Men’s Pool A
Bandon Hockey Club
A frequent figure in the EYHL2, Bandon have reached the play-offs on two occasion before but are yet to progress beyond that.
The Munster side currently sit top of the league, a point clear of fellow cork side Cork Harlequins, signalling their strength within their province. The team are led by player-coach, Alistair Smith who has played in the club for many year, stepping into the coaching role this season.
Among their ranks are the young talents of Alan Buttimer, an energetic defender, and Harry McCourt, a dynamic midfielder, as well as experienced players Clinton Sweetnam, Colin Kingston, and Dave Smith to bolster the defence, midfield and attack.
Bandon will cause plenty of teams problems when they welcome them to west Cork so expect them to be in play-off contention this season.
“This season for our firsts is about resetting. Building our youth in while remaining competitive on all fronts. EY2 gives us an opportunity each season to test ourselves against different opposition at a similar level. We aim this season to put ourselves in a playoff position and take it one game at a time from there.”
- Player Coach Alistair Smith.
Cookstown Hockey Club
With a history of topflight experience and trophies, including a 2011 Irish Senior Cup, Cookstown are among the favourites for this year’s Men’s EYHL2. The Ulster side came supremely close to securing promotion last season, losing a close encounter to Pembroke in the semi-finals.
This year the side look just as strong as they did last, leading the Ulster Premier League by three points after eight games with an unbeaten record of seven wins and one draw.
The side will look to centre back and captain Jack Haycock to once again lead them to success, with Mark Crooks and Paul Thompson being pivotal to their ball progression from midfield. Young Scott McCabe will be a player to keep an eye on. His explosiveness and tricky skills will no doubt cause opposite trouble throughout the campaign.
“Although our season didn’t get started until October, we’ve been together as a group since July and have started our provincial league title defence how we wanted. We have our sights set on going one better than we did in the EY2 last time out and on regaining EYHL1 status once more.”
- Head Coach Michael Haycock
Cork Church of Ireland
An ever-present figure in the EYHL2, Cork C of I have competed in the competition every season since the league’s inception in 2018/19, reaching the play-offs last season, but missing out on a place in the semi-final after a narrow loss to Pembroke Wanderers.
The side look a strong outfit, having won Munster Division 1 last season, and currently level on points with local rivals Cork Harlequins sitting joint second in the table.
Led by experienced former-Ireland International Jonny Bruton, the side boast a line-up that isn’t short of quality. Captain Ian Balding demands the utmost from his team at centre back, with the passionate Mark Gallagher bossing the midfield. Rob Olden is a vital younger figure in the side, taking an important leadership role among the young players having captained Ireland U18 last year in Granada. Alongside him is Gearoid Cashman, a flairy attacking midfielder who had an exceptional breakout season last year for both his club and province.
C of I will yet again target a play-off berth, with their sights set on progressing to the all-important semi-final stage.
“This season we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against our EY2 opposition and seeing how far this young group can go.”
- Head Coach Jonny Bruton
Kilkenny Hockey Club
The only men’s side embarking on their debut season in the EYHL2, Kilkenny will be something of an unknown quantity for their opposition. The Leinster side have proven a constant threat in their provincial league and cup competitions, causing plenty of upsets over the last number of years against top sides.
Club stalwarts Billy McEnery, Howard McDonnell, Dave McClure, and Javier Romero will prove important parts of head coach Emmet Hughes’ side, complemented by the ever-developing talents in the squad such as Kyle Handcock and Seán Corbett.
Expect trips to Kilkenny to be tough for visiting sides.
“We are pleased to have qualified for our first EY2 experience and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead. The players are excited and are hoping to learn quickly what’s required at this level.”
- Head Coach Emmett Hughes
Railway Union
A regular figure in the EYHL2 play-offs, Railway Union will enter their campaign with lofty goals for themselves as they vie to finally secure promotion. The Sandymount side have come agonisingly close on multiple occasion, often losing out in the play-offs by the finest of margins. However, their strong performance in Leinster Division 1 saw them top the table, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.
The return of key club figures Mark English and Fergal Keaveney have been major contributing factors to their resurgence this year, with some excellent talent rising through their ranks in Ireland U18 player Toby Slye O’Connell and Leinster players Bruce Whaley and Rob O’Brien.
Railway will fancy their chances to progress beyond the group stage, with a semi-final appearance likely within their reach.
Men’s Pool B
Clontarf Hockey Club
Having come within a shootout of promotion in 2022, Clontarf ae back in the EYHL2 for their fourth season with aspirations that this time they can go all the way.
The Dublin side have enjoyed a solid season thus far. A slow start was quickly rectified with the team embarking on an eight-game unbeaten streak across the league and cups culminating in a third-place finish in Leinster and a Neville Cup victory on St Stephen’s Day over Three Rock Rovers.
