With the teams confirmed for the Irish Senior Cup Lisnagarvey, Three Rock Rovers, Loreto and Cork Harlequins will battle it out on the 11th May 2019. While work is ongoing on the two new top-class pitches in Dublin, the National Sports Campus and UCD, Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club have taken up hosting duties for the Irish Senior Cup Finals day, one of the highlights of the domestic calendar. The central venue will provide an ideal location for the large number of supporters and spectators who regularly attend these finals.

Please see the schedule below:

Saturday 11th May 2019

13:30 Loreto HC v Cork Harlequins HC

15:45 Three Rock Rovers HC v Lisnagarvey HC

We are looking forward to seeing you all there to cheer on the clubs!

Notice of the upcoming Hockey Ireland Annual General Meeting has been circulated as follows:

Date: 25th May 2019

Time: 11.30am

Venue: The Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan

Agenda and details for nominations can be found below:

Notice of Hockey Ireland AGM 2019.docx

Nomination Form for Election to Board 2019.docx

The business end of the season is finally upon us and we can look forward to the Irish cup finals beginning next month! Thank you to both Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club and Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club for facilitating Hockey Ireland by hosting these finals. Matches will be live tweeted and match reports will be posted here following the conclusion of each match. The best of luck to all the teams involved.

Saturday 13th April – Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club

12:45 Irish Hockey Challenge (Women): Dromore LHC vs Clonmel LHC.

14:45 Irish Hockey Challenge (Men): Ballynahinch HC vs Limerick HC.

16:45 Irish Hockey Trophy (Women): Cork Church of Ireland vs Greenfields.

Sunday 14th April – Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club

14.00 Irish Junior Cup (Women): UCD LHC vs Railway Union LHC

15:00 Irish Hockey Trophy (Men): NICS HC vs Waterford HC

16:00 Irish Junior Cup (Men): Three Rock Rovers HC vs Instonians HC.

As you may be aware, Sport Ireland are re-surfacing the pitch at the National Sports Campus in March / April of this year.

The carpet from the current sand dressed pitch is suitable for re-use at another venue, and will be available to Hockey Ireland to give to an appropriate recipient.

If your club, school or organisation would be interested in availing of this opportunity, please send your expression of interest via email to info@irelandhockey.sportlomo.com before 15th Feb 2019. After this point, Hockey Ireland will seek further information regarding plans.

Glenanne moved a point clear at the top of the men’s EY Hockey League as they held on for a 2-2 draw with Lisnagarvey in one of the two games in the competition to survive the frost on Saturday.

The St Andrew’s hosts took the lead in the early stages when Cedric Jakobi’s drag-flick hit the Garvey post-man’s foot on the line. Player-coach Joe Brennan stepped off the bench to score the ensuing penalty stroke before returning to the bench with 1-0 safely on the board.

Jakobi fired another down the same line for 2-0, his flick going in off the post this time for a big early advantage.

The Comber Road side, however, started to work their way back into the game with Brennan making a brilliant save off the line and Richard Couse having to scramble in defence.

The goal was coming, though, and James Lorimer’s penalty corner shot found its way in off a defensive block following a lovely switch at the top of the circle.

Matthew Nelson then levelled the game with a brilliant touch from a low drag-flick to make it 2-2, a big momentum swing before half-time as the Glens had a golden chance to make it 3-1 seconds before the leveller.

The Ulster side continued to press forward in the second half, putting the hosts under pressure, particularly when Gary Shaw and Shannon Boucher spent time in the sin-bin. Jakobi also saw yellow late on while Mark McNellis had to put in an unreal pick to deny the Glens a huge chance in the closing stages, keeping the game level to the final whistle.

The draw sees Glenanne up to 16 points, one clear of Banbridge and Pembroke but with extra games played compared to both.

At Strathearn, Annadale recorded a 3-1 win over bottom side YMCA to move up to fourth place in the league. David Tremlett put Dale in front in the opening quarter before Ryan Burgess got the first of his two goals before half-time, a lead they held into the final quarter.

