,

Railway secure silver at EuroHockey Club Indoor Trophy Tournament

 

Railway played their final fixture at the EuroHockey Club indoor trophy today knowing that they had already secured a silver medal but that a win or a draw would get them gold as tournament winners.

Their opposition was English club East Grinstead who had played an aggressive attacking fast game throughout the tournament. And so they started putting Railway under pressure from the first whistle. The pressure paid off and they took the lead after 4 minutes. Railway won a corner following good work by Orla Patton but Jenny Long’s shot was deflected wide. East Grinstead increased their lead in the second quarter catching Railway on the break. Railway won 2 corners which were well defended by East Grinstead.

Half time: Railway 0 East Grinstead 2.

The third quarter was evenly balanced with few chances. Railway could not find a way through the well organised East Grinstead team. Despite tired legs Railway rallied to up the tempo and attack aggressively in the fourth quarter but this left them exposed as East Grinstead scored a third. Railway never gave up and were rewarded when Orla Patton got them on the scoreboard with a battling goal. However, Railway were unable to add to this and the final score was Railway 1 East Grinstead 3, East Grinstead winning the tournament.

Railway we’re disappointed to lose the match but delighted to win silver medals and secure promotion to the illustrious EuroHockey Club Indoor Cup, the first time an Irish club indoor team has competed at this level for 30 years.

A big shout out to coaches Gareth Myburgh and Michael Fulham who prepared the team so well and to the travelling supporters who encouraged the team throughout. Congratulations also to Cambrai hockey club who hosted a fantastic tournament.

Team: Kate O’Hogan (GK), Orla Fox (C), Holly Jenkinson (VC), Jenny Long, Orla Patton, Sarah Patton, Lily Lloyd, Becky McMullen, Ailish Long, Kate Woods.

Coaches: Gareth Myburgh, Michael Fulham.

Manager: Helen Johnston

/by

TRR update Eurohockey Indoor Trophy

Results did not go for us yesterday in spite of a 6-3 win against Partille. The Danish side Slagelse defeated the Czech side SK Slavia Prague 4-3 gaining a losing bonus point.

We need either Partille to beat or draw with Sk Slavia tomorrow or we need to beat the Danish, Slagese side by four goals.

Today’s game did not start well with our keeper getting a four minute yellow card in the second minute of the game after which we conceded two goals a player down.

Partille defended deep defending their two goal lead until a Jonas Althusmann pass found Ross Canning’s snap shot goal. Three Rock equalised with a Jody Hosking corner switch.

Both sides traded a goal each until Partille replaced their keeper with four minutes of the game remaining. Their brave decision rebounded from strong counter attacking tackles from Alistair Haughton, Jody Hosking and Harry MacMahon leading to three rapid Three Rock counter goals; two from James Walker and one from Jonas Althusmann.

To put this result in context; Partille won the A division title in 2018.

/by

Railway secures promotion to top European Indoor Division

Railway played Austrian champions WAC in their second top pool match knowing that victory would secure them promotion to the top European indoor division and at least a silver medal.

The opening quarter was a cagey affair with little between the teams. Sarah Patton made a run the length of the court and won a corner which Jenny Long dispatched with aplomb into the top corner.

The second quarter continued in similar vein with Railway winning another two corners but unable to convert.

Half time: Railway 1 WAC 0.

Railway extended their lead in the third quarter Lily Lloyd finding the back of the net after good work by Becky McMullen. Railway sat deep in the final quarter defending well as WAC applied the pressure. Kate O’Hogan in the Railway goal again made some fantastic saves to keep her goal intact. Railway got an all important third goal when Sarah Patton broke free and ran the length of the court to score. WAC’s pressure paid off and they found a gap in Kate O’Hogan’s goal to score. This led to an edgy last few minutes but Railway remained defensively solid to run out 3-1 winners.

They face English side East Grinstead, featuring ex Ards and Irish indoor player Chloe Brown, in the last match of the tournament. Railway has already secured promotion to the top division and a win or a draw against East Grinstead would see Railway winning the tournament and the gold medals.

/by

TRR day 2 of Eurohockey Indoor Club Trophy

Three Rock Rovers again stepped up their game performing well in a tight game that they narrowly lost 3-2 on the final whistle.

Rovers Jan Behr scored the first goal of the game in the sixteenth minute but Luzerner SC scored two quick field goals in the final minute of the second half.

Captain Ross Canning’s short corner equalised in the 36th minute. Disappointingly for Three Rock the Swiss scored their winner in the final seconds of the game. Three Rock are now in a two game relegation play off group, needing to beat the Swedish side Partille in their 16.30 game today and also beating the Danish side Slagelse HC in their final match tomorrow.

Three Rock are fighting to play at this level in 2024 as current Irish Champions.

/by

Railway Top Pool at EuroHockey Indoor Trophy

Railway played their final pool match this morning against the fourth placed team Zelina from Croatia knowing they had already topped their pool with 10 points from their previous two games.

