Dublin, October 2: Having watched the Women’s teams usher in the 2024/25 EY Hockey League season in emphatic style last weekend, the Men’s teams will join the foray this weekend for their first round of games. With some age-old rivalries about to be revisited, brand new and familiar faces ready to set the league alight, and 18 rounds of fixtures standing in the way of our teams and a league title, the season is primed to be nothing but excitement from beginning to end.
Meet the Teams
Banbridge
Home ground: Havelock Park
Coaching Staff: Scott McCandless, Matthew Bell, John Clarke, Colin Walker
Players In: Fergus Gibson (Annadale), Max Taylor (South Antrim).
Players Out: None
Young Player(s) to Watch: Adam McKee, Matthew McKee
After a stellar 2023-24 season which saw two major trophies make their way to Havelock Park, Banbridge will be looking to both build on and better last season’s success. Decorated head coach Scott McCandless continues his reign, with Ireland internationals Johnny McKee, Peter Brown, Luke Witherow, and twins Louis and Charlie Rowe headlining the side. Alongside them sits a host of young, homegrown talent set to etch their names into the Banbridge and Irish Hockey history books.
Having won the EY Hockey League and the EY Champions Trophy, they will represent Ireland at the EHL meaning Banbridge will have to wait until Round 2 to make their EY Hockey League return.
Lisnagarvey
Home ground: Comber Road
Coaching Staff: Erroll Lutton, Steven Arbuthnott, Neal McKnight
Players In: None
Players Out: Jonathan Bell (Retired), James Corry (Retired)
Young Player(s) to Watch: John Cunningham, Milo Thompson, Tom Archbold.
Lisnagarvey had to settle for second best last season in the EY Hockey League and Champions Trophy, but did get their own back by besting Banbridge in the AIG Irish Senior Cup.
The Co. Down side will be without the services of veterans Jonathan Bell and James Corry, with both players stepping back from the first XI this season. However, Garvey continue to put their trust in youth, opting to promote promising players from within to fill positions. No doubt the team will be a dominant force yet again this season as they vie for their place at the top of the table.
Stream Lisnagarvey’s opening game of the EY Hockey League vs Avoca live on Hockey Ireland TV
YMCA
Home ground: Wesley College
Coaching Staff: Arul Anthoni, Simon Walker
Players In: Kevin Venter (Glenanne)
Players Out: Tevin Kok (Pembroke), Scott Ruttle (Travel)
An EY Hockey League stalwart, YMCA secured a 4th place finish last season, just two points behind Lisnagarvey. Having narrowly missed out on a place in the EY Champions Trophy Final to eventual winners, Banbridge, the team will undoubtably be targeting a top 4 finish to guarantee themselves the best possible route to the final once again.
YMCA will be without South African International Tevin Kok following his move to Pembroke, but the side retain the services of captain Nduduzo Lambethe, Sam Hyland and Goalkeeper Mark Ingram.
Three Rock Rovers
Home ground: Three Rock
Coaching Staff: Ash Freddy, Emer Keogh
Players In: Kevin O’Dea (UCD, Mark Collins (UCD), Harry Lynch (UCD), Luke Madeley (Gantoise, Belgium).
Players Out: Alistair Empey (SCHC, The Netherlands), Zeke Hougaard (Returning to South Africa), Andrew Robinson (Corinthian).
Young Player(s) to Watch: Peter Montgomery, Zach Silverman, Oscar Pasley, Ben Pasley, Ryan Williams, Sam Rothwell, Rex Dunlop, Ben Ryder, Ben Whelan, James Coffey.
Despite a slower than ideal start to the 2023/24 season, Three Rock bounced back to secure 5th, but their loss to YMCA in the EY Champions Trophy Quarter Finals put an end to their season.
Having added considerable firepower to their side in the form of UCD trio Kevin O’Dea, Mark Collins, and Harry Lynch, as well as welcoming home Luke Madeley to the side, Three Rock will undoubtably be a force to be reckoned with this year. The team also boasts an enviable group of young stars who will be keen to impress this year, with many having spent the summer competing with Ireland’s Pathway teams.
Monkstown
Home ground: Rathdown School
Coaching Staff: Nick Dee, Andrew Ward
Players In: Alex Wall (Dublin University), Ben Hickmott (Dublin University), James Coman (Dublin University), Josh O’Neill (Dublin University), Sam Hickmott (Dublin University), Kai Hockney (Dublin University), Josh Filgas (UCD), Gavin Gleeson (UCD)
Players Out: David Carson (Retired), Nick Dee (Retired), Jason Lynch (Retired).
Young Player(s) to Watch: Will Knatchbull, Josh Filgas
Having taken over from Gareth Watkins, new Head Coach Nick Dee will be hoping to make a strong start to his tenure at Monkstown this year. A host of new faces and returnees from collegiate sides UCD and Dublin University (Trinity) will be pulling on the sky blue this year to add considerable squad depth to the Dubin side that already includes Jeremy Duncan, David Fitzgerald and Lee Cole gives new Head Coach Nick Dee the right sort of selection headache this year.
Corinthian
Home ground: St Columba’s College
Coaching Staff: Brinsley Powell, Sean Stewart
Players In: Matthew Roman (WPCC, South Africa), Zac Moloney (Catholic Institute), Oisín Gavin (Waterford), John Whyte (Cork Harlequins), Quentin Eacrett (Catholic Institute), Andrew Robinson (Three Rock)
Players Out: Josh Greaney (England), Dmitri Kools (Spain)
Young Player(s) to Watch: Max Caulwell, Harry St Leger, Zac Moloney, Oisín Gavin
A strong first year back in the EY Hockey League saw Corinthian take points off every opposing team bar one during the season, but narrowly missed out on a place in the Play-Offs.
