner in the 70th minute to make the final score Banbridge 3 Lisnagarvey 2.

 

GLENNANE 4-0 UCD 

Glenanne had  UCD as visitors to St. Andrew’s College in the EYHL Division 1 on Saturday.  Brad Venter gave the hosts the lead in the 24th minute from open play. Gary Shaw increased Glenanne’s lead in the 37th minute with a goal from open play.  Two late goals for the hosts sealed the win. Jason Rogan made it 3-0 in the 58th minute and Taylor Kelly-Stack made it 4-0 in the 59th minute.

 

MONKSTOWN 4-1  INSTONIANS 

Lee Cole opened and closed Monkstown’s account in this EYHL Men’s Division 1 clash at Rathdown School.  He scored in the 16th minute from a converted penalty corner to give Monkstown an early lead. Monkstown led 1-0 at half time. Two goals from Jeremy Duncan put the hosts 3-0 ahead. His first was a converted penalty corner in the 40th minute and his second of the game was from open play in the 58th minute. Lee Cole got his second goal of the game , from another penalty corner in the 66th minute to leave Monkstown 4-0 ahead going into the closing stages of the game. Ross Kelly’s 70th minute converted penalty corner proved a very late consolation goal for Instionians. The match ended Monkstown 4 Instonians 1.

 

THREE ROCK ROVERS 4-1 ANNADALE 

Ben Johnson was on the mark for all of Three Rock Rovers goals in this win over Annadale at Grange Road .His converted penalty corner in the 9th minute made it 1-0 to Rovers. Ben Johnson added a second from open play in the 20th minute. Peter Corrie put the visitors on the scoresheet in the 29th minute from open play. Ben Johnson restored the two-goal margin in the 38th minute to make it 3-1. He converted a penalty corner in the 43rd minute to leave the final score 4-1 to Three Rock Rovers and in the process scoring 5 goals in 3 days over two games for Three Rock Rovers.

 

YMCA 6-1  CORINTHIANS 

Tevin Kok got his second goal in three days for YMCA to open the scoring in this EYHL Men’s Division 1 tie at Wesley College to put YMCA 1-0 ahead. A Grant Glutz goal from open play in the 20th minute increased the lead for YMCA to make it 2-0.   Corinthians got on the score sheet through a converted penalty corner by Max Neill in the 44th minute to reduce the deficit to a single goal. YMCA led 2-1 at this point. Ben O’Grady’s  converted penalty corner in the 49th minute restored the two-goal margin to 3-1. Ross Henderson made it 4-1 from open play in the 53rd minute. Sam Hyland  made it 5-1 in the 63rd minute.

Ross Henderson made it 6-1 with his second goal of the game from a converted penalty corner in the 70th minute and that was the final score.

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A

BANDON 2-4  PEMBROKE WANDERERS 

Leinster Men’s Division 1 side  Pembroke Wanderers returned home with a full set of points from Bandon Grammar School in this EYHL Men’s Division 2 Pool A clash. Bandon took the lead when Karl Smyth converted a penalty corner in the 2nd minute. Pembroke Wanderers were level in the 14th minute when they were awarded a penalty stroke converted by Dechlan Bennett and it was 1-1 at half-time. Ross Breytenbach gave the visitors the lead in the 48th minute from open play and Jack Flanagan made it 3-1 to Pembroke Wanderers with another open play goal on 50 minutes. David Lynch made it 4-1 for Pembroke Wanderers a minute later and Karl Lynch’s second goal of the game proved a late consolation goal for Bandon when he converted a penalty corner in the 55th minute. It finished Bandon 2 Pembroke Wanderers 4.

 

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY  1-2  AVOCA 

Darragh Grogan gave the visitors Avoca the lead at the Queen’s University Grounds in Belfast in the 7th minute 1-0 to Avoca. Hayden Vaitekenas increased their lead in the 30th minute from open play 2-0 for Avoca. Harry Scott responded for Queen’s University in the 34th minute from open play and it was Queen’s 1 Avoca 2 at half-time. There was no further scoring in either the 3rd of 4th quarter and Avoca went home having won 2-1.

