Twelve Clubs, Six Finals, Two Days – Hockey Ireland Cup Competitions Finals Weekend
Six exciting finals this weekend marks the culmination of the national club season with the men’s and women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, Hockey Challenge and Junior Cup competitions all to be decided.
It starts with a triple leader at Banbridge’s Havelock Park on Saturday where six different Ulster clubs go in pursuit of glory.
First on the turf is the men’s Irish Hockey Trophy with Queen’s facing North Down. Queen’s had the stronger domestic season, finishing fourth in Senior A while North Down ended third in Senior B, perhaps giving them the slight favourites’ tag.
The student side is captained by Irish Under-21 international Scott McCabe while North Down are led by Ross Linter.
Next up is the women’s Irish Hockey Challenge featuring Bangor in their first ever national final since forming a female side. They are up against NICS who finished four places below them in the Senior One division.
Game three is the men’s Irish Junior Cup final. Cookstown are in their fifth final, hoping to emulate their victories in 1983 and 1985 when they come up against Annadale in the decider at 3.30pm.
For Dale, they won the title four times between 2000 and 2006 and will be in the final for the first time since 2008. Whoever wins, it will be the seventh different winner of the title since 2014.
On Sunday, the action switches to Belfield with Corinthian and Pembroke’s second teams starting the day’s action at 11.45am in the women’s Irish Junior Cup final.
Coached by Peter Caruth, it is Corinthian’s first time appearing in the final, facing up against a side who were ten-time champions – and holders – who were also Leinster Division 2’s leading side.
There will be a first time winner of the women’s Irish Hockey Trophy with Avoca up against Raphoe. Avoca were in the final against Bandon in 2016 but came unstuck against Bandon while the Donegal side are in the decider for the first time following their semi-final win over Ashton.
Closing out a busy weekend, Portrush are up against Waterford in the men’s Irish Hockey Challenge. Portrush were runners-up in Ulster’s Inter A, narrowly missing out on promotion in midweek at the hands of Newry.
They are the reigning champions and are relatively regular finalists having played at Belfield against Limerick in the 2014 final.
Waterford, meanwhile, have had a sensational season, landing Munster’s Division 2 and the Cork Cup. They won the Irish Hockey Trophy in 2019 but this is a side with a lot of changes in the interim.
Saturday 7th May 2022
Men
Irish Junior Cup Final: Cookstown 2 v Annadale 2, Havelock Park, 3.30pm
Irish Hockey Trophy Final: Queens University v North Down, Havelock Park, 11.30am
Women
Irish Hockey Challenge Final: Bangor v NICS, Havelock Park, 1.30pm
Sunday 8th May 2022
Men
Irish Hockey Challenge Final: Portrush v Waterford, Belfield, 3.45pm
Women
Irish Junior Cup Final: Corinthian v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 11.45am
Irish Hockey Trophy Final: Raphoe v Avoca, Belfield, 1.45pm
Tickets for the 7th will be available at the gate in Banbridge Hockey Club.
Tickets for the 8th will go on release to general public at 12noon on Friday 6th May. Please see tickets page here
