Ards Hockey Club
Home Venue: Londonderry Park
Coaching Staff: Tamara McLeod
Looking to make an immediate return to Division 1, Ards HC have been in top form in Ulster competitions so far topping the table Legacy Wealth Management Premier League as things currently stand. The side have considerable experience in their ranks with the likes of Alana Doyle, Ellen Fitzpatrick, Emma Reid, Naomi Grundie, Naomi McKnight and Caroline Adams all having topflight experience to call upon as the team look to gain promotion.
Zara Malseed will no doubt be pivotal once again to Ards’ efforts, with the forward already netting 15 goals in the league; a tally she will no doubt want to continue to add to in the EYHL2 also.
A likely title contender, keep an eye on Ards this season!
First Match: vs University of Galway (Home)
Avoca Hockey Club
Home Venue: Newpark School
Coaching Staff: Kieran Bolger, Jonathan Cole, Graine Ladd
Avoca’s steady rise has continued into 2025/26 as the Blackrock-based club continue to build on an impressive season last year where they secured an Irish Hockey Trophy title, Leinster Division 1 title, and Jacqui Potter Cup silver medal. Next on their hitlist is the EYHL2 as they look to climb to the very top.
An unbeaten league campaign stands them in very good stead, with a record of 7 wins and 3 draws in Leinster so far. Central to that is a growing core of experienced players such as Lisa Baldwin, Hannah De Burgh White, Molly Cole, Sarah Dillon and Rachel Cullen that provide a solid base on which their younger players can also thrive.
First Match: versus Cork Harlequins (Away)
Belfast Harlequins
Home Venue: Deramore Park
Coaching Staff: Phil Mills, Peter Pollock, Roisin Walsh
A club with plenty of pedigree, Belfast Harlequins enter 2025/26 with a return to the EYHL Division 1 among their goals. Having come up just short 2023/24, the side had continued to grow under long-time coach Phil Mills and is looking like a very strong outfit with a good balance of post-university talent and highly promising youngsters.
At the back Katie Larmour will provide the platform taking her international experience back to Deramore, and is assisted by goal-scoring forward Alyssa Jebb. Amongst them is the emerging talents of Sarah Torney, Amy Cummings-Bell and goalkeeper Stella Whylie, all of which have represented Ulster at provincial level and will hope to continue to contribute at senior club level as they cut their teeth in the EYHL2.
First Match: versus UCC (Away)
Cork Harlequins
Home Venue: Harlequin Park
Coaching Staff: Pat Healy, Julian Dale, Vanessa Sargeant
A perennial figure in the EYHL2 in recent years, Cork Harlequins will once again look to compete against top sides this year.
The Munster side came agonisingly close to promotion in 2023/24 and had a slightly tougher season the year after but will be looking to once again compete in every game and have the team to do it.
Ireland centurion Yvonne O’Byrne leads the defence with Michelle Barry leading in midfield. Up top, Joy Sampson will once again provide plenty of attacking threat as she continues to be a thorn in the side of opposition. On top of that, Quins have produced a number of talent young players who have made their way into the Ireland pathway setup, with Freya Bateman, Lily May Kelleher and Susanna Burke adding fresh energy and excitement to an already impressive lineup.
Their goal is to “embrace the different challenges that EYHL2 games will bring” and “improve continuously, both individually and collectively, to compete, give everything in every game and represent the traditions and values of Cork Harlequins HC as best we can.”
First Match: versus Avoca (Home)
Lisnagarvey Hockey Club
Home Venue: Comber Road
Coaching Staff: Ryan McMaster, Craig McGrugan, Paul Bonar
Making their Women’s EYHL2 debut is Ulster superpower Lisnagarvey. New head coach Ryan McMaster has brought his prior experience at Randalstown and with Ulster to Lisnagarvey, guiding them to second in the Legacy Wealth Management Premier League as things currently stand and will guide the team through their maiden EYHL2 campaign.
