Wednesday, May 7: Wednesday, May 7: The curtain will close on the 2024/25 domestic hockey season this Saturday, May 10, with the AIG Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey Trophy offering up four thrilling Finals.
In the Men’s AIG Irish Senior Cup, Lisnagarvey and YMCA will battle to write their names into the history books on Saturday. Having won the competition on nine previous occasions, YMCA will play in their first final in the competition in almost 25 years, with their last appearance resulting in a narrow loss to Glenanne in 2001. They face the current holders of the cup, Lisnagarvey, who are also the competition’s most successful side having won it 26 times since it was first played for in 1894. The teams will face off at 14:00 in Three Rock Rovers, with the game available to watch on Hockey Ireland TV and YouTube Sport TG4.
In the Women’s AIG Irish Senior Cup, arguably the biggest rivalry in women’s hockey will be revisited once again as Railway Union face Loreto. The two sides have not met in the finals of this competition since 2010, where Loreto came away with the silverware following a tense penalty shootout, a feat they will hope to repeat as they look to avenge their loss to Railway Union last weekend. The teams will face off at 16:15 in Three Rock Rovers, with the game available to watch on Hockey Ireland TV and YouTube Sport TG4.
In the Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, two Leinster sides meet as Avoca face Glenanne on the Three Rock Rovers Back Pitch at 12:30. Avoca will hope to add a second trophy to their cabinet this season having won Leinster Division one just a couple of weeks ago, while Glenanne will be keen to secure their first, having narrowly missed out on a Leinster Jacqui Potter Shield on St Patrick’s Day.
In the Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy, Queen’s University Belfast will make the trip to Dublin to face Portrane at 14:45 on the Three Rock Rovers Back Pitch. Queen’s have enjoyed a strong season in their provincial competitions, finishing fourth overall in the Ulster Premier League. However, they will face a tall task on Saturday as they meet a Portrane side who have a Leinster League title to their name already and narrowly missed out on topflight promotion just a fortnight ago. These sides will meets at 14:45 on Three Rock Rovers’ Back Pitch.
Saturday, May 10
Irish Hockey Trophy – Women
Final
Avoca vs Glenanne
12:30 | Three Rock Rovers Back Pitch
An all-Leinster Irish Hockey Trophy Final sees Avoca and Glenanne face off in Three Rock for the silverware. Avoca have enjoyed a stellar provincial campaign this season, going unbeaten in their league to secure the title while also reaching a Jacqui Potter Cup Final that resulted in a narrow loss to Railway Union. They face a tough Glenanne side that haven’t been quite as emphatic in terms of their results but have caused plenty of problems this season, reaching the Jacqui Potter Shield final themselves. In their two encounters this season, Avoca have come away as the winners, but both games were tight making this Irish Hockey Trophy Final a tough one to call.
Umpires: Julie Fisher, Eimear Linehan
Irish Senior Cup – Men
Final
Lisnagarvey vs YMCA
14:00 | Three Rock Rovers Front Pitch
Two storied teams in the AIG Irish Senior Cup meet in Saturday’s final, but only one will add their names to the history books. It will be the first final appearance since 2001 for YMCA, a club that has won the competition nine times since it was first played for in 1894. They face a tough task as they go in search of their tenth, facing the competition’s most successful team, Lisnagarvey.
The current holders of the AIG Irish Senior Cup have been on top form this season, securing a league title and Champions Trophy silver medal, but will be looking to cap things off with an Irish Senior Cup on Saturday before they wrap up for the summer. With three wins in their three meetings with YMCA this season, Lisnagarvey will be quietly confident they can get the job done.
Umpires: Russell Donaldson, Gary O’Connor.
Irish Hockey Trophy – Men
Final
Queen’s University vs Portrane
14:45 | Three Rock Rovers Back Pitch
Following strong showing sin their respective competitions both Portrane and Queen’s University Belfast will meet in the Irish Hockey Trophy Finals with aspirations of bookending their season with silverware. Portrane’s standout season this year saw them come second in their Leinster League and narrowly miss out on promotion a fortnight ago, so they will be determined to get their hands on silverware to close things out on a high. However, to do so they will have to overcome a Queen’s side who have been solid themselves, coming fourth overall in the Ulster Premier League. The college side also won this very competition just three seasons ago, experience they will no doubt draw upon yet again.
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Patrick Wright.
Irish Senior Cup – Women
Final
Railway Union vs Loreto
16:15 | Three Rock Rovers Front Pitch
One of the biggest rivalries of the last couple of seasons will be revisited once again as Railway Union and Loreto meeting in this season’s AIG Irish Senior Cup Final. Having suffered an agonising defeat to Railway Union last weekend, Loreto will be out for revenge as they look to secure their first Senior Cup in 15 years. They face a Railway team who has looked unstoppable in recent months, capping off a long domestic unbeaten run with an EY Champions Trophy title last weekend.
This final is going to be a tense and intense affair as both look to close out their season by adding their names to the annals of the World’s Oldest Club Hockey Cup.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Alison Keogh.