Wednesday, April 9: The final round of the EY Hockey League season takes place this Saturday, with the league still up for grabs in the Men’s competition, while sides make one final push for places in the EY Champions Trophy Play-Offs. Elsewhere, the EYHL2 progresses to the Play-Off stages, as four Men’s & Women’s teams go head-to-head for a chance at promotion.
In the Men’s EYHL, defeat last week sets up a crucial final weekend with Lisnagarvey in pole position to secure the silverware. Lisnagarvey face Corinthian in a must-win game, with their opposition Corinthian coming off the back of a huge upset against Banbridge last weekend. Fellow title holders Three Rock Rovers face Annadale in their final game, looking to finish the league season with an undefeated home record. Monkstown face Banbridge at home, with Ban looking to recover from their shock defeat, while YMCA visit UCD with aspirations to take fourth in the standings. And Pembroke host family foe Avoca who could push into the Play-Off places if results elsewhere go their way.
In the Women’s EYHL, Loreto close out their title winning campaign with a home match versus rivals Old Alex. UCD will attempt to end Railway Union’s eleven game unbeaten streak and lockdown their Play-Off place. Relegated sides UCC and Ards meet in The Mardyke, hoping to grab a win in their final topflight games this season. Catholic Institute host Pegasus, with the former hoping to secure third place while the latter looks to re-take sixth and progress to the Play-Offs. And Ulster Elks will attempt to re-establish some momentum with a home win over Pembroke Wanderers as they begin to look ahead to the next stage.
In the Men’s EYHL 2, all roads lead to Cork as Cork Harlequins face fellow Munster side Bandon in the first of two Quarter Finals, while just down the road Cork C of I welcome Instonians.
In the Women’s EYHL2, Corinthian host Muckross in an All-Leinster Quarter Final, while Monkstown welcome Lurgan to Rathdown School as all four sides look to join Queen’s University and Portadown in the Semi-Finals.
Saturday, April 12
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Men
Lisnagarvey vs Corinthian
15:30 | Comber Road
After last weekend’s defeat to Three Rock, Lisnagarvey now need a win in their final game of the season to secure the league title. They face Corinthian, a side they put seven past in their last league meeting in October 2024, but who enter the game with a massive confidence boost following their statement win against Banbridge last weekend. The visitors have a lot to play for themselves as they hope to defend their position among the EY Champions Trophy Play-Off places.
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Patrick Wright
Three Rock Rovers vs Annadale
15:30 | Grange Road
A monumental performance last weekend put Three Rock Rovers level on points with leaders Lisnagarvey going into the final round to force the title race to go right to the wire. TRR’s victory puts them firmly in the Champions Trophy winner’s conversation, but for now their soul focus will be on winning against Annadale on Saturday to give themselves a shot at the league title and finish the league with an unbeaten home record. Visitors Annadale have one last chance of survival but need a lot to go their way for it to happen. No doubt though they will fight until the final whistle, as they have every week this season.
Umpires: Robert Johnston, Neil Mackay
Monkstown vs Banbridge
15:30 | Rathdown School
After a shaky period, Banbridge will end their season with another tricky test when they face Monkstown in Rathdown School on Saturday. The visitors suffered their third league defeat last week and won’t want to add a fourth against Monkstown. The hosts have plenty to play for, with a home EY Champions Trophy Play-Off potentially up for grabs if they can secure three points.
Umpires: Bruce Bale, Sarah Craig
Pembroke Wanderers vs Avoca
15:30 | Serpentine Avenue
Both of this season’s promoted sides will face each other in their final league outing of the season. Avoca still have plenty to play for as they try to catch Corinthian in sixth and snatch the Play-Off place in the final round. For Pembroke, Saturday’s game will be their last of the 2025 campaign, but they will want to overturn the loss they suffered in Newpark School back in October and close out their season on a positive note.
Umpires: Russell Donaldson, Gary O’Connor
UCD vs YMCA
15:30 | Belfield Water
One last EYHL outing for UCD as they face YMCA on Saturday in the final round. The hosts are already relegated and are still without a win, but could end things on a high if they can get the better of YMCA on Saturday. YM have secured their play-off place already but will want to build momentum going into their clash in two weeks as they set their sights on the EY Champions Trophy finals weekend in Banbridge.
Umpires: Simon O’Connor Shane O’Donnell
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Women
Loreto vs Old Alex
13:15 | Loreto Beaufort
With the league title secured for the second successive season, it’s all about closing this out on a high in front of their home fans for Loreto, and of course continuing good habits ahead of an exciting couple of weeks that includes the EuroHockey Club Trophy I, the EY Champions Trophy Finals Weekend and the AIG Irish Senior Cup. Old Alex sit in fifth but could leapfrog to fourth if they can cause an upset, and Ulster Elks fail to get a result at home to UCD.
