Men’s EY Hockey League – day 14 round-up
Monkstown 4 (D Carson 2, G Sarratt, J Duncan) Annadale 1 (M Robson)
A brilliant four-goal burst in the first quarter saw Monkstown ease to victory over Annadale at Rathdown, moving into a share of third place.
Davy Carson was at his effervescent best and he broke the deadlock a couple of minutes in when he peeled away to take in Guy Sarratt’s rocket of a pass in his stride. His control was followed by an outstanding reverse-stick to the top corner.
He was denied an instant second when he pumped into the goal but was deemed to have shielded in the build-up. It was 2-0, however, via a brilliant team goal when Lee Cole clipped a pass which Theo Kohlmann controlled well before passing on to Rhys Armah-Kwantreng who found Jeremy Duncan; he flicked in on the turn.
Duncan played a heavy role in goal three with some aerial juggling before hitting the post with Sarratt on hand to clean up the rebound. And their scoring was complete by the 15th minute when Kohlmann picked out Carson whose snap-shot on the turn made its way in.
Annadale steadied after the first break and had a couple of good chances through Michael Robson while Sam Hamill blocked a couple of chances with acrobatic saves.
Into the second half, Sarratt flicked a stroke wide moments before Dale got on the board from the spot, themselves, after David Tremlett was fouled; Michael Robson popped it in. Both sides had four more corners in the second half but none were converted.
Banbridge 2 (Ph Brown, C Rowe) Glenanne 2 (R Couse, S O’Donoghue)
Banbridge and Glenanne’s potential title chances were both setback as their draw – allied to wins to the sides around them – left them almost out of range.
Richard Couse got the only goal of the first half but Bann turned things around in the second half with Philip Brown and Charlie Rowe both scoring. Shane O’Donoghue’s penalty stroke equalised at 2-2 before the end of Q3.
Glenanne are now four points of top spot while Banbridge are in fifth with six points to make up on Lisnagarvey and four to Three Rock in the second EY Champions Trophy place.
Lisnagarvey 7 (A Edgar 2, D Nelson 2, M McKibbin, O Kidd, M Nelson) Pembroke 1 (J Dale)
Lisnagarvey put struggling Pembroke to the sword to maintain their slender two-point lead at the top of the men’s EY Hockey League, running up a comprehensive 7-1 win at Comber Road.
It also ended a remarkable series which saw the lead change hands in each of the last six rounds of fixtures as Garvey built on last week’s significant 3-2 success over Three Rock Rovers.
Garvey took a while to get up and running as a series of close changes went incomplete in the first quarter but they never really looked back after the in-form Ollie Kidd put them in front in the 20th minute.
A phenomenal Daniel Nelson doubled up before half-time and they soon raced away in the second half with the eldest Nelson brother getting his second. Andy Edgar made it a personal three goals in three games from the penalty spot and he duly added another via the same method for 5-0.
Matthew Nelson and Matthew McKibbin both chipped in before Julian Dale got a consolation goal for the Dubliners who remain in the relegation zone as a result.
Three Rock Rovers 3 (A Haughton 2, E Jennings) Corinthian 2 (I Stewart 2)
Three Rock Rovers nicked all the points from a feisty Dublin 16 derby, Evan Jennings scoring the crucial goal with nine minutes to go despite his side being down to nine players at the time.
Three Rock got off to a strong start with Ali Haughton scoring twice in the first 10 minutes; his first followed a right-wing attack that broke to him at the left post where he controlled and flicked in.
His second was an outrageous effort, a ball deflecting his way at pace and two feet off the ground; he swung on his backhand and caught it perfectly, leaving goalkeeper Simon Thornton standing.
Corinthian got back into the game from a smart quick free, Andrew Sutton finding Peter Caruth in the D and he laid off a pass to Ian Stewart for a simple finish.
Haughton went close to a hat trick from another volley, Thornton saving well. Ben Whelan did likewise at the far end with a brilliant stick stop early in the second half but Stewart did make it 2-2 with a virtuoso piece of work, catching a loose ball, beating a player and then chipping into the top corner.