Burgess and Thom Ritchie exchanged goals in the final quarter as Dale recorded their fourth win out of eight, jumping up a couple of places in the table.

YM are back in action on Tuesday evening against Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road. Rovers game at Cookstown was cancelled due to the frosty conditions over the weekend as was Banbridge’s game Pembroke and Monkstown’s tie against Cork C of I.

All four of the scheduled women’s EY Hockey League Division 2 games were called off due to the frosty conditions around the island with new dates to be sought.

Despite somewhat of a slow start to the second half of the season caused by country-side frost, certainty is assured as to where the EY Champions Trophy will take place this year. Following the laying of their new pitch, Banbridge Hockey Club will take up hosting duties for the end of season showcase event on May 4th and 5th. Banbridge have proved themselves highly capable and enthusiastic hosts, having previously hosted the EY Champions Trophy and Eurohockey League Round 1.

Men
EY Hockey League – Round 9: Annadale 3 (R Burgess 2, C Tremlett) YMCA 1 (T Ritchie); Glenanne 2 (J Brennan, C Jakobi) Lisnagarvey 2 (J Lorimer, M Nelson)

Postponed: Cookstown v Three Rock Rovers; Banbridge v Pembroke; Monkstown v Cork C of I

Women

EYHL 2
Pool 1, postponed: Greenfields v Queens University, Corinthian v Trinity
Pool 2, postponed: Dungannon vs NUIG, Monkstown v Lurgan

Ireland 2 (Anna O Flanagan, Ali Meeke)
Germany 1 (Anna Schroder)

Ireland defeated Germany, ranked 10 places about them in the World Rankings, at No. 6, in the first of the 3 nations in Dusseldorf this afternoon, Germany were first on the attack winning first PC of the gamer in the 2m, and the resulting drag clipped Irish defenders foot for another corner. The second PC drag was saved by McFerran and Ireland countered but Germany cleared the danger.

Ireland took the lead in the 7th minute when a great pass from defence by Tice found O Flanagan who drove at the German defence passed to Meeke in space and her shot at goal was saved by the German keeper Kruger, but O Flanagan pounced on the rebound to lift it over Kruger to give Ireland the lead. Ireland marshalled by Tice & Matthews were defending well as Germany attacked and McFerran had to be alert following two PC’s in the 13m but at the end of the quarter Ireland went in 1 nil up.

At the start of the second quarter good defence by Upton before Germany were awarded their 5th PC in the 19m but again McFerran was sharp. Ireland dominated most of the final 10m of the quarter with Evans and O Flanagan looking sharp. The best chance fell to Beatty chance when Watkins had set her up for shot at goal.

The third quarter was a tight affair with little chance for either side as defences dominated. Ireland’s best chance fell to Duke, but she failed to get a touch after powerful run by Mullan

Final quarter saw Germany win their 6pc in 48m minute when Upton was blown for not retreating 5 but again Ireland defence stood firm. Watkins was menace throughout and drove forward linking well with O Flanagan up front. Germany withdrew their keeper in favour of a kicking back in the 55 and immediately it paid dividends winning their 7th PC almost immediately but this time the push out was missed and free out resulted for Ireland. As Germany pressed forward a cross from the left found Schroder in the circle beating McFerran and the equaliser. Germany continued with their kicking back and with 30 seconds on the clock a clever overhead by McCay from the half way line found O Flanagan who laid off the Meeke and she calmly finished to an unguarded net for the winner.

Ireland: McFerran (GK), Evans, Mullan, McCay, Beatty, Pinder, Upton, Matthews, O Flanagan, Wilson, Meeke
Rolling Subs: Duke, Torrans Colvin, Watkins, Tice, O Byrne

Remaining Fixtures

Friday 22nd Germany v Canada 5pm

Saturday 23rd Ireland v Canada 5pm