Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up – Saturday Feb 17

EY Hockey League Division 1 Women   

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 0  LORETO 3

Loreto made it 12 wins from 12 outings in the EYHL Women’s Division in this game at Rosbrien. Sarah Torrans gave the visitors the lead in the 7th minute converting a penalty corner. It remained 1-0 at half-time. It looked like it was going to remain a tight game until two late goals in the final quarter. Rachel Kelly from open play on the hour mark made it 2-0 with a goal from open play and Síofra O’Brien in the final minute sealed the win to make the final score 3-0. Loreto increased their lead at the top of the table following the result from our next match

 

PEGASUS 1 RAILWAY UNION 0 

Ninth placed Pegasus got a badly needed win at home to second placed Railway Union .

Sophie McDowell scored a goal from open play in the 4th minute and the hosts retained that lead at half-time.

Try as thy might Railway Union got not get on the scoresheet in third or fourth quarter.

This win for Pegasus keeps them in ninth but narrows the gap on eighth placed Monkstown to a single point.

 

PEMBROKE WANDERERS   2 MONKSTOWN 2 

Ellen Curran put Pembroke a goal up on their visitors  Monkstown in the 19th minute from open play. Monkstown hit back in the 25th minute through Rebecca Carthy who also scored from open play. It remained 1-1 at half time. Rebecca Carthy got her second of the match to put the visitors 2-1 ahead in the 54th minute. And just when it seemed like Monkstown may have secured all three points, Ellen Curran popped up in the 67th minute with another goal from open play to secure the equaliser. It finished Pembroke Wanderers 2 Monkstown 2.

 

ULSTER ELKS 3  OLD ALEXANDRA 0

Ulster Elks built on their win over Monkstown last weekend by winning their second EYHL Division 1 game of 2024 on the spin at Jordanstown. Bethany Scott scored from open play in only the 2nd minute. 1-0 to the Elks. Jessica McMaster increased the home side’s lead in the 10th minute to make it 2-0 and Erin Getty added a third goal from open play to leave it 3-0 at half time. While Old Alex were not to concede any more goals, their forward line minus the services of Deirdre Duke could find no way past a Elks defense marshalled by former Ireland internationals Bethany Harper and Leah McGuire. This win keeps the Elks in 6th place in the table and in contention for a Champions Trophy playoff spot.

 

UCD  3  CORINTHIANS 1

The battle of last season’s EYHL Women’s Division 1 and 2 Champions took place at the National Stadium in Belfield. UCD, who had won the Division 1 title, opened the scoring when Leah O’Shea struck from open play in the 8th minute. Two goals from Ireland international defender Sarah McAuley sent UCD in at the half time break leading 3-0. Sarah McAuley made it 2-0 with a goal from open play in the 17th minute. Sophie Barnwell was green carded reducing her team to 10 players for two minutes and then Sarah McAuley got her second goal of the game in the 22nd minute also from open play to leave the half-time score at 3-0. Leah O’Shea was green carded in the 31st minute but Corinthians did not make their numerical advantage count. UCD did have the ball in the net in the third quarter, but the goal was ruled out for an infringement. Corinthians were shorthanded for two minutes when Jessica McGrane was green carded in the 53rd minute but UCD did not inflict any more damage on their cause. In fact, the Reds were more of an attacking force in this phase of the game and eventually forced a penalty corner in the 67th minute which Ava Maleady converted to leave the score at the final whistle UCD 3 Corinthians 1. UCD, while remaining in 5th place, have narrowed the gap to the two teams above them to a single point.

 

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

CORINTHIANS:  Berne Van Wyk, Amber Kinlan, Emily McKay, Georgie Fottrell, Lynne Pomeroy (C),  Lauren Motyer, Sophie Barnwell, Jessica McGrane, Camila Arbulo, Jessica Wagenaar, Christine Powell SUBS USED: Abi Acheson (6 mins), Ava Maleady (8 mins), Sharon Seaton (7 mins), Hollai Quinn (6 mins)

 

EYHL 2 MEN’S POOL A 

AVOCA 6 BANGOR 1

Avoca opened their account as early as the 6th minute at Newpark Comprehensive School in this EYHL 2 Men’s Pool A encounter when Marshall Puzey converted a penalty corner. They increased their lead through a goal from open play by Christopher Ryan in the 10th minute. Avoca led 2-0 at this stage. Andrew Tutty added another goal from a penalty corner in the 18th minute to make it 3-0 Avoca.  Alex Derrien  scored from open play to make it 4-0  in the 19th minute and they led 4-0 at half-time. Marshall Puzey converted his second penalty corner of the game to make it 5-0 in the  55th minute and Christopher Ryan made it 6-0 with a goal from open play in the 55th minute. Matthew Armstrong -Sanchez 67th minute field goal proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal for the visitors it finished  Avoca 6 Bangor 1.

