Monday, February 3: The first weekend of EYHL Division hockey for 2025 certainly didn’t disappoint, with plenty of shock results in Round 2 of the EYHL2!
In the Women’s EYHL, Loreto and UCD both managed vital victories for different reasons in close encounters with Ards and UCC respectively. Catholic Institute maintained their unbeaten record at home with a win over Pembroke. Railway Union scored right on the buzzer to draw level with Ulster Elks and went on to grab the bonus point. And Pegasus and Old Alex share the points, with the bonus point going Pegasus’ way in the shoot-out.
In the Men’s EYHL, Lisnagarvey, Three Rock and Banbridge all picked up convincing wins against Pembroke, Corinthian and UCD as the title race continues. YMCA came from behind against a resurgent Annadale to grab a crucial three points at home. Banbridge then doubled down on their pursuit of Ulster rivals Lisnagarvey, beating Annadale in their Round 1 refix match against Annadale, with the win lifting them to second on goal difference.
In the Women’s EYHL2 Portadown picked up a statement win away to Cork Harlequins, and Muckross secure a 4-0 win against Greenfields in Pool A. In Pool B, Queen’s stamp their mark on the pool with a win over Corinthian, and Ashton and University of Galway share the points in an eight-goal thriller!
In the Men’s EYHL2, Cookstown got off to a winning start against Railway Union, and Bandon recover from their opening round defeat to beat Kilkenny in Pool A. Portrane make it two from two with a win against Cork Harlequins, and Kilkeel open their account with a win to pile woe on Clontarf in Pool B.
Men’s EY Hockey League
Banbridge eventually emerged as 5-1 victors over bottom of the table UCD in Havelock Park. The students kept themselves in the game going into the break limiting Banbridge’s chances well and grabbing a goal of their own through Sam Walker. Banbridge asserted themselves on the game in the second half, scoring immediately from a penalty corner through Jake Rowe, before Johnny McKee’s brace sealed the victory.
Three Rock Rovers made no mistake against nearby rivals orinthian. After a goalless first half, Ben Johnson eventually broke the deadlock after 50 minutes, followed by goals from James Walker and Ryan Spencer to give the title challengers a convincing 3-0 win.
Resurgent Annadale narrowly missed out on what could have been a crucial win over fourth place YMCA in Wesley College. Spencer Pinnion’s quite fire brace from penalty corners overturned a one goal deficit for Annadale to give them the lead in 52nd minute. However, the lead was short lived when Alfie Le Quesne drew YM level just two minutes later. Grant Glutz penalty corner restored YM’s lead with eight minutes remaining, a lead they managed to defend to secure the points.
League leaders Lisnagarvey continued their fine run with a win over Pembroke Wanderers. A hattrick for Andrew Williamson, brace for Daniel Nelson and goal from Ben Nelson saw them push past hosts Pembroke 6-2, maintaining their place at the top and adding another four goals to their positive goal difference, which could prove crucial.
Banbridge took on Annadale in a refixed game from the opening round of the EYHL Men’s Division 1 on Sunday and made it 6 out of a possible 6 with a 2-0 win at Havelock Park thanks to goals from Louis Rowe from open play in the second quarter and Johnny McKee from open play in the third quarter.
The win sees Banbridge go level on points at the top of the table with Lisnagarvey.
Women’s EY Hockey League
Ards took on table toppers Loreto at Londonderry Park. After a scoreless opening quarter Síofra O’Brien put them 1-0 up and they led by the same score at half-time. O’Brien completed her brace, and Emily Kealy added a third to the scoreline as Loreto looked to be cruising to another victory. However, a quick set of goals in the final quarter for Ards, Pippa Best and Lizzie Holden getting on the scoresheet, made for a tense closing period that Loreto managed to see out.
Catholic Institute continued their unbeaten run at home into 2025 as they beat Pembroke Wanderers in Rosbrien. Institute took the lead through Anna Horan in the second quarter, but Pembroke’s Valerie Hajek drew the visitors level in Q3. Naomi Carroll produced the decisive moment of the game, scoring on 55 minutes to give Catholic Institute the crucial victory.