Rovers went into foul trouble in the second half, picking up three yellows but still had slightly the better of the chances in the closing quarter. Jennings took the crucial one, cleaning up after Ross Canning’s shot was parried his way. The reds had a last second corner which Caruth slapped at goal but Harry McMahon guided it around the post to ensure a scrappy three points.
YMCA 3 (A Walker, G Glutz, A Meates) UCD 2 (S Byrne, K O’Dea)
YMCA took another big step toward both an EY Champions Trophy spot and confirmed safety in the EYHL for next season with their win over UCD.
The students did go in front early on when good pressure led to a goal from Sam Byrne, tapping in at the back post and they had a couple of corners to extend the lead in a lively opening spell, drawing good stops from Jakim Bernsden.
The Y, though, were also notching up the chances with Ben Campbell hitting the post in the first quarter before Adam Walker’s corner made it 1-1 from a corner flick. Grant Glutz added the next from a penalty stroke and they had a further effort ruled out just before half-time following a much more controlled spell.
Andrew Meates stretched the lead out to 3-1 in the 43rd minute from play despite UCD pressure until the very last minute when Kevin O’Dea scored a final hooter corner goal.
SPAR Indoor Hockey Series
Ireland 1 (M Power) South Africa 4 (E Molikoe 2, J Lardant, T Kock)
South Africa finished strong to win both the final test and the SPAR Indoor Hockey Series 4-1 at Gormanston Park in front of another big crowd at Áras Preston.
Overall, Ireland shone in game one, winning against world number 14 side South Africa for the first, 3-2, in game one but the visitors bounced back to win four on the spin, showing their know-how on the boards.
On Friday, coach Rob Abbott innovated from the start, going with six outfielders and no goalkeeper for most of the first quarter. They took the lead in the seventh minute when teenager Mikayla Power latched onto a chance and flicked in for her third international goal.
South Africa replied in kind, Jessica Lardant equalising from a penalty corner switch and they went in front just before half-time courtesy of Olympian Edith Molikoe’s first of this contest.
The third quarter was one for the goalkeepers with Millie Regan making a string of saves while Charlize Swanepoel did brilliantly to keep out Lily Lloyd and Sarah Patton.
The killer blow, though, came with 22 seconds to go in that stanza as Tamlyn Kock found some space to make it 3-1.
There was plenty of brave defence in the final quarter with Emma Buckley saving a penalty stroke – her second in succession indoors – and Amy Benson deflected over a corner as Kayla de Waal endured a frustrating evening from a personal perspective.
But it was all done and dusted when Molikoe netted with two minutes to go.
While the visitors took the laurels, the series was a promising one for Ireland as big crowds greeted each tie with post-match meet-and-greets with young fans proving particularly popular.
Regan was named the Irish player of the series for her performances between the posts and she says it will be an important milestone in developing this code.
“It’s been an unbelievable event,” she said. “Every night, we have had kids in, growing the game in this country and it is definitely on the up. SPAR have been unbelievable in their support and we really can’t thank them enough.
“Coming into this, we knew it was going to be a tough test against the world number 14 and luckily I played my part this week but there were a lot of girls out there on the court who could have easily got that award.”
As for those saves with her helmet, she added: “We’ve got all the gear! Why not use it?”
It concludes the indoor season locally with Ireland hosting 11 international games over the winter, the first time they have done so since the 1980s.
Ireland: L Graham, O Macken, M Power, O Fox, S Patton, A Benson
Subs: M Regan, E Buckley, K Kimber, R McMullen, H Kelly, L Lloyd
South Africa: N Serage, J Southgate, D de Oliveira, E Molikoe, J O’Connor, E Walters
Subs: K de Waal, J Lardant, R Johnson, T Kock, D van Taak, C Swanepoel
.@millie_regan_ was nominated the @IIndoorhockey player of the @SPARIreland Indoor Hockey Series. She gives her thoughts on the award, saving with her helmet numerous times and the importance of this series for this code of the sport (in 90 seconds!) pic.twitter.com/ScE2lacpbw
— Hockey Ireland (@irishhockey) February 25, 2022
The latest Irish Under-18 boys panel has been named with a view to their 2022 campaign. They will play in a five nations tournament in Lilleshall, England from April 14 to 18 before hosting Scotland for three games from July 1 to 3 in UUJ.
