Wednesday, October 1: With four rounds now complete, the competition is heating up in the EY Hockey League as just two Men’s and one Women’s team hold unbeaten records, while the gaps between sides at the upper and lower ends of the table remain exceptionally tight.
In the Women’s EYHL, Queen’s University and Ulster Elks play out an Ulster collegiate rivalry as the former looks to further solidify their place in the title race, while the latter looks to build on their first win of the season last week. Old Alex welcome Pegasus to Alexandra College as they hope to build momentum following a superb result in Round 4 against UCD. Pembroke Wanderers and Catholic Institute face off as both sides try to distance themselves from the bottom spots. Railway Union host UCD in Park Avenue as the students target a return to winning ways following their defeat to Old Alex, while Railway continue their pursuit of league leaders Loreto. And Portadown aim to do what no other side has been able to so far and put a stop to Loreto’s perfect start to their league campaign.
In the Men’s EYHL, Banbridge host Pembroke Wanderers as the league’s only unbeaten sides go head-to-head for top spot. Lisnagarvey and Three Rock Rovers face off as both try to break back into the top four. Monkstown and Corinthian meet in a Dublin Derby, with just bonus points from shootouts separating the sides. Avoca will hope they can grab their first win of the campaign when they welcome Cork C of I to Blackrock, but will need to be on top form against the Munster side who have managed to secure points in both of their last two games. And YMCA welcome Cookstown to Wesley College, with the visitors hoping they can cause an upset which kickstarts their bid to stay in the topflight.
EY Hockey League – Women – Fixtures
Saturday, October 4
Queen’s University vs Ulster Elks @ 12:30 – The Dub
Umpires: Linda Coughlan, Victoria Johnston
Pembroke Wanderers vs Catholic Institute @ 13:00 – Serpentine Avenue
Umpires: Gillian Garrett, Ben Geoghegan
Railway Union vs UCD @ 13:40 – Park Avenue
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Ellie Duffy
Old Alex vs Pegasus @ 14:30 – Alexandra College
Umpires: Jule Fisher, Cameron Slade
Portadown vs Loreto @ 15:00 – Edenvilla
Umpires: Les Allen, Ian Creighton
EY Hockey League – Men – Fixtures
Saturday, October 4
Monkstown vs Corinthian @ 12:20 – Rathdown School
Umpires: Oli Brown, Ian Strange
Lisnagarvey vs Three Rock Rovers @ 14:00 – Comber Road
Umpires: Simon MacAllister, Aaron Saunders
Avoca vs Cork C of I @ 14:30 – Newpark School
Umpires: Neal Hermon, Shane O’Donnell
Banbridge vs Pembroke Wanderers @ 14:45 – Havelock Park
Umpires: Aaron Donnell, Alison Keogh