Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up: Saturday April 13
THURSDAY APRIL 11 2024
EY HOCKEY LEAGUE WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
RAILWAY UNION 4 OLD ALEXANDRA 1
Railway Union clinched second spot in the EYHL Division 1 on Saturday last. That meant they had the second automatic qualification spot in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy secured a target for coach Una McCarthy and staff from the start of the season achieved. They started this game straight out of the blocks and had Old Alexandra defending from the earliest seconds. A penalty stroke was awarded to Railway Union following a penalty corner and Lisa McCarthy dispatched it to the net in the third minute to give Railway Union a 3rd minute lead. Lily Lloyd added a second in the 7th minute and for the rest of the first quarter Railway looked in complete control of the game. 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. Old Alexandra grew into the game a bit more in the second quarter and had a number of opportunities inside the Railway Union D. Aoife Taaffe tucked one such opportunity into the net from close range in the 26th minute to make the score 2-1.
The next goal came in the 35th minute and Railway Union’s third goal was a brilliant piece of team play. Lily Lloyd’s lay off enabled Sarah Patton to rifle the ball into the net from inside the semi-circle. A goal of the season contender and something that would have looked amazing on television. Sarah Patton got her second of the game in the 63rd minute with another open play goal to make it 4-1 to Railway Union. Play was held up temporarily for an injury to Old Alexandra’s Ireland international Deirdre Duke who got hit full on by a ball struck from close range inside her own semi-circle. It was unclear how serious the injury was but it is hoped it is not too serious and she will be able to return to action very soon.
RAILWAY UNION:- Emma Buckley, Niamh Shaw, Jenny Long; Roisín Upton, Aebfhinn Burke, Lisa McCarthy, Michelle Carey, Sarah Hawkshaw, Emma Smyth (C), Katie Mullan, Niamh Carey SUBS USED:- Katie Fearon (5 mins); Lily Lloyd (5 mins); Sarah Patton (6 mins); Orla Fox (6 mins); Saoirse Griffin (6 mins)
OLD ALEXANDRA:– Holly Micklem, Amy Giblin, Lindsay Power, Ella Malone, Elva Kerr, Robyn Hetherington, Elena Neill, Isabella Dunlop, Deirdre Duke, Paula Oldenkott, Abi Russell (C) SUBS USED:– Zoe Handcock (5 mins); Allie Hetherington (6 mins); Bethany Russ (6 mins); Aoife Taaffe )7 mins) ; Vanessa Winn (6 mins)
SATURDAY APRIL 13 2024
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
CORINTHIANS 1 PEGASUS 2
Pegasus did their bit to avoid relegation by winning this very important game against an already relegated Corinthians side who competed strongly throughout. Pegasus took the lead through Alex Speers in the 5th minute with a goal from open play. Going into this game with a 1 goal disadvantage in goal difference and level on points, this was a must win game for the Belfast team. Hollai Quinn equalised for Corinthians in the 27th minute from open play. Pegasus then took the lead in the 34th minute when Sophie McDowell converted a penalty corner and there was no further scoring. Pegasus won 2-1 and then had to wait for news from the Railway Union versus Monkstown match.
RAILWAY UNION 2 MONKSTOWN 1
Railway Union made it 6 points out of 6 from their final two matches of the regular season with this 2-1 win over Monkstown. This result added to Pegasus winning sees Monkstown relegated after only 1 season back in topflight. Former Ireland International Kate Dillon gave Railway Union the lead in the 25th minute with a goal from open play. Monkstown equalised through a field goal from former Ireland International Nicci Daly in the 15th minute. 1-1. Railway Union retook the lead in the 20th minute when Roisín Upton converted a penalty corner. It was a lead that the hosts held on to until the final hooter.
LORETO 3 OLD ALEXANDRA 1
For Loreto this game was all about receiving their championship trophy and the medals that went with it. Loreto took the lead in the 19th minute when Yasmin Pratt converted a penalty corner. Loreto led 2-0 in the 22nd minute after Hannah Matthew’s converted penalty corner in the last play of the first half. Old Alexandra got on the scoresheet when Aoife Taaffe converted a penalty corner to leave the score 2-1 at the half-time break. Loreto continued to exert pressure by winning penalty corners and in the 42nd minute they were awarded a penalty stroke which Hannah McLoughlin converted to leave the final score Loreto 3 Old Alexandra 1.
