Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up – Sunday Feb 18
EY Hockey League Division 1 Women
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 2-2 ULSTER ELKS
Ulster Elks were the visitors to Rosbrien for Catholic Institute’s second game of their double homer weekend in the EYHL Women’s Division 1.
Chloe Stewart put the Elks 1-0 ahead from open play in the 33rd minute. It was1-0 to Elks at half-time. Laura Foley got one back for Catholic Institute in the 36th minute to level the scores at 1-1. Naomi Carroll scored for Institute in the 45th minute from open play to put the hosts into the lead at 2-1. But four minutes from time Ulster Elks were awarded a penalty stroke and Serena Campuzano made no mistake to make it 2-2 and ensure a share of the spoils for Ulster Elks.
CORINTHIANS 1 -5 RAILWAY UNION
Bottom of the table Corinthians exit this double weekend in the EYHL Women’s Division 1 still seeking their first points of the season. Visitors Railway Union who were surprisingly beaten yesterday by Pegasus were determined to at least get three points from their efforts and took the lead in the 11th minute through a field goal from Kate Lloyd. Kate Dillon added another goal from open play in the 13th minute to put Railers 2-0 ahead. It remained 2-0 at the half-time break. Niamh Shaw converted a penalty corner for Railway Union in the 39th minute to make the score 3-0 and Kate Dillon got her second of the game to leave the visitors 4-0 ahead in the 43rd minute. Michelle Carey converted a penalty corner in the 50th minute to leave the Railway Union team 5-0 and assured of all three points. Sophie Barnwell’s penalty corner for Corinthians in the 58th minute was nothing more than a consolation goal for the hosts. That is now 13 Defeats out of 13 for last season’s EYHL 2 champions and unless something dramatic happens they will have to get out EYHL 2 again next season. Final score Corinthians 1 Railway Union 5.
MONKSTOWN 0-1 OLD ALEXANDRA
Monkstown went into this game only a point ahead of Pegasus who were in 9th before the games began. There were no goals in either quarter in the first half and it was 0-0 at half-time. Old Alexandra took the lead in the 46th minute when Elena Neill converted a penalty corner to put them 1-0 up. It was a lead they never relinquished. Monkstown tried everything they could muster without producing a goal. The game ended Monkstown 0 Old Alexandra 1 and with Pegasus getting a draw away in the next match in this report, Monkstown are now only out of the bottom two by virtue of goal difference.
PEMBROKE WANDERERS 2-2 PEGASUS
Pegasus went into this game knowing a draw would put them level on points with Monkstown. If they lost (which they did) and a win would put them into eighth place. After a scoreless first half Pegasus took the lead in the 38th minute through former Ireland international Alex Speers from open play. Pembroke Wanderers captain Emily Beatty responded in the 59th minute also from open play to draw the sides level at 1-1. A Rachel O’Brien converted penalty corner in the 63rd minute gave Pembroke Wanderers the lead for the first time in the game 2-1 but in the 69th minute Lucy McKee converted a penalty corner for the visitors to leave the final score Pembroke Wanderers 2 Pegasus 2.
U.C.D 0 LORETO 1
This was game full of incidents and opportunities to score goals for both teams. Two teams playing very well producing an afternoon’s excellent hockey. The defending champions and the champions elect at the height of their powers, surely a goal feast would ensue. Preventing that happening were two goalkeepers at the top of their game. Loreto’s Liz Murphy making numerous saves illustrating why she is part of the Women’s National squad. Her UCD counterpart Erika Gallagher also gave an excellent display of goalkeeping. These two goalkeepers were the outstanding performers on the day. Both defenses held firm, marshalled by Hannah Matthews (Loreto) and Katie Jane Marshall (UCD) respectively. There were sixteen penalty corners in all, and the only goal of the game occurred from none of these. Superb saves , wayward shots and the occasional bit of riding their luck made sure that the nets were not breached for over 60 minutes of the game. When the goal for Loreto came, it was a bit of a travesty, because neither keeper deserved to be denied their due, which on the basis of their excellence on the day, was a shutout. However, Loreto are not leading the League with a 100% record for no reason and Sarah Torrans shot found its way to the net in the 63rd minute to leave the Champions elect a mere three points away from the 2024 EYHL Women’s Division 1 title a trophy that eluded them last year on the final day of the season when UCD won on a day that Loreto only needed a draw but failed to get any points to clinch the 2023 title.
UCD: Erika Gallagher, Leah O’Shea, Aine Naughton, Katie Jane Marshall, Caoimhe Byrne, Ali Griffin, Emma Paul (C), Anna McCarthy, Florence Maughan, Mikayla Power, Katherine Egan SUBS USED: Sophia Cole, Anna Costello, Sydney Weir McErlean
LORETO: Liz Murphy, Lisa Mulcahy, Síofra O’Brien, Mia Jennings, Grace McLaughlin, Caitlin Sherin, Yasmin Pratt, Sarah Torrans, Christina Hamill, Hannah Matthews, Hannah McLoughlin SUBS USED: Grace Donald, Rachel Kelly, Aisling Murray, Ella Pasley, Caoimhe Perdue