UCD went into their six-point relegation battle needing a win to get them out of the bottom two against winless UCC. Emma Paul gave the Dublin side the lead with a converted 12th minute penalty corner. Mikayla Power secured the points for UCD with a 50th minute penalty corner to make the final score 2-0 to UCD. The sides also exchanged the historic Coffey Cup, a former Inter-Varsity trophy first presented in 1918 by former UCD president, Professor Coffey. The cup, last engraved in 1988, was unearthed by UCC’s Sharon Hutchinson with the hopes that it could once again be part of Irish Hockey’s sought after collection of silverware.
Ulster Elks came within seconds of picking up a massive win over Railway Union. The home side led by a goal thanks to Jessica McMaster. A last-minute penalty corner for Railway Union gave them the opportunity to draw level, an opportunity that Orla Fox took. In the bonus point shoot-out it was Railway that came out on top, Emma Buckley’s heroics in net helping them return to Park Avenue with two points.
Pegasus picked up yet another draw as they faced Old Alex. Elena Neill gave Alex the lead after 24 minutes but Pegasus’ Olivia Berry and Alex Speers both got on the score sheet to give the hosts the advantage. A 64th minute penalty corner, again from Elena Neill, meant the sides had to share the points. Pegasus secured the shoot-out bonus point, winning 3-1 thanks to converted efforts from Lucy McKee, Olivia Berry and Rosie Henderson.
Men’s EY Hockey League Division 2
Cookstown got off to a winning start in their first Pool A game of the EYHL2 campaign, securing a 3-1 win over Railway Union. Cookstown led 1- 0 through a penalty stroke converted by Greg Allen at half-time and eventually pulled away through Mark Cuddy and another from Allen, with Railway’s late goal from captain Darragh Curley ultimately just a consolation.
Elsewhere in Pool A, Bandon recovered from their opening round defeat to secure 5pts away to Kilkenny. Colin Kingston’s brace of penalty corners gave Bandon a commanding lead going into half time, and Fionn O’Leary put them out of reach when he scored just one minute into the third quarter. A late Howard McDonnell goal softened the blow slightly for Kilkenny but wasn’t enough to change the outcome, with Bandon returning to Cork with the 5pts.
In Pool B, Portrane made it two wins from two on their trip south to face Cork Harlequins. Anthony Glutz gave Portrane the lead in the opening quarter, but Julian Dale drew Harlequins level before half time. Sean Graham made himself the hero, scoring in the final quarter for Portrane, seeing them stay top of their pool.
Kilkeel grabbed the points on their visit to Mount Temple. Sam Grace twice gave Clontarf the lead but two goals from Kilkeel’s Stevenson, and one from Finlay meant Kilkeel began their pursuit of promotion with a victory in Pool B.
Women’s EY Hockey League Division 2
Portadown made a huge statement of intent in their Pool A encounter with Cork Harlequins. A Q2 brace from Emily Adamson saw Portadown seize control of the game after a tense first quarter. Lara Wilson added a third in Q3 before Quins responded through Alex Dale. Wilson quickly cancelled out the goal to restore the three-goal cushion, and Quins fired back as Anne O’Farrell converted a penalty corner. Wilson yet again responded to complete her hattrick, with Portadown running out as 5-2 victors.
Muckross hosted Greenfields, producing a convincing performance to grab their first win of the campaign. Muckross go off the mark early from a penalty corner scored by Daisy Costello, but had to wait until Q3 to score again, with Lelia Doolan O’Byrne finding the back of the net. Two late set piece goals put the game to bed, with Cate Browne scoring from a penalty corner, and Kim Baker calmly scoring her penalty stroke to put the cherry on top of a solid performance.
In Pool B, Queen’s University Belfast shocked Corinthian on their visit to St Columba’s College. Just a single goal separated the sides, QUB’s Megan Cochrane scoring the only goal of the game in Q2 to give her side control over the pool early on.
And in the final EYHL2 game of the weekend, Ashton and University Galway played out an eight-goal epic in Cork, with the sides eventually sharing the points. Ashton took the lead in Q1 through Isobel Kingston, but Galway had a reply, netting twice from penalty corners to take the lead. Ashton drew level in Q3, with Kingston getting her second, before Kate Harvey gave the hosts the lead in Q3. Aoife Quinn scored in Q4 to make it 3-3, but Ashton’s Emily O’Leary restored the host’s lead. A dramatic late equaliser from Ailbhe Folan, her second for Galway in the game, meant the sides had to settle for a draw.