In mid-July, they will play in an international tournament in Germany against the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England and Spain.
Province | Club | School | ||
Ben Pasley | Leinster | Three Rock Rovers | The High School | |
Callum McCourt | Munster | Bandon | Bandon Grammar | |
Charlie Rowe | Ulster | Banbridge | Banbridge Academy | |
Cian Dorgan | Munster | Cork C of I | Ashton | |
Conor Matthews | Ulster | Annadale | Sullivan Upper | |
Conor Murphy | GK | Leinster | Avoca | Newpark Comprehensive |
Harry Dagg | Leinster | Avoca | Temple Carrig | |
James Clark | Ulster | Annadale | Methodist College Belfast | |
James Evans | Ulster | Banbridge | Banbridge Academy | |
Jamie Spratt | Ulster | North Down | Regent House Grammar | |
Josh Gill | Leinster | Three Rock Rovers | Wesley College | |
Louis Rowe | Ulster | Banbridge HC | Banbridge Academy | |
Mackenzie Connor | Ulster | Lisnagarvey | Friends’ School Lisburn | |
Matthew McKee | Ulster | Banbridge | Banbridge Academy | |
Matthew Stevenson | Ulster | Banbridge | Banbridge Academy | |
Max Anderson | Ulster | Cookstown | Cookstown High School | |
Patrick McElhinney | Ulster | Annadale | Methodist College Belfast | |
Rex Dunlop | Leinster | Three Rock Rovers | The Kings Hospital | |
Rhys Armah-Kwantreng | Leinster | Monkstown | St Andrew’s College | |
Robbie Duffy | GK | Leinster | Monkstown | Newpark Comprehensive |
Sam Hickmott | Leinster | Monkstown HC | St Andrew’s College | |
Scott Hosick | GK | Ulster | Lisnagarvey | Friends’ School Lisburn |
Tiarnan Gaffney | Munster | Catholic Institute | Villiers School | |
Tommy Dobson | Ulster | Banbridge | Banbridge Academy | |
Alex Lynch | DEV | Leinster | Three Rock Rovers | The High School |
Ben Pollock | DEV | Ulster | Banbridge | Banbridge Academy |
Mark Cuddy | DEV | Ulster | Cookstown | Cookstown High School |
Sam Dale | DEV | Munster | Cork Harlequins | Bandon Grammar |
Allen Lyons | TBA | Ulster | Annadale | Royal Belfast Academical Institution |
Peter Keappock | TBA | Munster | Waterford | Newtown School, Waterford |
Sam Chapman | GK – TBA | Leinster | YMCA | Wesley College |
* DEV denotes for Development
* TBA denotes To Be Assessed
Ireland’s women will face the world number one side, the Netherlands, in this summer’s World Cup group stages alongside fifth ranked Germany and newcomers Chile following the draw which took place in Terrassa, Spain.
The draw also means Sean Dancer’s side will be based in Amsterdam for the group stages of the competition, playing their group games between July 1st and 7th in the Wagener Stadium.
“We’re so excited after watching the draw for the World Cup this summer,” said captain Katie Mullan in the wake of the draw.
“It will be fantastic to play the Netherlands in their home stadium and to face Germany who we played last year in Tokyo. We know Chile are an up-and-coming team and will be very well prepared this summer so that will be another brilliant game to look forward to. We are super-excited, see you in July!”
Tickets will go on sale for the event on March 1st via https://wkhockey2022.com/ with the match schedule to be confirmed in due course.
