Wednesday, February 11: Two huge battles in the EY Hockey League will see EY Champions Trophy Play-Off hopefuls attempt to push their way into the top six as Avoca take on YMCA in the Men’s EYHL and Portadown and Pembroke meet in the Women’s EYHL. In the EYHL2, all eyes will be on Instonians and Portrane as two unbeaten promotion hopefuls go head-to-head, while Ards and UCC look to continue their unbeaten runs with ties against provincial rivals.
In the Women’s EYHL, UCD will travel to fellow university side Ulster Elks as they look to recover from their loss to Queen’s University Belfast, with the hosts aiming to grab another win to help cement their place outside the bottom two. Catholic Institute host Old Alex in Rosbrien in a relegation six-pointer. Portadown and Pembroke Wanderers will go head-to-head for the sixth-place spot as things stand, with the latter just one point behind their opponents. And Railway Union will look to tighten their grasp on second place as they face a dangerous Pegasus side with top two ambitions of their own.
In the Men’s EYHL, Avoca and YMCA will battle it out for second place as hosts Avoca look to enter the EY Champions Trophy Play-Off places for the first time this season. And Cookstown will look to cause an upset against fourth place Pembroke Wanderers as they continue their pursuit of crucial points in their fight for survival.
In the Women’s EYHL2, Ards will travel to Ulster rivals Lisnagarvey looking to continue their unbeaten start, while UCC will be keen to do the same as they travel to a Monkstown side who will be keen to rectify their Round 1 draw to Trinity Ladies’. University of Galway will hope to build on their victory last weekend as they host a Belfast Harlequins side who will be fighting to secure their first points. And Cork Harlequins host Trinity Ladies’ with both sides battling it out for their first campaign wins in Harlequin Park.
In the Men’s EYHL2, Catholic Institute host their unbeaten Munster rivals Cork Harlequins at Rosbrien. Instonians and Portrane will face off at Shaw’s Bridge in what could be an early promotion decider with both sides sitting pretty on two wins. Clontarf face fellow Leinster side Bray as they look to build on their Round 2 win over CI Annadale. South Antrim take on Ulster students Queen’s University as both look to keep pace with the league leaders. And Bandon make the long trip north to take on CI Annadale, with the visitors looking to secure their first points while the hosts look to get their promotion ambitions back on track after defeat in Round 2.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday, February 14
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Women
12:45 – Catholic Institute vs Old Alex – Rosbrien
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Malcolm Coombes
13:00 – Ulster Elks vs UCD – Jordanstown
Umpires: Oli Brown, Russell Donaldson
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Men
14:30 – Avoca vs YMCA– Newpark School
Umpires: Rob Argent, Jamie Telfer
14:30 – Cookstown vs Pembroke Wanderers – Camlin Park
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Ryan Smith
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Women
12:30 – Cork Harlequins vs Trinity Ladies’– Harlequin Park
Umpires: Jim Butler, Mark Mulcahy
14:15 – Monkstown vs UCC – Rathdown School
Umpires: Abigail Bolger, Ellie Duffy
14:30 – Lisnagarvey vs Ards – Comber Road
Umpires: Zoe Hall, Lyn Morrow
14:30 – University of Galway vs Belfast Harlequins – Dangan Sports Ground
Umpires: Luke Maya-Perez, Gary O’Connor
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Men
13:00 – Bray vs Clontarf – Temple Carrig School
Umpires: Cameron Slade, Ian Strange
14:30 – CI Annadale vs Bandon – CIYMS Sports Ground
Umpires: Allister Campbell, Neal Hermon
14:30 – Instonians vs Portrane – Shaw’s Bridge
Umpires: Aaron Donnell, Robert Johnston
14:45 – Catholic Institute vs Cork Harlequins – Rosbrien
Umpires: Ben Geoghegan, Martin Hughes
14:45 – South Antrim vs Queen’s University – Friends’ School
Umpires: Julie Fisher
Sunday, February 15
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Women
12:30 – Pegasus vs Railway Union – The Dub
Umpires: Alison Keogh, Jamie Telfer
15:00 – Portadown vs Pembroke Wanderers – Edenvilla
Umpires: Aaron Donnell, Robert Johnston