Saturday, Janurary 31: The EY Hockey League roared back into action after the winter break, with sides picking up crucial points in their battles for survival.
In the Women’s EYHL, Catholic Institute grabbed a drawing bonus point away from home, with Naomi Carroll marking her return with two goals against Loreto. Railway Union made no mistake against Old Alex, scoring six goals and closing the gap to top spot ever so slightly. And Queen’s scored in the dying embers of the game to start 2026 with a bang, beating UCD 1-0.
In the Men’s EYHL, Avoca came out on top of a crucial tie with Cookstown to go level on points with Corinthian just ahead, Shane O’Donoghue scoring twice and Brad Venter adding the third.
In the Women’s EYHL2, Ards put University of Galway to the sword, while UCC put four past Belfast Harlequins as both former EYHL1 sides made strong starts. Avoca returned home from their trip south with a hard-earned win over Cork Harlequins. And Monkstown had to settle for a bonus point draw at home, with Trinity grabbing a second half-goal against their Leinster Rivals, seeing the game end 1-1.
In the Men’s EYHL2, Instonians had a worthwhile trip to Munster, Leaving Catholic Institute with a 6-1 win. Debutants Bray forced Queen’s University to come from a goal down as the Ulster side recorded an eventual 3-1 win. Portrane survived a scare away to Bandon after the Munster side fought back from three goals down to draw level, with Angelo Walstroom scoring the decisive goal for Portrane. Cork Harlequins powered past Clontarf with brothers Julian and Andrew Dale both grabbing a brace. And CI Annadale left it late to beat Ulster rivals, South Antrim, with Adam Duffield scoring a penalty corner in the final quarter to give his side a 2-1 win at home.
EY Hockey League – Round 12 – Results
EY Hockey League – Women
Loreto 2 [2 – 3] 2 Catholic Institute
1’ Mollie Lennon (FG)
19’ Naomi Carroll (PC)
40’ Naomi Carroll (PC)
57’ Yasmin Pratt (PC)
Old Alex 1 – 6 Railway Union
6’ Aisling Utri (FG)
10’ Hollai Quinn (FG)
24’ Aisling Utri (PC)
27’ Jessica McGrane (PC)
33’ Sarah Patton (FG)
37’ Hollai Quinn (FG)
40’ Aisling Utri (FG)
QUB 1 – 0 UCD
69’ Jenna McCarlie (FG)
Women’s EYHL Standings
- Loreto – 30pts
- Railway Union – 24pts
- UCD – 21pts
- Queen’s University – 20pts
- Pegasus – 17pts
- Pembroke Wanderers – 13pts
- Old Alex – 12pts
- Portadown – 11pts
- Catholic Institute – 10pts
- Ulster Elks – 10pts
EY Hockey League – Round 12 – Results
EY Hockey League – Men
Avoca 3 – 0 Cookstown
7’ Shane O’Donoghue (PC)
23’ Shane O’Donoghue (PS)
54’ Brad Venter (FG)
Men’s EYHL Standings
- Banbridge – 26pts
- Lisnagarvey – 24pts
- Monkstown – 22pts
- Three Rock Rovers – 16pts
- Pembroke Wanderers – 15pts
- YMCA – 14pts
- Corinthian – 13pts
- Avoca – 13pts
- Cookstown – 6pts
- Cork C of I – 4pts
EY Hockey League 2 – Round 1 – Results
EY Hockey League 2 – Women
Cork Harlequins 1 – 2 Avoca
35’ Hannah De Burgh Whyte (PS)
48’ Joy Sampson (PC)
59’ Molly Cole (PC)
UCC 4 – 0 Belfast Harlequins
9’ Emma O’Sullivan (FG)
30’ Jenny McLaughlin (PC)
33’ Emma O’Sullivan (FG)
60’ Lauren Cripps (PS)
Monkstown 1 [3 – 2] 1 Trinity Ladies’
7’ Chloe Watkins (FG)
40’ Sara Thompson (PC)
Ards 7 – 0 University of Galway
11’ Susannah Cotter (FG)
13’ Alana Doyle (PC)
18’ Susannah Cotter (PC)
36’ Alyssa Boyd (PC)
38’ Zara Malseed (FG)
46’ Emma Reid (PC)
59’ Alyssa Boyd (PC)
Women’s EYHL2 Standings
- Ards – 3pts
- UCC – 3pts
- Avoca – 3pts
- Monkstown – 2pts
- Trinity Ladies’ – 1pt
- Lisnagarvey – 0pts
- Cork Harlequins – 0pts
- Belfast Harlequins – 0pts
- University of Galway – 0pts
EY Hockey League 2 – Round 1 – Results
EY Hockey League 2 – Men
Catholic Institute 1 – 6 Instonians
9’ Stephen Kelso (FG)
34’ Chris Ryan (FG)
36’ Ben Palmer (FG)
47’ Stephen Kelso (PC)
52’ Ben Palmer (PC)
58’ Joshua Kidd (FG)
62’ Stephen Kelso (FG)
Bandon 3 – 4 Portrane
2’ Noa Mulvey (FG)
9’ Angelo Walstroom (FG)
21’ Dylan Ferreira (PC)
33’ Fionn O’Leary (PC)
39’ Fionn O’Leary (FG)
57’ David Smith (PC)
61’ Angelo Walstroom (FG)
QUB 3 – 1 Bray
10’ Duncan Christie (FG)
14’ Harris Massey (FG)
28’ Ben Law (PC)
56’ Jack Mullholland (FG)
Cork Harlequins 4 – 1 Clontarf
14’Julian Dale (PS)
25’ Julia Dale (FG)
30’ Andrew Dale (PC)
43’ Sam Grace (PS)
48’ Andrew Dale (PC)
CI Anndale 2 – 1 South Antrim
21’ David Tremlett (FG)
42’ Max Taylor (PC)
64’ Adam Duffield (PC)
Men’s EYHL2 Standings
- Instonians – 3pts
- Cork Harlequins – 3pts
- Queen’s University – 3pts
- Portrane – 3pts
- CI Annadale – 3pts
- Bandon – 0pts
- South Antrim – 0pts
- Bray – 0pts
- Clontarf – 0pts
- Catholic Institute – 0pts