The match against the all-conquering Dutch will be a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final with the world number one side going on to win the Olympic Games, European Championships and the FIH Pro League since then.
Germany, meanwhile, are the world number five side and took silver at last summer’s Euros as well as edging out the Green Army in an Olympic thriller, 4-2 in Tokyo.
Chile are the one newcomer to the competition for this 15th edition of the World Cup having finished second in Pan-America in January. The world number 17 may be fresh-faced on this stage but Ireland know them reasonably well, meeting four times in 2019 in a shared test series in Santiago.
The winner from each group advances straight to the quarter-finals while second and third place in each group have a playoff game to see if they can also make the final eight. Fourth place goes into the ninth to 16th place playoff series.
FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup, July 1-17 (Terrassa, Spain & Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Pool A: Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Chile
Pool B: England, New Zealand, India, China
Pool C: Argentina, Spain, Korea, Canada
Pool D: Australia, Belgium, Japan, South Africa
The 2022 indoor hockey season is set for a spectacular finale next week as Ireland take on South Africa in a five-match SPAR Indoor Hockey Series in Gormanston Park in Co Meath.
The series in east Meath will showcase five high-octane fixtures with the two nations reprising their rivalry from 2019 when Ireland travelled to Durban and Cape Town for a SPAR-supported series.
Those fixtures played a pivotal role in the ongoing regeneration of indoor hockey in Ireland and were their first on the international stage for nearly 30 years. It provided a perfect springboard for Ireland’s promotion to the second tier of EuroHockey Championship competition in 2020.
In that context, this SPAR Indoor Series provides a yardstick to how much Ireland have improved and they will look to turn on the style in front of a healthy home crowd.
Coach Rob Abbott is thrilled at this unique opportunity to face the world number 14 side who had originally been planning to contest the Indoor World Cup before Covid saw those plans cancelled.
“A huge thank you to SPAR Ireland for sponsoring the series and allowing us to play against world class opposition,” Abbott said.
“It will be great for fans to have the chance to watch international hockey in the south of Ireland for the first time since the 2019 Olympic qualifiers. We are looking forward to playing in front of passionate crowds who will create an atmosphere to spur the team on.
“Our team will look to play attacking Indoor hockey and thrill the crowds with speed and skill. It will be great to see how far we have come as an indoor nation in such a short space of time.”
Commenting. SPAR Sales Director Colin Donnelly said, “SPAR has a strong tradition of supporting sport in Ireland and we are thrilled to be in a position to sponsor this series of international matches between Ireland and South Africa and I want to wish all competing the very best of luck and I’m sure the spectators will be treated to some excellent matches.”
Abbott’s side will include six of the panel that played in 2019 with, crucially, Chloe Brown set to line out. She missed out on January’s Euros but shone at the English championships with East Grinstead and she will be a vital figure in play and with her outstanding accuracy at penalty corners.
The panel also features six players who were due to play in the Under-21 Euros in December before that tournament also fell victim to Covid-19.
Railway Union – crowned Irish club champions last weekend – provide several players to the mix including captain Orla Fox, Holly Jenkinson, Patton sisters Orla and Sarah and Lily Lloyd.
Teenagers Mikayla Power (Old Alex) and Katie Kimber (Ards) offer exciting talents for the here and now as well as the future. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Amy Benson and Sophie Barnwell have been near ever-presents on the boards since Ireland’s return to the international stage.
Sally Campbell the one uncapped player in the line-up. She was initially part of Ireland’s squad to play in the Antrim games against Scotland but had to withdraw due to Covid.
