Dublin, October 16: The fourth week of the 2024/25 EY Hockey League boasts another busy schedule as this week the Women’s sides have a double-weekend to contest with. A host of local and interprovincial derbies lie ahead for the competing sides as many vie for their place at the top of the table, while others go into battle still trying to find their feet.
Men’s EY Hockey League Fixtures
Saturday, October 19th 2024
LISNAGARVEY V ANNADALE
13:00 | Comber Road
Table topping Lisnagarvey take on Annadale at Comber Road in the earliest of the fixtures on Saturday. The free-scoring hosts grabbed 16 goals in their two EYHL matches last weekend and are up against an Annadale team whose defence conceded 10 goals in their two opening home games last weekend. Another high scoring game could be on the cards.
Umpires: Aaron Donnell, Robert Johnston
UCD V THREE ROCK ROVERS
13:30 | Belfield Water
Bottom of the table UCD take on the strongest Leinster side in the EYHL, Three Rock Rovers, who sit alongside Lisnagarvey at the top of the table. Three Rock Rovers scored 9 goals in their two matches last weekend only conceding 1 and boast the best defensive record this season so far. UCD have yet to record a point this season, and with Three Rock boasting such a threat in attack, the home side will need to turn a significant defensive corner to keep the visitors at bay.
Umpires: Les Allen, Gary O’Connor
MONKSTOWN V YMCA
14:15 | Rathdown School
Monkstown won 4-3 in the first of their two matches last weekend but were brought back down to earth by champions Banbridge on Sunday losing 4-1. Their opposition, YMCA recovered well from their shock loss to Corinthian in the opening round to record two comprehensive wins over Annadale and UCD last weekend to restore their confidence. An exceptionally interesting tie lies ahead between these two sides, which could give an early indication of where we could see the two teams finishing this year.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Colm Kavanagh
BANBRIDGE V AVOCA
14:45 | Havelock Park
Banbridge got their League campaign underway last weekend winning 7-0 away to UCD and 4-1 at home to Monkstown and already look to be in a strong position to retain their title. Newly promoted Avoca got their first win of the season on Sunday beating Pembroke Wanderers but face their biggest test yet on Saturday against the current title holders.
Umpires: Neal Hermon, Patrick Wright
PEMBROKE WANDERERS V CORINTHIAN
16:00 | Serpentine Avenue | Live on Hockey Ireland TV
Sixth placed Corinthian travel to Pembroke in the late game on Saturday. Pembroke have had a chastening start to the season and are bottom of the table, still awaiting their first points of the 2024/25 season. Corinthian also had a weekend to forget as they suffered at the hands of league leaders, Three Rock and Lisnagarvey. This contest may well be decided by which team is best equipped to bounce back following adverse weekends.
Umpires:Bruce Bale, Malcolm Coombes
Women’s EY Hockey League Fixtures
Saturday, October 19th 2024
OLD ALEX V LORETO
13:30 | Alexandra College
Third place Old Alex take on defending champions Loreto at Alexandra College in the tie of the round. Alex, who have been bolstered by the return of defenders Sarah Robinson and Millie O’Donnell, have been in flying form with momentum on their side. Loreto, meanwhile, picked up where they left off last season, being the only side to maintain a perfect start to the 2024/25 campaign. It is anyone’s guess who might take the cake this this matchup.
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Alison Keogh
RAILWAY UNION V UCD
13.30 | Park Avenue
Railway Union, reeling from back-to-back defeats, need a win in this game against an improving UCD to steady the ship. They continue to be without Ireland captain Katie Mullan but remain the stronger side on paper given the experience in their ranks. UCD have taken gradual steps in the right direction despite recording two losses and a draw so far but will be hoping they are catching Railway at exactly the right time.
Umpires Ellie Duffy, Zoe Hall.
PEMBROKE WANDERERS V ULSTER ELKS
14:00 | Serpentine Avenue
Winless Pembroke take on 5th place an Ulster Elks side who, despite only winning their first game of the campaign last Saturday, remain unbeaten. Pembroke boast a strong squad having added a long list of names to their ranks this summer, but have yet to put all the pieces together. Elks remain largely unchanged from last year, with only a few changes to last season’s squad and have hit the ground running as a result.
Umpires: Fiona Davitt, Simon MacAllister
ARDS V UCC
14:30 | Londonderry Park
Newly promoted UCC sit bottom of the EYHL without a point and make the long journey north to face familiar foes Ards, with the two sides meeting in last season’s EYHL2 Final. The home side have had a more positive start to their season on their return to Ireland’s top-flight, having yet to record a loss and come into Saturday’s game after a 2-0 victory over Pembroke in Round 3.
Umpires: Mike Campbell, Aaron Saunders
PEGASUS V CATHOLIC INSTITUTE
14:30 | Queen’s University
There are only two Munster-based teams in the EYHL Women’s Division this season, and Pegasus are hosting both this double-game weekend. On Saturday perennial Cup finalists Catholic Institute are the opponents and come into this game in a rich vein of form sitting in 2nd place in the League table. Pegasus have made a habit of taking the game to Penalty Shoot-outs, with all three of their games to date ending in a draw.
Umpires: Julie Fischer, Amy Jones.
Sunday, October 20th 2024
PEGASUS V UCC
12:45 | Queen’s University
Pegasus go from being the closing act on Saturday to being the opening act on Sunday as they host UCC at 12:45. It’s a fixture that both sides are likely targeting in the early stages this season, with the hosts having had to battle relegation last year, and the visitors yet to record a win.
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Aaron Saunders
ARDS V CATHOLIC INSTITUTE
13:00 | Londonderry Park
Ards entertain the second Munster team of the EYHL Women’s Division when Catholic Institute make their second long journey to Ulster of the weekend.
Ards who went into this weekend’s double round of fixtures in 4th place have adjusted to life back in the top-flight well. Catholic Institute are off to another strong start to their campaign as they attempt to close the gap between them and last season’s table toppers Loreto.
Umpires: Neal Hermon, Robert Johnston.
ULSTER ELKS V UCD
14:30 | Ulster University
An all-university clash sees Ulster Elks host UCD, with the home side hoping to continue their positive start to the season. UCD will hope the return of Mikayla Power will restore their confidence in front of goal. She and her UCD compatriots will have to breakdown a resolute Elks defense marshalled by former UCD PhD graduate Leah McGuire.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Julie Fischer
OLD ALEX V PEMBROKE WANDERERS
14:45 | Alexandra College
The first of two fascinating South Dublin derbies in the fixture list for Sunday takes place in Milltown as 3rd place Old Alex face 8th place Pembroke. These two sides are normally difficult to separate but Old Alex’s summer acquisitions have hit the ground running whereas Pembroke’s seem to still be settling in.
Umpires: Fiona Davitt, Gary O’Connor
LORETO V RAILWAY UNION
15:45 | Loreto Beaufort
The battle between last season’s top two teams promises to be another special encounter. A win for either side could be significant, with Loreto poised to take a 9pt lead, or Railway potentially closing the gap to 3, should both sides record wins on Saturday of course!
Umpires: Zoe Hall, Alison Keogh