 

EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B

COOKSTOWN 2-2 CORK HARLEQUINS 

Sam Dale opened the scoring for Cork Harlequins from open play in the 4th minute.  Cookstown were level in the 12th minute thanks to Michael Kerr’s converted penalty corner. it was 1-1 at half-time. Cork Harlequins captain Jack O’Meara restored their lead when he converted a penalty corner in the 62nd minute to put them 2-1 ahead. It was a lead that would only last 2 minutes as Jack Haycock converted a penalty corner for Cookstown in the 64th minute to secure a share of the spoils on a final scoreline of Cookstown 2 Cork Harlequins 2.

 

SOUTH ANTRIM 3-3  RAILWAY UNION 

The Ulster Premier League side and their Leinster Division 1A opponents produced a six goal thriller at Friends’ School in Lisburn this afternoon. Ryan West opened the scoring for the home side in the 6th minute with a goal from open play. Jordan Robinson increased South Antrim’s lead to 2-0 in the 16th minute when he converted a penalty corner. Kenny Carroll responded for Railway Union with a converted penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Robert Devlin equalised for Railers  in the 26th minute with a goal from open play to make it 2-2 at half-time.  Jan Trejbal restored the visitors lead in the 59th minute from open play. But a converted penalty corner for South Antrim by Peter Mulligan in the 64th minute secured a share of the spoils and it ended 3-3.

 

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A 

AVOCA 1-2  CORK HARLEQUINS 

Munster Senior League side Cork Harlequins defeated Leinster Women’s Division 1 side at Newpark Comprehensive School in Dublin in the EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B.  Yvonne O’Byrne opened the scoring for Harlequins in the 15th minute from open play. She got her second goal of the game by converting a penalty corner in the 21st minute.  Cork Harlequins led 2-0 at half-time.  Avoca did get on the scoresheet when Zoe Watterson converted a penalty corner in the 64th minute but it ended up Avoca 1 Cork Harlequins 2

 

BELFAST HARLEQUINS  7-0 KILKENNY 

Leinster Division 1 side Kilkenny had no answers to a Belfast Harlequins onslaught in the  EYHL Women’s Division 2 Pool A clash at Deramore Park.  Emma Fraser put Belfast Harlequins 1-0 up with a converted penalty corner in the 8th minute. Ella Lanuske opened her account with  a goal from open play in the 25th  minute to make it 2-0 . Katherine Welshman made it 3-0 with a converted penalty corner in the  44th minute.

Ella Lanuske got her second field goal of the game in the 47th minute to make it 4-0.   Captain Katie Larmour made it 5-0  with a converted penalty corner in the  62nd minute.  Jenna Henry made it 6-0 in the 64th minute and Emily Walls rounded off the scoring in the 69th minute to make the final score 7-0.

 

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B

LURGAN  2-1  MUCKROSS 

Ulster Women’s Premier League side Lurgan hosted Muckross (who are playing for the Leinster Women’s Division 1 title this week against rivals Avoca in their final League match) at Lurgan Junior High School in the EYHL Women’s Division 2 Pool B match and ended up with all the points on offer. Leeanne Thompson opened the scoring for the hosts  in the 29th minute from open play. Jo-Anne Reid added a second goal for Lurgan in the 61st minute. Cate Browne  scored for Muckross in the final minute as a last gasp consolation score to make the result Lurgan 2 Muckross 1

 

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK  A  UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY A

This match at the Mardyke was abandoned after 7 minutes due to a serious injury  to a University of Galway player.

 

WOMEN’S IRISH SENIOR CUP

PEGASUS 0-6 RAILWAY UNION  

The remaining quarter-final of the Irish Senior Cup was played at Queen’s University Sportsground on Saturday. Pegasus had no answers to a rampant Railway Union side who ran out 6-0 winners. Their reward for today’s win, a trip to Belfield in the semi-final where they will take on 2020 Senior Cup winners UCD.

 

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