***
SPAR Indoor Hockey Series (all at Gormanston Park)
Monday, February 21st 2022: Ireland v South Africa, 7pm
Tuesday, February 22nd 2022: Ireland v South Africa, 7pm
Wednesday, February 23rd 2022: Ireland v South Africa, 6pm
Thursday, February 24th 2022: Ireland v South Africa, 7pm
Friday, February 25th 2022: Ireland v South Africa, 7pm
Ireland women’s squad:
Emma Buckley (GK, Railway Union/Pembroke)
Millie Regan (GK, Old Georgian’s)
Sarah Patton (Railway Union)
Sophie Barnwell (Muckross)
Katie Kimber (Ards)
Holly Jenkinson (Railway Union)
Hannah Kelly (Catholic Institute)
Orla Macken (North Kildare/Pembroke)
Laura Graham (CD Sadus)
Mikayla Power (Old Alex)
Chloe Brown (East Grinstead)
Orla Fox (captain, Railway Union)
Orla Patton (Railway Union)
Rebecca McMullen (Muckross)
Lily Lloyd (Railway Union)
Amy Benson (Ards)
Sally Campbell (Pembroke)
Hockey Ireland has welcomed the allocation of over €2 million for 23 projects in 12 different counties from the Sports Capital Programme.
They were among 1,900 successful applications announced today by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, as part of an overall package of €150 million.
“The announcements today on the capital grants by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers T.D. are fantastic news for hockey, said Hockey Ireland CEO Jerome Pels, welcoming the news.
“The development of our playing infrastructure is key to the success of the Hockey Ireland strategy to grow the game and the number of players. This support comes at a time of significant growth in hockey and will have a real positive impact on the quality of our hockey facilities and programmes.”
Among the projects, the allocation features provision for a first ever astroturf pitch in both Carlow at Leo’s College and Laois at Dunamase College. Both are set to receive €300,000 while the long-awaited new pitch in Galway at Miller’s Lane got the go-ahead with support of close to €180,000.
In total, hockey projects in Donegal, Galway, Laois, Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Meath, Tipperary, Offaly and Waterford will benefit.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, said: “Sport is crucial for all communities in Ireland. There was a record number of applications for these grants and the government responded with the most significant level of individual awards ever.
“So this is a great day for sports clubs and community groups right around the country and I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants.
“It has been a tough two years for many sports clubs but the pandemic really demonstrated the importance of sport for our collective wellbeing. The grants we are announcing today will significantly improve sports facilities in every county. There is a huge variety of different sports covered and I was particularly pleased that the scoring system placed an even greater emphasis on female participation.”
County | Organisation | Project Title | Provisional
Grant Allocation € |
Carlow | St Leo’s College | Phased Upgrading of Hockey Pitch | 300,000 |
Clare | Ennis Hockey Club | Ennis Hockey Club Equipment Grant Project | 4,624 |
Cork | Clonakilty Community Sports Association | CCSA all weather hockey/multi-sport pitch . | 150,000 |
Cork | Cork Harlequins Club | Upgrading Floodlights to LED | 80,391 |
Donegal | The Royal and Prior Comprehensive School | Replacement of Astroturf & LED Lights | 186,169 |
Dublin | Glenanne Trust Corp Ltd | 2020 – Upgrade pitch floodlight system to LED lights | 40,000 |
Dublin | Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Loreto Order | 2020 – Essential pitch maintenance equipment | 13,090 |
Dublin | Old Alex Ladies Hockey Club | 2020 – Equipment Grant OSCAR | 15,111 |
Dublin | Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club | 2020 – Pembroke Wanderers HC – Centre of Excellence | 150,000 |
Dublin | Portrane Hockey Club | 2020 – Equipment project 2021 | 7,850 |
Dublin | Railway Union Sports Club | 2020 – Multi Sport All Weather Hockey Pitch | 150,000 |
Dublin | SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL | 2020 – Weston Hockey Pitch Re-Surfacing | 150,000 |
Dublin | Suttonians Hockey Club | 2020 – Sports Equipment for Suttonians Hockey Club | 8,000 |
Galway | Connacht Hockey | Promote Women in Sports through Hockey in Connacht | 38,781 |
Galway | GALWAY CITY COUNCIL | 2020 – Synthetic Hockey Pitch at Millers Lane | 178,654 |
Laois | Laois and Offaly ETB | Regional Hockey Pitch at Dunamase College | 300,000 |
Meath | Boyne Hockey Club | Boyne hockey- Growing Hockey in the North East | 39,180 |
Offaly | Tullamore Harriers Athletic Club | Phase 2 Tullamore Harriers Upgrade – Astro Pitch | 140,099 |
Tipperary | Nenagh Hockey Club | Basic equipment for hockey training and promotion | 10,966 |
Tipperary | Presentation Secondary School (Thurles) | Upgrade Outdoor Basketball Courts | 50,533 |
Waterford | Waterford Hockey Club | Sports Equipment | 40,527 |
Wicklow | Loreto Bray Community Sports Project | Replacement of Security Fencing | 18,215 |
Twenty-seven players have been named in the first Irish Under-16 boys squad for 2022 ahead of a busy schedule.