The return of David Lawless and Richie Forrest bolsters an already strong side which features the international experience of Sam Grace, as well as Tim Cullen, Luke Hayden, Alan O’Malley and the young talents of Lee McMullen and Jack Geraghty.
It’s all to play for this year for Clontarf in a very tough Pool B.
“We have an exciting mix of youth and experience at CHC and are looking forward to this challenge. We’ve been on a good run of form and have a Leinster cup in our back pocket to take into EY2. We’re hoping to build on the first half of the season and see how far that can take us in 2025.”
- Head Coach Ian Maxwell.
Cork Harlequins
Much like fellow pool side Clontarf, Cork Harlequins know what it’s like to come within touching distance of promotion, having lost out in an exceptionally close semi-final last season to Avoca.
The Munster side will yet again be among the favourites to progress out of this tricky group and will look to talismanic figure Julian Dale to help them achieve the goal. Dale has consistently produced 40+ goal seasons for Quins, currently sitting on a tally of 24. Alongside Julian, are the talents of Sam Dale and Sean Curtin, both of which occupy crucial roles in midfield, playing with maturity and flair. The three key players have all represented Ireland’s Pathway sides, with Sam Dale and Sean Curtin playing for the U21 and U18 teams respectively last summer, and Julian also boasting 16 senior international caps and four goals.
There will be plenty to enjoy for neutrals when Harlequins play, expect high scorelines and end to end energy.
“This is my first season as coach with Harlequins, however I did know most of the squad from previous coaching rolls. As a team, our main aim this season is to qualify for the finals weekend and ultimately qualify for EYHL1 next season. On a personal level, my aim is to help develop each players individual strengths and then bring the team together as a cohesive unit.”
- Head Coach Denis Pritchard.
Kilkeel Hockey Club
Kilkeel have been another consistent EYHL2 team since the league’s inception, playing in every season, excluding last year.
The Ulster side had a tricky start to the season, with league results eventually picking up in the lead up to the winter break, but the side find themselves in eighth after eight games. The side have been without the services of last season’s top scorer Luke Russell, a likely reason for several of their narrow defeats thus far.
Kilkeel will look to their experienced players to rally the troops as they begin their EYHL2 campaign, with David Finlay a key figure in midfield having spent three seasons with Banbridge, representing them in the EHL last season. Behind him sits the experience of Gary Niblock, a seasoned defender with years of hockey under his belt. Taylor McConnell and David Hamilton will play in the competition for the first time for Kilkeel, the two 17 year olds who have enjoyed brilliant breakout seasons this year following their promotion from Kilkeel 2s.
“We have often set the EYHL2 as secondary in our goals for the season mainly focusing on the Premier League, however after missing out on the competition last season we are keen to give a good account of ourselves in this season’s competition with an eye on progressing to the next round.”
- Head Coach Gordon Cracken
Instonians Hockey Club
With Division 1 experience under their belt, Instonians will have their sights set on an immediate return to the topflight.
Led by new head coach Adam Louden, the Belfast side are faring well in the Ulster Premier League thus far, with the side improving week-on-week and beginning to find a good rhythm on the pitch.
Instonians have several very impressive young players at their disposal, many of which with experience at National Pathway and Provincial level. Matthew McAreavey and Michael Hollway are among these names, with both putting in impressive seasons last year for club, province and country.
Instonians have a fight on their hands if they are to achieve promotion back to the EYHL this year, but they certainly appear more than up for the task at hand.
“Our goal is to build a team of experience and youth for the future so that Instonians can gain promotion again to and compete in EY1.This year we want to push ourselves to play the consistent and strong team hockey that I know we are capable of and if we can do this then promotion is a very real prospect.
- Head Coach Adam Louden.
Portrane Hockey Club
Given Portrane’s success in Leinster in recent years, it’s hard to believe that this is only their second time in the EYHL2.
Player-coach Ross Hetem has led his side to a second-place finish in the league and a Neville Cup semi-final thus far in 2024/25. His side is not short of quality, with his backline led by former Pakistan International Imram Khan and club stalwart Chris Neville, Ross Hetem and Anthony Glutz bossing midfield, and Sean Graham and Adrian Sweeney providing the goalscoring threat. Alongside them, they have a contingent of young talent, including brothers Noa and Tom Mulvey, Ossian Elmiger, and Liam Walsh all having superb seasons so far.
The Donabate side will be hoping to go one better than their 2020/21 pool stage exit, with a spot in the play-offs a real possibility.
“We have been building and working hard in preparation for our return to EY2. We will take each game on its merits; they will all be tough and will hope that at the end of the Pool we will have qualified for the Semi Final weekend.”
- Player Coach Ross Hetem.