The first quarter was scoreless but Railway edged ahead in the second quarter. Becky McMullen opened the scoring following a strong surge forward by Orla Patton. Orla Fox added to to this with a penalty stroke after Sarah Patton had penetrated the circle. Sarah Patton added to the scoring from Railway’s third corner.

Half Time: Railway 3 Zelina 0.

Railway took their keeper, Kate O’Hogan, off for the 3rd quarter to play with 6 outfield players. The Zelina team became increasingly aggressive taking Holly Jenkinson out on a number of occasions and then received a red card when Orla Patton was hit on the head in an off the ball incident. Nevertheless, Zelina managed to get on the scoreboard but Railway restored a three goal margin when Ailish Long scored from a Lily Lloyd pass.

Railway put their keeper back on for the 4th quarter with debutant Kate Woods getting her 1st goal of the tournament to leave Railway running out as 5-1 winners.

Railway will now play in the top group for places 1 to 4 against East Grinstead of England and WAC of Austria, taking their 5 points from the Clydesdale match with them.

Their next match will be live-streamed at 8.15 this evening (7.15 Irish Time)

/by

TRR lose to Pinoke in Eurohockey Indoor Club Trophy

Three Rock Rovers 7-3 loss to Pinoke flattered the Dutch side. The Dutch side containing two of the beaten World Cup finalists went into a 2-0 lead at half time but Rovers emphatically clawed their way back into the game with two Jonas Althusmann goals.

Unfortunately two defensive errors and a green card lead to  quick Dutch goals and a subsequent yellow card a bruising 4 man effort yielding another two Dutch goals.

Ross Canning scored a closing short corner goal for a 7-3 loss that did not reflect an excellent Irish performance.

 

/by

Eurohockey Club Hockey Trophy, Railway V Clydesdale report

In their second match of the day Railway Union took on Clydesdale, the Scottish champions, who had narrowly beaten them last year in the competition in Turkey when Railway had played the whole tournament with only 6 players.

Both teams had won their matches earlier in the day, so it was potentially a top of the table clash. Little was given by either side in the opening quarter but a good run by Orla Patton found Ailish Long who slotted home to put Railway 1-0 up. Railway won a stroke in the 2nd quarter which captain Orla Fox put into the bottom right hand corner.

Half Time score: Railway 2 Clydesdale 0.

Clydesdale won a stroke in the 3rd quarter but put it wide. Railway scored their 3rd goal when Becky McMullen finished off an attacking move. Railway then went further ahead when they scored off their 1st corner, Sarah Patton deflecting the ball into the goal.

In the last quarter, losing by 4 goals, Clydesdale stepped up their attack with Kate O’Hogan in the Railway goal making a number of crucial saves and Holly Jenkinson taking a ball off the line. Clydesdale did manage to get on the scoresheet before the final hooter but Railway ran out 4-1 winners.

At the end of the 1st day Railway top Pool A on 10 points, Clydesdale and Raca have 5 points, with Zelina on 0. Railway play Zelina at 10.45am (9.45 Irish time) in the morning. The top two finishers in the Pool will then play against the top two finishers in Pool B for positions 1-4.

/by
,

TRR head to European Indoor Hockey Trophy in Mannheim, Germany

Three Rock Rovers arrived in Mannheim Germany today to represent Irish Hockey at the Men’s European Indoor Hockey Trophy over the weekend. The indoor team from Balinteer’s  journey has been a geographical and emotional odyssey. The team is relishing playing at such a high club level  in a country which is the cradle of European and World indoor hockey.

That journey has included winning five of the last six National Irish titles. In European competition the club got promoted in 2018 from the fourth division in Tbilisi, Georgia. The subsequent year the side gained immediate promotion from the Third division in Oslo, Norway finishing in second place.

The Trophy level was a Considerable  step up in Alanya, Turkey 2020 but Three Rock managed results in their final two games to finish in sixth place, one behind the Dutch National champions.

Today Three Rock are playing in the opening game of the tournament against the Czech representatives SK Slavia Prague and are facing Dutch outdoor and indoor 2022 National Champions Pinoké in the afternoon. Both of those sides contain players who represented their countries in the recent indoor European and World Cups

Captain Ross Canning, Jody Hosking, and James Walker are capped International Indoor players and they are backed up by veterans Alistair Haughton, Shane Davey and Eckhart Geyer.

 

Live scoring here: https://eurohockey.altiusrt.com/competitions/300

Live viewing here: http://www.eurohockeytv.org/

/by
, ,

Eurohockey Club Indoor Trophy for Railway Union

Back Row L to R: Orla Patton, Holly Jenkinson (VC), Kate O’Hogan (GK), Sarah Patton, Aebfhinn Bourke (not travelling), Michelle Carey (not travelling)

Front Row L to R: Becky McMullen, Jenny Long, Ailish Long, Orla Fox (C), Lily Lloyd, Kate Woods.

Railway Union are sending an experienced squad to the Eurohockey Club Indoor Trophy (W) in Cambrai, France from 17th to 19th February 2023.