 

QUEEN’S  UNIVERSITY  5  BANDON 2 

Bandon wet all the way to Belfast to be taught a lesson by a bunch of students who are playing Premier Division hockey in Ulster. Queen’s took the lead through Philip Campbell from open play in the 5th minute. Fionn O’Leary equalised for the visitors in the 23rd minute with a goal from open play to leave the score 1-1. Their parity did not last long as Queen’s restored their lead in the 24th minute through a field goal from Adam Reddick to make it 2-1 Queen’s.

Captain Scott McCabe led by example and scored a fourth goal for the Students in the 31st minute.  Harry Scott weighed in with two goals to put the result beyond doubt. His first came from open play in the 47th minute and he converted a penalty corner for his second of the game in the 53rd minute. Queen’s were leading 5-1 heading into the closing stages. David Smith got a late consolation goal for Bandon in the 59th minute to leave the final score Queen’s 5 Bandon 2.

 

EYHL 2  MEN’S POOL B

RAILWAY UNION 0  CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND 2

Home advantage was non-existent in Pool B of the Men’s EYHL 2 as both visiting sides won on enemy soil. Munster Division 1 side Cork Church of Ireland, returned to the banks of the Lee with all the possible points from this match in Park Avenue. Once they took the lead through Robert Sweetnam’s penalty corner in the 26th minute , they were never going to relinquish their superiority. A second goal from Cian Dorgan from open play in the 41st minute merely confirmed the win. It finished Railway Union 0 Cork Church of Ireland 2

 

SOUTH ANTRIM   0   COOKSTOWN  4

This Ulster derby proved a simple enough task for Cookstown who gave a sizzling display in Lisburn.  None more so than Daniel Kerr who helped himself to a hat-trick. He got his first of the game from open play in the 39th minute to give the visitors the lead. South Antrim 0 Cookstown 1. It was 1-0 at half time to the visitors. Ryan Millar got in on the act to make it 2-0 from open play in the 55th minute.  Daniel Kerr got his second of the game to put Cookstown 3-0 up in the 61st minute and completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute to leave the final score South Antrim 0 Cookstown 6.

 

EYHL 2  WOMEN’S POOL A

KILKENNY 2  GREENFIELDS 0

The experienced Leinster Division 1 outfit were too strong for a game Greenfields side from Connacht at Kilkenny College this afternoon. Katie Leslie converted a penalty corner for the South Easterners in the 25th minute. And Linda Maher sealed the win for Marble City’s finest in the 44th minute to secure all the points available in this game.

 

BELFAST HARLEQUINS  2 AVOCA 1

Avoca’s woes in the EYHL 2 continued on Saturday when they were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. Amy Bell-Cummings gave the hosts a 1-0 lead  in the 19th minute, and they led at the half-time break 1-0. Laurn Tracey equalised for the visitors in the 37th minute Julie Dennison secured the win for Harlequins with a field goal in the 68th minute. It finished Belfast Harlequins 2 Avoca 1.

 

EYHL 2  WOMEN’S POOL B

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY  1  ARDS 8

The students of University of Galway were leading the Connacht Women’s Division 1 before the Christmas break but have not had too many other fixtures apart from EYHL 2 games since then. Perhaps that relative ring rustiness accounts for the margin of defeat more so than the difference in quality of the Leagues in which the two teams played. Ellen Robinson gave Ards the lead in 10th minute from open play.  Ailis Carson made it 2-0 from a converted penalty corner in the 18th minute. Ali Scott increased their lead in the 20th minute 3-0 to Ards. Rachel Houston from open play in the 33rd minute made it 4-0. Francesca Brown added a fifth in the 58th minute and Ailis Carson’s second goal of the game made it 6-0 in the 62nd minute when she converted a penalty corner.  Megan Clinton got one back for the students in the 65th minute. 6-1 to Ards. Ali Scott’s second goal of the game made it 7-1 in the 66th minute and Rachel Houston’s second of the game made it 8-1 in the 68th minute.