LORETO:- Liz Murphy, Lisa Mulcahy, Siofra O’Brien, Mia Jennings, Grace McLoughlin, Caitlin Sherin, Yasmin Pratt, Caoimhe Perdue, Christina Hamill, Hannah Matthews, Rachel Kelly SUBS USED:– Grace Donald (6 mins); Hannah McLoughlin (6 mins), Sarah Torrans (6 mins), Aisling Murray (8 mins), Ella Pasley (9 mins)
OLD ALEXANDRA:- Holly Mickle, Lindsay Power, Ella Malone, Sarah Byrne, Vanessa Winn, Elva Kerr, Robyn Hetherington, Isabella Dunlop, Aoife Taaffe, Abi Russell (C), Zoe Handcock SUBS USED:– Amy Giblin (7 mins); Allie Hetherington (7 mins); Bethany Russ ((8 mins); Paula Odenkott (11 mins)
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 0 UCD 1
UCD confirmed their spot in the EYHL Champions Trophy quarter-final with this away win against Catholic Institute. In a very closely fought affair it was 0-0 after quarter one. It was still scoreless at half time and by the end of quarter three this game had all the hallmarks of a scoreless draw. But in games like that sometimes a single goal can decide it. In this case a 57th minute goal from open play by Mikayla Power was enough to secure the win UCD finish the season on 25 League points safely in the top 6 regardless of results elsewhere. But results elsewhere will decide whom they will play in next week’s quarter final.
ULSTER ELKS 1 PEMBROKE WANDERERS 1
Ulster Elks went level on points with Old Alex thanks to this 1-1 draw. Jessica McMaster gave the Elks a 1-0 scoring from open play in the 18th minute. Pembroke Wanderers got back in level terms in the 31st minute to secure a share of the spoils thanks to Orla Macken’s converted penalty corner. There was no further scoring it ended 1-1.
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 QUARTER-FINAL
BELFAST HARLEQUINS 4 LURGAN 0
Belfast Harlequins will be taking part in next week’s EYHL 2 semi-finals after a comprehensive 4-0 win over fellow Ulster Women’s Premier League side Lurgan. Harlequins took the lead when Emma Fraser converted a penalty corner in the 4th minute. They increased their lead to 2-0 when Claire Whiteside converted a penalty corner in the 32nd minute. Emily Anderson scored from open play to leave the Lagan-siders 3-0 up within 60 seconds. Jennifer McAuley sealed a 4-0 victory by converting a penalty corner in the 47th minute.
ARDS 1 AVOCA 0
Sometimes two teams are so evenly matched that a single goal is all that can separate them in knockout competitions. And sometimes the team that starts soonest out of the traps can grab a decisive goal very early into the match. So, it proved today at Londonderry Park where Ards scored in the 5th minute through a Louise Murray goal from open play. It proved enough to win them a place in the semi-finals next weekend. Monkstown’s relegation was more bad news for Avoca as they miss out on EYHL 2 next season as well following their elimination today. It finished Ards 1 Avoca 0 .
EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 1
SATURDAY APRIL 13TH 2024
CORINTHIANS 2 BANBRIDGE 2
For Corinthians they faced having to host the coronation of this season’s Kings of the League at the end of the game. Accordingly, they decided to make it as tough a match as possible. Gregory Williams opened the scoring for the hosts with a field goal on the 32nd minute to make it 1-0 Corinthians. Banbridge equalised through Thomas Dobson’s converted penalty corner in the 44th minute. Banbridge then took the lead in the 56th minute through a goal from Adam McKee in open play. Corinthians raced back into the match to seal a point when Stephen Reid’s goal from open play in the 65th minute ensured a share of the spoils. Banbridge received their Championship trophy and their winner’s medals as the first step to a potential treble winning campaign being already Champions Trophy Semi-finalists and Irish Senior Cup Finalists.
MONKSTOWN 2 LISNAGARVEY 2
Lisnagarvey were destined to finish second in this season’s League campaign ahead of today’s match regardless of the outcome. Ben Nelson gave them the lead with a goal from open play in the 28th minute. Andrew Williamson increased the visitors lead with another goal from open play in the 42nd minute. Daniel O’Donovan began the hosts comeback with a 53rd minute goal from open play. Sam Hohn secured a share of the spoils for the home side scoring in the 62nd minute it finished 2-2.