The team’s experienced spine of Jessica Moore, Lauren Mullholland, Beth McFerran and Beth Ravey will be their guiding force, with new arrival Makyla Stevenson set to be an attacker’s nightmare in between the sticks and young Zara Hopkins ready to show her skills in the midfield.
Regardless of their position this group will make club history for Lisnagarvey, will plenty of opportunity to make this season a springboard for many successful years to come.
First Match: versus UCC (Away)*
*No march in RD1
Monkstown Hockey Club
Home Venue: Rathdown School
Coaching Staff: Gavin Groves, Stephen Brownlow, Gareth Watkins, Nikki Cullen
After their shootout loss in last season’s semi-finals, Monkstown return with one very clear goal: promotion back to the EYHL.
The side haven’t missed a beat so far this season in the build up to their promotion charge, going unbeaten in their Leinster league and topping the table with 9 wins and 1 draw. Key to that form have been the experience of Suzie Kelly, Claire O’Reilly and Chloe Watkins combined with trusting their developing youngsters in Charlotte O’Neill, Julie Potter Cogan, Sienna Boucher and Izzey Kealy.
Monkstown will have to be at their very best if they are to achieve their goal, with this season looking like one of the most closely contested promotion battles to date.
First Match: versus Trinity College (Home)
Trinity Ladies’
Home Venue: Santry Sports Ground
Coaching Staff: Rory Treacy, Alex Gallagher
Trinity have ended their four-year wait for a return to the EYHL2 under the guidance of new head coach Rory Treacy with their sights set on being competitive in every game after a third-place finish in Leinster this season.
Ciara Mulligan, Trinty’s captain and only remaining player from their 2021/22 EYHL2 campaign, will be their guiding force in midfield, as they venture into largely uncharted waters for this group. Alex Gallagher now in her second season will provide vital experience from the back having switched from topflight side Railway Union, along with Leinster Interpro stalwart Ally O’Sullivan bringing energy and transition between midfield and attack.
The sky is the limit for Trinity Ladies’, with the sidelines of Santry Sports Ground set to be their 12th player.
First Match: versus Monkstown (Away)
University College Cork
Home Venue: Mardyke Sports Grounds
Coaching Staff: Darren Collins, Carolie Collins
Now in his second season with UCC, head coach Darren Collins new data-driven, high-performance approach to team development is paying dividends with his team sitting comfortably top of Munster Division with 12 wins from 12, 54 goals scored and just 6 goals conceded.
UCC Hockey boast a number of influential playmakers across the pitch. Sarah Murphy marshals the backline, giving UCC a stable base, while captain Lauren Cripps plays a central role in midfield, providing motivation and driving standards. Up to, Micaela Sanderson has been outstanding, leading the scoring chars for her side with 10 league goals so far. Eabha Curran offers that game changing ability, skills she showcased well in Chile at the FIH Junior World Cup.
UCC will be a certain contender for promotion, time will tell if they can secure a coveted top two spot!
First Match: versus Belfast Harlequins (Home)
University of Galway
Home Venue: Dangan Hockey Pitch
Coaching Staff: Damien Kelly, John Folan
Ready to once again represent Connacht in the EYHL2, University of Galway are primed for another season of causing upsets and battling week in, week out.
The University side top Connacht’s Top Division once again, with a perfect record of 7 wins during which they have found the net 32 times and conceded just 3 times. There are plenty of new faces around the team who will gain valuable experience competing in this competition, with the likes of Aoife Purell, Emer Hargaden, Grace Walsh, Roisin Shaughnessy and Emily Quinn all contributing early in their careers with UofG. To help them grow are an experienced core of regulars with competition experience with centre back pairing Lara Swann and Sinead O’Grady marshalling the backline, Megan Clinton, Aoife Quinn, and Eva Fitzpatrick bossing the midfield, and Ailbhe Folan and Hannah Kelly providing the attacking threat up top.
Expect UofG to battle hard this year and cause their fair share of upsets!
First Match: versus Ards (Away)