Head Coach Brinsley Powell has added six names to his squad this season, with just two heading the opposite way. A wider panel of players to choose from, along with a crop of young players continuing to develop both in the club and with their provincial and national teams, could potentially give Corinthian that nudge to challenge for a top six place.
Annadale
Home ground: Queen’s University Belfast
Coaching Staff: Gareth Kidd, Davy Smyth, Andy Smyth, John Clark
Players In: Scott Dale (Nottingham), Kent Irwin (NICS), Thomas Costello (NICS, Tom Crothers (Instonians), James Shields (North Down), Adam Norris (South Africa).
Players Out: Michael Robson (Hampstead & Westminster), Owen McElhinney (Hamburg), Fergus Gibson (Banbridge), Neal Glassey.
Young Player(s) to Watch: Michael Girvin, Harry Thompson
It was a slightly nervy season for Annadale in 2023/24, who found themselves in amongst the relegation candidates. The Belfast side escaped the drop with a respectable 7-point cushion.
With considerable experience leaving the side in the form of Michael Robson, Fergus Gibson, Neal Glassey, and Owen McElhinney, Annadale will need to integrate their new signings quickly if they are to avoid a similar situation n 2024/25.
UCD
Home ground: Belfield Water.
Coaching Staff: Andy Ewington, Simon Filgas, Thomas O’Brien.
Players In: None
Players Out: Kevin O’Dea (Three Rock), Mark Collins (Three Rock), Josh Filgas (Monkstown).
Despite relegation appearing to be their fate following a 9th place finish, UCD were handed an 11th hour reprieve by virtue of Glenanne’s withdrawal from the EY Hockey League for the 2024/25 Season.
The problem, for UCD was the timing of the reprieve. Internationals Kevin O’Dea and Mark Collins had moved to Three Rock Rovers by that time with the additional unknown being the potentially affect their ‘relegation’ may have had on their recruitment prospects.
New coach Andy Ewington led YMCA to 4th place in the Division last season so his knowledge of the league will be vital as UCD seek to survive by their efforts on the field in 2024-25 and kick on the following season.
Avoca
Home ground: Newpark School
Coaching Staff: Trevor Dagg, Shane O’Donoghue
Players In: Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne), Neil Byrne (Glenanne), Brad Venter (Glenanne), Evan Rankin (Dublin University), Oisín O’Sullivan (Erasmus), Herbie Fowler Hudson (Returning).
Players Out: Andrew Ramsay (Travel), Andrew Tutty (Travel), Hayden Vaitekenas (Returned to Australia), Marshall Puzey (Returned to Australia).
Young Player(s) to Watch: David Rankin, Oskar Nielsen, Harry Dagg, Milo Dagg
‘New kids on the block’ Avoca enter their first season in the EY Hockey League having won the EYHL Division 2 in 2023/24.
The Blackrock side have made quite a splash during the summer, securing the services of Ireland record goal scorer Shane O’Donoghue as a player/assistant coach, along with Glenanne teammates Neil Byrne & Brad Venter. Key figures Jakim Berndsten, Guy Sarratt, Ben Campbell, and Harry Dagg will also line-up again this year, making this Avoca side one to keep an eye on.
Stream Avoca’s opening game of the EY Hockey League vs Lisnagarvey live on Hockey Ireland TV
Pembroke Wanderers
Home ground: Serpentine Avenue
Coaching Staff: Kristian Mansfield, Simon Thornton, Alan Sothern, Jack Cherry.
Players In: Alan Sothern (UCD), Tevin Kok (YMCA), Jake Pillow (Glenanne), Fawaz Kader (South Africa), Sam Ryder (UCD)
Players Out: None
Young Player(s) to Watch: Jake Fulton, Jack Watchorn
Having had to endure a season out of the EY Hockey League, Pembroke Wanderers return to the topflight with every intention of staying.
A strong list of incomings includes the return of club legend Alan Sothern from his time at UCD, South African Internationals Tevin Kok and Fawaz Kadar, Sam Ryder and Jake Pillow. A place in the Play-Offs is the ultimate target for head coach Kristian Mansfield.
Weekend Fixtures – Saturday, October 5
EY Hockey League (M) – Round 1
Monkstown vs UCD
14:15 | Rathdown School
Umpires: Malcolm Coombes, Aaron Saunders
Avoca vs Lisnagarvey
14:30 | Newpark School | Live on HITV
Umpires: Simon MacAllister, Neil Mackay
Corinthian vs YMCA
15:15 | St Columba’s College
Umpires: Rob Argent, Oli Brown
Pembroke vs Three Rock
16:15 | Serpentine Avenue
Umpires: Robert Johnston, Colm Kavanagh
EY Hockey League (W) – Round 2
Catholic Institute vs Railway Union
12:45 | Rosbrien
Umpires: Graham Hohn, Simon O’Connor
UCC vs Ulster Elks
13:00 | The Mardyke
Umpires: Sunny Charles, Kris Cholewa
Loreto vs UCD
13:15 | Loreto Beaufort
Umpires: Julie Beamish, Liz Clifford
Pembroke Wanderers vs Pegasus
14:00 | Serpentine Avenue
Umpires: Julie Fisher, Gary O’Connor
Old Alex vs Ards
15:30 | Alexandra College
Umpires: Les Allen, Aaron Donnell