Their schedule currently features a five nations tournament in the Netherlands in April, a series against Scotland in early July and a further tournament in Germany in mid-July.
NAME | SURNAME | PROVINCE | |
1 | Tom | Archbold | Ulster |
2 | Harvey | Begg | Ulster |
3 | Matthew | Carry | Munster |
4 | Max | Caulwell | Leinster |
5 | Ethan | Clotworthy | Ulster |
6 | John | Cunningham | Ulster |
7 | Sean | Curtin | Munster |
8 | Jack | Fairmaner | Leinster |
9 | Denver | Golbey | Ulster |
10 | JJ | Holley | Ulster |
11 | Scott | Kenny | Leinster |
12 | Sam | Mahoney Doyle | Leinster |
13 | Matthew | McAreavey | Ulster |
14 | Adam | McKee | Ulster |
15 | William | McMullan | Ulster |
16 | Lukas | Moles | Ulster |
17 | Zac | Moloney | Munster |
18 | Peter | Montgomery | Leinster |
19 | Oskar | Nielsen | Leinster |
20 | Rob | Olden | Munster |
21 | Josh | Osborne | Ulster |
22 | George | Palmer | Ulster |
23 | Hamish | Scott | Leinster |
24 | Zach | Silverman | Leinster |
25 | Harry | St Leger | Leinster |
26 | Ben | Thompson | Ulster |
27 | Liam | Walsh | Leinster |
Jerome Pels has taken the decision to step down as Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Ireland to pursue a new job opportunity.
It follows five years in the role, joining the governing body in January 2017 with the sport enjoying significant growth and development both on and off the pitch.
During his tenure, Hockey Ireland enjoyed historic moments when the women’s senior team enjoyed success with World Cup silver. Olympic qualification was achieved in groundbreaking fashion with Donnybrook hosting 13,000 fans while the development of a new training base at Abbotstown, in conjunction with support from Sport Ireland, have significantly raised standards.
It has led to increased sponsorship and greater levels of supports for the game with the installation of a full-time coach education manager and more regional development officers as well as the return of a High Performance Director.
The introduction of a new membership system will also provide a more secure financial model for the sport to pursue its goals and support the game at club, school and international level.
“Whilst I am excited by the challenges that lie ahead at my new role as CEO for another NGB in England, it is with a heavy heart that I am leaving Hockey Ireland,” Pels said of his decision to stand down.
“I would like to thank my staff, the board and the Hockey Ireland community for the support over the last five years. It has been a privilege to have been part of the successes of Hockey Ireland and the significant growth in the sport. I also thank Sport Ireland and Sport NI for helping make the sport make meaningful progress in Ireland.
“I feel, having established a strong organisational structure at Hockey Ireland with a clear strategy agreed, the organisation is in a good shape and ready for a bright future.”
Paying tribute to Pels, Hockey Ireland chairman Trevor Watkins added: “During a period of significant change, opportunity and potential pitfalls, Jerome has been a calm and steady influence on Hockey Ireland and helped navigate the sport to a number of significant milestones.
“Hockey is undergoing a really exciting time and he has been at the helm during a time when the sport made big inroads into the Irish public conscience and we look forward to building on those solid foundations with ambition and optimism.”