 

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 5 LURGAN 0

University College Cork showed why they are near the top of the standings in their native Munster with this showing at the Mardyke. After an almost scoreless first half Abi O’Mahoney’s goal in the final minute of the half sent the students in leading 1-0 at half-time. Emma O’Sullivan made it 2-0 in the 40th minute. Sarah Murphy made it 3-0 in the 49th minute and two late goals from Zarah Lowry in the 66th and 69th minute respectively secured a 5-0 win for UCC.

 

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FIH PRO LEAGUE Season 5, India. IRL V IND

IRL Men beaten by last minute India goal in game with lots of positives

 

IRELAND 0  INDIA  1

It was a last-minute goal that did for Ireland in their fourth game of the Bhubaneswar phase of the FIH Pro League on Friday against India. Playing the hosts in front of a crowd of over 20,000 partisan supporters, at the Kalinga Stadium, was going to be challenging at the best of times but all the more so in the second game in two days at the end of a week of action. Adding extra spice to the game was the fact that India are currently coached by former Ireland coach Craig Fulton whose daughter Milla has been capped at senior level by Ireland at Indoor hockey.  And for most of the match it looked as if both coaches had worked out the perfect system to cancel out their opponents. India seemed well able to counter whatever Ireland threw at them in attack and Ireland defended as if their very lives depended on it.

The opening stages were fairly even, and it was no major surprise that it was scoreless at the end of the first quarter. Ireland and India played out another quarter of cagey strategic chess like hockey and it was even less of a surprise that it was still 0-0 at half-time. In the third quarter  Akashdeep Singh had the ball in the net but Jamie Carr had been taken out by Mandeep. Ireland were awarded a free hit out. Ireland were awarded another free hit out two minutes later after India had the ball in the net again but the goal was ruled out for another infringement.

Ireland managed to force a long corner in the 38th minute and the effort was saved by Pathak the India staring goalkeeper who had returned to action for the third quarter. India were awarded a penalty corner in the 42nd minute Amit Rohidas’ shot was saved by Jamie Carr. It was still scoreless at the end of quarter three.

India started the final quarter strongly forcing two penalty corners the first of which Harmanpreet Singh launched goalward and was  denied by Jamie Carr. The second of which sailed over the bar. Ireland were awarded a penalty corner in the 51st minute. India referred the decision to Video referral and lost their appeal. The penalty corner was saved by goalkeeper Sreejesh Parattu who was back between the posts for the final quarter. Jeremy Duncan was green carded in the 52nd minute temporarily reducing Ireland to 10 players. During this time Ireland’s best chance fell to Ben Johnson whose attempted pass across the face of the goal was kicked clear by Sreejesh.

Sukhreet Singh was key to all the best of the Indian’s attacking play. Daragh Walsh was equally important to Ireland’s attacking moves but if you had to pick an Irishman for a Player of the Match accolade in this game Jamie Carr was probably the standout performer in the game.

In the 59th minute just when it appeared Ireland had done enough to hang on for their first point in the FIH PRO League in their history Gujant Singh scored from the edge of the D to break Irish hearts. Ireland did launch an attack in the closing seconds and one of the players appeared to be fouled. Ireland referred the incident to Video referral but there was no reason for the on field umpire decision to be overturned and they lost their referral it finished Ireland 0 India 1.

After the match we spoke to Mark Tumilty the Ireland head coach who said:

“While we defended well, I still thought we created chances in attack. I feel for Jamie Carr tonight, he’s annoyed with that last minute goal. It was one of those unfortunate goals. A good finish by them, it was well hit. We dealt with their attack well and hit them on the counter. In our deep zone we were good. Lots of positives I thought we were good with the ball as well. We were a bit unlucky with some of the decisions which didn’t go our way.” 

“We’ve changed as the week has gone on, what we have proven is that we have grown. We’ve had to play a different shape than we normally play both with and without the ball and that’s proved advantageous to us.” 

“I’d also like to say that Daragh Walsh, he’s proved he can play at the highest level, and that he can impact the game at the highest level.” 

“Very, very pleased with where we are now compared to how we started the week. We probably showed too much respect to the Netherlands last Monday and Australia was a tough day, we were a bit off it against them. But the last two games the lads showed they were up for it.” 

“We want to come home from India with some points on the board. We are going in the right direction. We’re up against the best teams in the world, most of whom are full-time professional athletes, but we’ve shown that we can compete at this level. We need to build on that, take a few chances and get our corners firing.”