The squad contains 4 current Irish international indoor players, 2 Irish indoor development squad players, and a previous Irish indoor international. The Railway indoor captain, Orla Fox, has 30 Irish indoor caps. The Patton sisters, Orla and Sarah, have 29 and 24 Irish indoor caps respectively, with Lily Lloyd having 18 Irish indoor caps.  Kate O’Hogan, the Railway indoor goalkeeper, and Becky McMullen, play on the Irish indoor development squad. Becky McMullen also has 4 Irish indoor senior caps. Previous Irish indoor player, Holly Jenkinson, has 5 Irish indoor caps. Holly is also an Irish international in 3 sports – indoor hockey, netball and tag rugby, plus is an Irish Masters hockey player.

The Railway Union indoor coach, Gareth Myburgh, is the Irish indoor manager and Irish indoor development squad coach. The Railway assistant coach, Michael Fulham, is also Irish indoor development squad coach.

This is Railway’s 4th participation in the Eurohockey indoor club competition – winning gold at the Challenge event in Bratislava, Slovakia in 2011, silver in Porto, Portugal in 2020 and playing in the Trophy event in Alanya, Turkey in 2022. In Alanya the team played the entire tournament with only six players.  Orla Fox has played in all 4 of these competitions.

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

Captain Orla Fox said ‘we are really looking forward to playing in Cambrai. We have prepared well and feel we have developed as a squad since last year’s venture in Turkey. We are introducing young up and coming players, such as Kate Woods, to the squad and we hope to represent Ireland well at the tournament’.

Railway Union has 2 sets of sisters playing in the team: Orla and Sarah Patton, and Jenny and Ailish Long.

The Squad for the tournament is as follows:

1.    Kate O’Hogan GK

2.    Orla Patton

3.    Sarah Patton

7.    Holly Jenkinson VC

13.  Kate Woods

16.  Ailish Long

20.  Lily Lloyd

21.  Orla Fox C

23.  Jenny Long

29.  Becky McMullen

Coach:   Gareth Myburgh

Assistant Coach: Michael Fulham

Manager: Helen Johnston

Railway’s match schedule is as follows:

Friday 17th February at 9.30am (8.30am Irish Time) Railway Union v Raca (Slovakia)

Friday 17th February at 4.15pm (3.15pm Irish Time) Railway Union v Clydesdale (Scotland)

Saturday 18th February at 10.15am (9.15am Irish Time) Railway Union v Zelina (Croatia)

Saturday pm and Sunday = play off matches.

The games are being live streamed at  https://www.eurohockeytv.org/en-int/page/home-ehf-hockey.

/by
, , , ,

Hockey Ireland Senior Men accept invitation to join the FIH Pro League

Hockey Ireland is pleased to accept an invitation from the International Hockey Federation, FIH, for the Ireland Men’s Senior Squad to join the FIH Hockey Men’s Pro League next season.
Ireland finished runners-up to South Africa in the inaugural FIH Nations Cup tournament last November, losing a thrilling final 4-3.

It meant South Africa gained promotion to the Pro League for 2023-2024 replacing the nation that will finish bottom at the end of the current season.
However South Africa have decided not to take up their place and as runners-up in the Nations Cup, Ireland have been invited by the FIH to replace them and have chosen to do so. The 2023-2024 Pro League season will likely get underway in October and Ireland can expect games against the recently crowned World Champions Germany and Olympic gold medal winners Belgium as well as other hockey powerhouses such as Australia and India and closer to home Great Britain.

Before that Ireland will host Division 2 of the EuroHockey Championships in July at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, looking to claim a place in the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Paris 2024.

Commenting on the announcement, Hockey Ireland CEO Ronan Murphy said: “This announcement comes at a very exciting time for Irish Hockey, as we look to grow participation in the game and compete at the highest level on the international stage. The fact that our Senior Men are now competing in World Hockey’s Pro League against eight top Hockey teams from around the world is a testament to all the hard work to date and is aligned with our High-Performance strategy and objectives”.

“As we continue our Olympic qualification campaign, we have a very busy year ahead with the EuroHockey Championships in Abbotstown in July offering a perfect opportunity for Irish Hockey fans to come along and watch the team in full international action.”

Mark Tumilty, Ireland Men’s Head Coach can’t wait to get started in the Pro League. “We are delighted this has come about. It’s a big opportunity for us and for men’s hockey in Ireland. It’s a massive challenge for us but I’ve said many times before that for Ireland to move forward in world hockey we need to be playing competitive games against the top nations. To have the chance now to play sixteen games against the top countries in the world will give our programme added purpose and focus.”

Hockey’s world governing body the FIH also commented: “Whilst we will miss South Africa in the next season, we know that the South African Hockey Association firmly intends to join the FIH Hockey Pro League as soon as possible. Therefore, this is just a matter of time. Meanwhile, we’re absolutely delighted to welcome the Irish men’s team and we can’t wait to see them perform in the League next season!”

POTCHEFSTROOM – FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup South Africa 2022
WORLDSPORTPICS COPYRIGHT FRANK UIJLENBROEK

/by