Dublin, November 17: This weekend saw the Women’s EY Hockey League reach its halfway point with Round 9, with the Men’s EY Hockey League at Round 8.
In the Women’s EY Hockey League, Pembroke held Loreto to a draw and followed it up with a win in the shoot-out to continue their upward ascent and put the pressure on the league leaders. Catholic Institute scored late to beat Old Alex and claim second in the table. Railway Union continued their fine run of form to come from behind to beat UCC. Ulster Elks scored late to force a shoot-out against Ards, securing the bonus point as well. And UCD climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to a home win over Pegasus.
In the Men’s EY Hockey League, Three Rock, Lisnagarvey and Banbridge continued their dominance with hard fought victories over Avoca, YMCA, and Pembroke. Annadale and UCD played out a 1-1 draw, with Annadale securing the drawing bonus point in the process. Corinthian and Monkstown are set to replay their fixture due to a technical lights issue and the game having to be abandoned.
Women’s EY Hockey League
In the opening game of the day UCD returned to winning ways with a well-fought victory over Pegasus. Mikayla Power gave UCD the lead after just 5 minutes, and the lead was then doubled by Ava Maleady in the final quarter. Pegasus gave College a late scare, pulling a goal back and opting to pull their keeper in pursuit of a draw, but the home side held out to grab all three points.
It was 2-points gained for Pembroke, and 2-points lost for Loreto in Serpentine Avenue. Despite leading the game for the majority, Pembroke’s late goal through Anna Richardson forced a shoot-out, which Pembroke ultimately won thanks to converted penalty corners from Emma Young and Hannah Irwin, and heroics between the sticks from Aoife Glennon.
Railway Union came from behind against UCC to continue their fine run of form. Ailish Long cancelled out Jane Murphy’s opener, before Roisín Upton converted from a penalty corner just before half-time to give Railway Union a lead that they saw out to the end.
In the battle for second spot, Catholic Institute came out victors against Old Alex thanks to a dramatic late winner. The home side led through Sharon Seaton after 24 minutes, but Catholic Institute drew level in the third quarter through Aoife Hickey. Institute snatched the win late on following a well worked move down the right-hand side of the pitch, culminating in a back post tap in for Eimear Ryan.
Ards were just minutes away from grabbing their first win since Round 3 as they led Ulster Elks by a single goal thanks to Zara Malseed. However, Ulster Elks spoiled the party, scoring late through Alexandra Scott, and winning the bonus point shoot-out.
Loreto remain top of the table with 23pts but will be feeling the pressure from behind now as the gap narrows to 5pts. Catholic Institute jump to second on 18pts, with Old Alex dropping to third on 16pts. Railway Union and Pembroke make up fourth and fifth with 15 and 14pts respectively. Ulster Elks take sixth and 13pts, with Pegasus a place and a point below them in seventh. At the bottom, UCC remain in tenth on 6pts. Ards sit 9th on 8 points, and UCD sit just outside the relegation zone on 10pts in eight.
- Loreto – 23pts
- Catholic Institute – 18pts
- Old Alex – 16pts
- Railway Union – 15pts
- Pembroke Wanderers – 14pts
- Ulster Elks – 13pts
- Pegasus – 12pts
- UCD – 10pts
- Ards – 8pts
- UCC – 6pts
Men’s EY Hockey League
Three Rock Rovers maintained their place at the top of the table with a comprehensive, but hard-fought victory over Avoca. Goals from Mark Collins, Ben Johnson, and Sam Rothwell, gave Three Rock a commanding lead going into the final stages. Guy Sarratt pulled a goal back with 9 minutes left on the clock to give Avoca a small glimmer of hope, but that was swiftly cancelled out when Zach Silvermann grabbed Three Rock’s fourth just three minutes later.
The bottom of the table clash between Annadale and UCD ended in a 1-1 draw, as neither side could produce the decisive moment. Annadale ultimately came away the better of the two sides securing the bonus point in the shootout.
Defending champions Banbridge secured a comprehensive win as they travelled to Dublin to face Pembroke. A hattrick for Johnny McKee and a brace for Matthew McKee saw the side run out as 5-1 winners.
YMCA and Lisnagarvey played out a 5 goal thriller at Wesley College but it was the Ulster side who grabbed all the points. Ben Nelson gave Garvey the lead, but Sam Hyland drew YMCA level before the end of the first half. Ben Nelson and Andrew Williamson grabbed goals in the third quarter to put Lisnagarvey in the driving seat. YM’s Adam Walker added another penalty corner goal to his tally to pile the pressure on in the closing phases but Garvey held on to return to winning ways.
The match between Corinthians and Monkstown had to be abandoned owing to a technical issue with the pitch. The match will be replayed at a date, time and venue yet to be confirmed.
Three Rock remain top as the only side still unbeaten with 23pts, with Lisnagarvey just behind on 21. Banbridge sit third on 18pts and with a game in hand. YMCA and Corinthian sit fourth and fifth on 13pts, and Monkstown are in sixth with 9pts. The bottom four remains unchanged after the weekend with UCD still bottom, now on 2pts. Annadale are ninth with 3pts and Avoca are just above them on 5pts. Pembroke sit seventh with a total of 7pts.
- Three Rock Rovers – 23pts
- Lisnagarvey – 21pts
- Banbridge – 18pts
- YMCA – 13pts
- Corinthian – 13pts
- Monkstown – 9pts
- Pembroke – 7pts
- Avoca – 5pts
- Annadale – 3pts
- UCD – 2pt