Students dominate Eight goal thriller in EY Hockey League

UCD had the better chances in the first half running up a substantial lead at the break before being pegged back in quarters three and four to hang on for a two goal margin of victory.

UCD travelled to Rathdown School to take on Monkstown in the EY Hockey League on Saturday with revenge on their minds. While UCD had won the reverse fixture in Belfield earlier in the season, Monkstown ended the students’ aspirations in the Irish Senior Cup last November. Despite being fairly even in pure percentage, terms where possession was concerned the students carved out by far the best opportunities in quarters one and two and it was no surprise when UCD took the lead from open play in the 10^th minute.  A well-worked move saw Niamh Carey finish giving the students a deserved lead. They increased their lead in last minute of the quarter when Grace Kenny got her first goal of the day to put the students 2-0 ahead.

There were no penalty corners awarded at all during the entire first half and the third goal also came from open play in the 24^th minute when Grace Keane got her second of the game to leave the half time score 3-0 to the visitors.

UCD were back in action early into the third quarter when Sophia Cole made it 4-0 with another field goal also from open play on 38 minutes and that seemed to spark Monkstown into action as they opened their account six minutes later through a well worked moved that saw Olivia Brady get the decisive touch  to open their account.

UCD restored their four-goal advantage when player of the match Niamh Carey teed up her twin sister Michelle Carey to score from close range in the 57^th minute.

Monkstown rallied in the fourth quarter scoring two goals in just three minutes. Claire O’Reilly got Monkstown’s second of the game in the 64^th and Chloe Watkins strike from just inside the semi-circle was deflected past UCD keeper Nora McGinty in the 66^th minute to leave the final score Monkstown 3 UCD 5.

UCD securing a badly needed three points following last weekend’s home defeat to go back into the top three places in the Division. For Monkstown this defeat coupled with results elsewhere drop into the bottom three places in the Division.

Other results:

Elsewhere in the Division Old Alexandra travelled to Belfast to take on Pegasus at the Queen’s University Sportsgrounds. A scoreless first half was followed by two Abbie Russell goals for Alex to set them on their way to a 2-0 win over Pegasus who are the only team to have played all fourteen of their fixtures so far. This win put Alex into second place in the table.

Railway Union climb to 7^th place in the table following their 4-2 win over Ards at Londonderry Park. This result put Ards back into the bottom two relegation spots in the table.

Loreto go three points clear at the top of the table following their 4-2 away win over Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park.

Pembroke Wanderers proved they weren’t going to give up their League title without a fight by beating Catholic Institute who went into this game in second place by 3-0. This win sees Pembroke Wanderers go fifth in the table and into one of the highly coveted Champions Trophy play off places.

EY  Hockey League  Women’s Division  2  Pool  A

Muckross held table toppers Avoca to a 1-1 draw.

Ulster Elks narrowed the gap to three points with a game in hand following their 7-0 win over University of Galway.

EY Hockey League Women’s  Division 2  Pool B 

Queen’s University beat Corinthians 2-0 but the Dubliners remain top of their Pool B after this result.

Cork Harlequins stay second following their 5-0 home win over Ballymoney.

EY Hockey League  Men’s  Division 1