“We move to Rourkela first thing in the morning so the timing of this game probably wasn’t the best. We train on Sunday have a game on Monday and then two days off before we take on Australia again on Thursday. Looking forward to playing India in their brand-new stadium at Rourkela. The Dutch and Indian ladies played in front of 15,000 fans last week, it’ll be nice to have the experience of playing in front of a crowd that size, be something new for us.”

IRELAND:  Jamie Carr, Luke Madeley, John McKee, Daragh Walsh, Shane O’Donoghue, Sean Murray (C), Peter McKibbin, Jeremy Duncan, Peter Brown, Lee Cole, Nicholas Page SUBS USED:  Matthew Nelson (4 mins), Kevin O’Dea (6 mins), Michael Robson (6 mins), Jonathan Lynch (4 mins), Sam Hyland (6 mins), Ben Johnson (6 mins)

INDIA: Krishan Bahadur PATHAK (GK),  Jarmanpreet SINGH, Abhishek Akashdeep SINGH, Manpreet SINGH, Hardik SINGH, Gurjant  SINGH, Harmanpreet SINGH ( C),  Nilakanta SHARMA, Akashdeep SINGH, Amit ROHIDAS,  SUBS USED:  Sumit (5 mins),  Amir ALI (3 mins),  Raj Kumar PAL (4 mins), Rabichanrdra MOIRANGTHEM (5 mins) Sukhjeet SINGH, Araijeet Singh HUNDAL (4 mins), Sreejesh PARATTU RAVEEN PRAV (GK) (16 MINS)

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Ireland’s Indoor Hockey Club Champions Three Rock Rovers and Railway Union all set for European Competition

THREE ROCK HEAD TO EUROPEAN INDOOR  CLUB TROPHY IN PLZEN 

 

Three Rock Rovers are looking to build on the incredible start to 2024 for Irish hockey when they take on the men’s EuroHockey Club Trophy in Plzeň, Czechia this weekend. They are going for a top two spot which would earn promotion to the top tier of the club game and end a 32-year wait for a male Irish side to compete at that level.

It follows hot on the heels of the outdoor men’s Olympic qualification while both the men and women’s national indoor teams made major breakthroughs in the past two weeks to earn promotion to the top level.

For Three Rock, they are playing in the second club tier for a third successive campaign, having ended a 28-year wait for an Irish club side to do so in 2020. They finished in sixth place that year and then again in 2023 in Mannheim, staying up in dramatic fashion. Now, opportunity knocks with the top division expanding to ten teams, opening up greater chances to advance.

The Rathfarnham club will use the same squad of 12 players that helped them win the Irish title in January, brining a panel with a diverse range of experiences. Captain Ross Canning is Ireland’s most experienced international and top scored last week at the EuroHockey Indoor Championship II in Portugal. He was joined there by midfield terrier Jody Hosking and forward James Walker as they made history, winning the tournament to land a place for Ireland in the top level for the first time. Ali Haughton was a reserve for that panel while Ben Ryder and Ryan Williams – an Irish Under-18 outdoor panelist – are in the development panel who played in the Mason Cup in January.

The rest of the panel hail from far and wide who have since moved to Ireland. It includes former Great Britain and Wales international James Kyriakides who plays his second European tournament for the club since relocating to Ireland; Czechia and ex-Slavia Prague goalkeeper František Svoboda and South African Under-21 Zeke Hougaard. German youngster Christoph Geyer attends the local St Columba’s College while Jonas Althusmann returns for a third Euro tournament with the club. Scott Crombie takes over the coaching reins this season with Liam Canning assisting. Their campaign begins on Friday morning against Swedish champions Roslagens and then face a rematch against Rotweiss Wettingen from Switzerland whom they beat 5-4 in 2020.

They conclude the group phase against Portugal’s AD Lousada on Saturday morning, hoping to have a top two spot in the bank ahead of the playoff phases. Waiting in the wings for those matches are Copenhagen HC, OKS SHVSM Vinnitsa from Ukraine, hosts TJ Plzeň Litice and Scotland’s Western Wildcats.

RAILWAY UNION HEAD EAST IN SEARCH OF EUROPEAN INDOOR SUCCESS

Railway Union are sending an experienced squad to the Eurohockey Indoor Club Cup (W) in Alanya, Turkey from 22nd to 25th February 2024. This is the first time Railway has competed in the Eurohockey premier indoor club competition, and is only the 2nd Irish club team to do so.