Umpires: Rob Argent, Zoe Hall
UCD vs Railway Union
13:15 | Belfield Water
UCD host second place Railway Union as they look to end Railway’s eleven game unbeaten run in the league. Railway Union’s exceptional form continued a fortnight ago against Loreto where they inflicted their nearest rivals in the competition with their first loss in the last two seasons, perfect preparation ahead of the EuroHockey League during the Easter break. UCD on the other hand have almost completed their season turnaround, going from potential relegation to the Play-Offs in a matter of weeks. A win on Saturday would guarantee sixth, unless Pegasus can put a big score up against Catholic Institute in Rosbrien.
Umpires: Julie Fisher, Gillian Garrett
Catholic Institute vs Pegasus
13:15 | Rosbrien
With their Play-Off place secured and a home draw likely already locked in Catholic Institute will look to finish the league season with an unbeaten home record to give themselves momentum. They face visiting Pegasus who are fighting to retake sixth place from UCD having fallen out of the Play-Off places last weekend. It’s a big ask but with such a big prize on the line, Pegasus will make the trip to Rosbrien with plenty of fight in them.
Umpires: Malcolm Coombes, Ian Strange
Ulster Elks vs Pembroke Wanderers
13:15 | Jordanstown
Pembroke Wanderers have a final chance to sneak their way into the Play-Offs this Saturday when they face Ulster Elks, but they need Catholic Institute and Railway Union to do them a favour against Pegasus and UCD respectively. The Leinster club face Ulster Elks and will be full of confidence going into the tie having beaten Elks 4-1 when the sides last met in October 2024. Having said that, Ulster Elks have a Denman Shield title now under their belt, having beaten Portadown in the final last weekend, something that could jolt them back to their best, after a bit of a wobble in the league of late.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Aaron Saunders
UCC vs Ards
13:15 | The Mardyke
A final topflight outing for both sides this Saturday offers them both the opportunity to finish things off with a win. For UCC there is arguably mor to play for given the Cork college side have never recorded a win in the competition, and they will hope that home advantage will give them the extra edge. Ards will need to shake off the fatigue from the journey quickly in order to keep UCC at bay. Both sides have fought exceptionally valiantly making this last outing a tough one to call.
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Tanja Schaffer.
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Men
Quarter Finals
Cork C of I vs Instonians
13:00 | The Mardyke
After a second-place finish in Pool A, Cork C of I will host third in Pool B, Instonians in Garryduff as the sides fight for the right to face Portrane in the Semi-Finals. C of I have had a strong campaign to date, suffering to just loss in the EYHL2 so far to unbeaten Cookstown, while Instonians have had a tougher time of it, picking up just three wins as they fight to return to the topflight. Cork C of I will fancy their chances on Saturday to go one better than last season’s Quarter Final exit, and put themselves in with a shout of promotion.
Umpires: Jim Butler, Sunny Charles
Cork Harlequins vs Bandon
14:45 | Harlequin Park
It’s an all Munster face off as Cork Harlequins and Bandon go head-to-head on Saturday. It an almost identical cop of the other Men’s Quarter-Final, Quins suffered just one loss in their Pool B stage, while Bandon managed just three wins. The sides have faced each other on four occasions this season in Munster competitions, with Quins emerging as victors three times. However, every encounter has been a close one so don’t write anyone off just yet.
Umpires: Peter Motyer, Neil Sandes
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Women
Quarter Finals
Corinthian vs Muckross
11:30 | St Columba’s College
Two very well-acquainted sides will meet once again this season, but this time for a chance at promotion to the EY Hockey League. Comparatively, Corinthian have enjoyed a stronger EYHL2 campaign so far, but Muckross were the only side to take points against Corinthian during the side’s provincial campaigns throwing this tie wide open. One thing is for sure, anything could happen.
Umpires: Paul Rainey, Michael Scott
Monkstown vs Lurgan
12:20 | Rathdown School
Having been pipped to an automatic place in the Semi-Finals by Portadown, Monkstown will now have to beat Lurgan in Saturday’s Quarter Final to be in with a shot of promotion back to the EYHL. Their opponents, Lurgan, have been a bit of a dark horse this season, quietly going about their business and picking up the necessary results to progress. They’ll need to step up another level if they are to get a result, but that’s well within their capabilities given they are among the top sides in Ulster at the minute.
Umpires: Ellie Duffy, Peter Urwin
Irish Hockey Challenge 2 Final – Women
Larne vs CI Ladies
12:00 | Stormont
Irish Hockey Challenge 1 Final – Women
Instonians vs Dungannon
14:00 | Stormont
Sunday, April 13
Irish Hockey Challenge Final – Men
Catholic Institute vs Mossley
12:00 | Donabate
Irish Junior Cup Final – Men
Portrane vs Three Rock Rovers
14:00 | Donabate
Irish Junior Cup Final – Women
Catholic Institute vs Pembroke Wanderers
16:00 | Donabate