ANNADALE 1 YMCA 1
Both these teams went into this game with a palpable sense of relief. Annadale secured their place in next season’s EYHL Division 1 a couple of weeks ago. Last week YMCA guaranteed their place in the EYHL Champions Trophy Play off quarter finals. This game was a tale of two penalty strokes. The hosts were awarded theirs in the 37th minute which Michael Robson converted. They led 1-0 for a further 22 minutes until YMCA were awarded a 59th minute penalty stroke. Grant Glutz scored YMCA’s stroke and the game ended 1-1.
INSTONIANS 3 GLENANNE 5
An eight goal thriller at Shawsbridge where Instonians played their final game of the EYHL Men’s Division 1 campaign having suffered relegation. Shane O’Donoghue converted a 3rd minute penalty corner to put Glenanne 1-0 up. Shannon Boucher opened his account from open play to make it 2-0 to Glenanne. Ben Palmer got Instonians on the scoresheet with a 32nd minute converted penalty corner. Matthew Mc Cord got the homesters on level terms in the 32nd minute with a goal from open play. 2-2. Glenanne went back in front when Shannon Boucher got his second goal of the day this time from a 48th minute penalty corner to make it 3-2. Jason Rogan from open play made it 4-2 to Glenanne in the 55th minute. Neil Byrne made it 5-2 on the hour mark. Joshua Kidd from open play got the final goal of the game for Instonians to leave the final score Instonians 3 Glenanne 5.
UCD 1 THREE ROCK ROVERS 5
UCD got off to the best possible start. Adam Luke Galbraith opening the scoring for the Students in the 2nd minute. But that was as good as it got for them. Evan Jennings equalised for Three Rock in the 6th minute, and it was still 1-1 at half time. Three Rock Rovers went into overdrive after the break they scored three goals in four minutes. James Walker made it 2-1 in the 40th minute, Matteo Ramoli scored against his former club a minute later for 3-1 and James Walker got his second of the game to make it 4-1 in the 44th minute. A converted penalty corner for Three Rock Rovers by their captain Harry McMahon sealed a 5-1 win in the 56th minute. UCD had already been relegated a week earlier.
EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 2 QUARTER FINALS
CORK HARLEQUINS 5 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 4
A nine-goal thriller at Farmer’s Cross was won by homeside Cork Harlequins in the end. Andrew Dale gave Harlequins the lead from open play in the 24th minute. Julian Dale’s 30th minute converted penalty corner increased their lead to 2-0. Queen’s University responded through Stephen Hamill in the 31st minute to get on the scoresheet. Brian Hayes-Curtin restored a two-goal margin for Harlequins with an open play goal in the 35th minute to make the score 3-1 at half-time. Adam Reddick made it 3-2 scoring a converted penalty corner for Queen’s in the 42nd minute. John Hobbs converted a penalty stroke for Harlequins a minute late to leave the score 4-2. Conor Irwin’s 53rd minute penalty corner for the visitors reduced the gap to a single goal 4-3. Adam Young scored for Harlequins in the 60th minute to make it 5-3 and Adam Reddick got his second of the game for Queen’s converting a 67th minute penalty corner to leave the final score Cork Harlequins 5 Queen’s University 4.
PEMBROKE WANDERERS 4 CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND 2
The second quarter final took place at Serpentine Avenue in Dublin and Leinster Division 1 A side Pembroke Wanderers made it through to the semi-finals of the EYHL Men’s Division 2 by beating Munster Men’s Division 1 opponents Cork Church of Ireland by 4 -2. Wanderers took the lead through David Lynch in 11th minute. Harry Jackson equalised for the Munster men in the 27th minute to make it 1-1. Ross Breytenbach’s 32nd minute penalty corner restored the lead for Pembroke Wanderers who led 2-1 at half-time. Cian Murphy increased the lead for Wanderers in the 44th minute to make it 3-1 and Cork Church of Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke in the 46th minute which Cian Dorgan converted to leave the gap down to one at 3-2. Stephen Tutty’s unanswered field goal for Pembroke Wanderers in the 56th minute ensured a two-goal margin in a 4-2 victory.