The squad contains 4 current Irish international indoor players, 2 Irish indoor development squad including a previous senior international.  The Railway indoor captain, Orla Fox, has 39 Irish indoor caps. The Patton sisters, Orla the Irish captain, and Sarah have 38 and 33 Irish indoor caps respectively, with Irish and Railway goalkeeper Emma Buckley having 28 Irish indoor caps.  Amy Benson and Matilde Errico play on the Irish indoor development squad, with Amy having 29 senior Irish indoor caps.

The Railway Union indoor coach, Gareth Myburgh, is the Irish indoor manager and Irish indoor development squad coach. Holly Jenkinson,  a previous Irish indoor international with 5 caps, is assistant coach.

This is Railway’s 5th participation in the Eurohockey indoor club competition – winning gold at the Challenge event in Bratislava, Slovakia in 2011, silver in Porto, Portugal in 2020, playing in the Trophy event in Alanya, Turkey in 2022, and winning silver in the Trophy event in Cambrai, France in 2023. In Alanya in 2022, the team played the entire tournament with only six players.  Orla Fox has played in all 5 of these competitions.

In preparation for this event Railway Union won their provincial indoor tournament and the national indoor competition, for the fifth year running.

Squad:  Emma Buckley (GK), Orla Fox (C), Orla Patton, Sarah Patton, Jenny Long, Ailish Long, Holly Jenkinson (VC), Amy Benson, Mati Errico, Micaela Sanderson, Leah Warren. Coach: Gareth Myburgh, Assistant Coach: Holly Jenkinson, Manager: Helen Johnston

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FIH PRO LEAGUE Season 5, India

IRL Men acquit themselves well despite loss to Spain in third game of FIH Pro League

 

IRELAND 2    SPAIN 4

Ninth placed Ireland took on Eighth placed Spain in their third FIH Pro League pool match in Bhubaneswar, India on Thursday. The two sides had played in the recent Olympic Qualifiers tournament in Valencia where Spain had beaten Ireland in the semi-finals.

Head Coach Mark Tumilty rang the changes restoring the five players to the line-up who were rested on Tuesday. Luke Madeley, Daragh Walsh, John McKee, Sean Murray and Tim Cross sitting out on this occasion. Spain too had several changes from their previous match.

Spain won their first penalty corner after only 2 minutes through Clapes. The resultant effort was saved by Jamie Carr. Long corner for pain was dealt with by the Irish defence. Jamie Carr saved again in the 6th minute. Spain went in front in the 12th minute when Pere Amat got along the end line and passed to Enrique Gonzalez who opened the scoring firing home from the edge of the semi-circle.

Jeremy Duncan got into the Spanish semi-circle a minute later but only hit the   side netting. Spain led 1-0 at the end of the 1st quarter. Spain forced a couple of early penalty corners at the start of the second quarter. Carr kept them at bay from the first couple of efforts. Spain increased their lead Miralles converted a penalty corner in the 19th minute to score 2-0 to Spain. Ireland won a long corner in the 21st minute McKibbin intercepted a Spanish cross and prevented a goal . Jamie Carr saved from Jordi Boatre from point blank range in the 24th minute.

Ireland got on the scoresheet Jeremy Duncan cut into the circle and passed to Lynch who fed Johson  his cross found Matthew Nelson whose  shot deflected over Calzado in the 25th minute. Spain 2 Ireland 1 .

Font won a penalty corner for Spain in the 27th minute. Carr saved the penalty corner at the expense of a long corner for Spain. It was 2-1 Spain at the half time break. Jeremy Duncan had a shot blocked in the 34th minute and Spain launched a counterattack. The umpire   awarded a free hit to Ireland. Spain referred it to the Video Umpire but the video umpire upheld the on-field decision and they lost their referral. Carr saved from Miralles in the 39th minute but he turned provider for their third goal. In the 41st minute Marc Miralles went on a mazy run into the Irish circle he teed up Marc Reyne who bundled the ball into the goal at the second attempt to make it 3-1. Jonny Lynch went down the opposite end and shot over the bar.  Ben Johnson was penalised as he was about to shoot and had a free hit awarded against him in the closing seconds of the third quarter.

Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter. Lee Cole converted the penalty corner to make it Spain 3 Ireland 2 in the 52nd minute, just as Ireland went in pursuit of the leveller Spain got the vital goal to put the game beyond reach. Borja Lacalle passed it into the middle of the circle and Enrique Gonzalez first timed it to the back of the net past Jamie Carr to make the score Spain 4 Ireland 2 in the 57th minute.

Mark Tumilty Ireland Head Coach said:

“We fielded the most experienced team we probably could have today.  We’ve adapted from game 1 to game 2 and again to game 3. We played in a slightly different style today. We hope that the things we have learned from this first round of games will stand to us in the games ahead of us next week and especially tomorrow against India. I will be taking a look at how they get on against Australia. India are going to be a massive challenge for us tomorrow. We have been creating chances we just need to be more clinical in front of goal. The lads acquitted themselves well against Spain and got very close to equalising at 3-2. Conceding that fourth goal when we did was a killer blow.”

 

IRELAND: Jamie Carr (GK), Shane O’Donoghue, Lee Cole, Jonathan Lynch, Luke Witherow, Peter McKibbin, Peter Brown, Michael Robson (C), Matthew Nelson, Jeremy Duncan, Ben Johnson SUBS USED: Charlie Rowe (4 mins), Kevin O’Dea (8 mins),  Ben Walker (4 mins), Sam Hyland (10 mins), Conor Empey (4 mins), Nicholas Page (4 mins)

SPAIN:  Luiz Calzado (GK), Xavier Gispert, Enriqe Gonzalez, Marc Reyne, Marc Miralles,  Jordi Bonastre, Gerard Clape,  Andrea Rafi, Borja Lacalle, Alvaro Portugal, Rafael Vilallonga,  SUBS USED: Eduard De Ignacio-Simo (3 mins)  Alvaro Iglesias (C) (3 mins), Alejandro Alonso (3 mins),  Pere Amat (3 mins)  Pol Cabre Verdiell (3 mins),  Bruno Font (3 mins), Rafael Revilla (GK) (46 mins)

 

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Hockey Ireland Weekend Domestic Fixtures Preview: Sat Feb 17, Sun Feb 18 and Tues Feb 20

There are a lot of big matches in domestic hockey this weekend. In the Men’s Irish Senior Cup there are three ties on Sunday and a fourth one on Tuesday.  There’s another tie in the Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge. There are two rounds down for decision in the EY Hockey League Women’s Division 1 with a full round on Saturday and a full round on Sunday. There’s also a full programme of games in both pools of the EYHL 2 Men’s and Women’s Divisions.

 

SATURDAY  FEBRUARY 17TH 2024

WOMEN’S IRISH HOCKEY CHALLENGE

Cookstown V Tipperary 2.30 TBA

 

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1

Pegasus v Railway Union, 12:45, Newforge Sports Complex

Ulster Elks v Old Alex, 12:45, UUJ

UCD v Corinthian, 13:00, Belfield Water

Catholic Institute v Loreto, 13:00, Rosbrien

Pembroke Wanderers v Monkstown, 13:00, Serpentine Avenue

 

EYHL 2 MEN’S POOL A 

Avoca v Bangor, 14:30, Newpark School

Queens v Bandon, 14:30, Queens University

 

EYHL 2 MEN’S POOL B 

Railway Union v Cork Church of Ireland, 13:30, Park Avenue

South Antrim v Cookstown, 14:45, Friends School Lisburn

 

EYHL 2 WOMEN’S POOL A

Kilkenny v Greenfields, 13:30, Kilkenny

Belfast Harlequins v Avoca, 14:30, Deramore Park

 

EYHL 2 WOMEN’S POOL B 

UCC v Lurgan, 12:00, The Mardyke

University of Galway v Ards, 15:00, National Sport Campus

 

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18TH 2024

EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1

UCD v Loreto, 13:00, Belfield Water

Catholic Instiute v Ulster Elks, 13:00 Rosbrien

Corinthian v Railway Union, 13:15, St Columbus College

Monkstown v Old Alex, 14:30, Rathdown

Pembroke Wanderers v Pegasus, 15:00, Serpentine Avenue

 

MEN’S  IRISH SENIOR CUP

Pembroke Wanderers v Banbridge, 13:00, Serpentine Avenue

Cork Church of Ireland v UCD, 14:30, Garryduff

Avoca v Lisnagarvey, 15:45, Newpark School

 

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20TH 2024

Cookstown V Annadale  20:00  Cookstown HC

 

 

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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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