Sunday, February 8 – Our Lady’s Terenure, Dublin: Three Rock Rovers and Ards emerged as the big winners at the National Indoor Finals, lifting the Men’s and Women’s titles respectively after a weekend packed with drama, goals, and high-quality indoor hockey.
The women’s semi-finals set the stage for a thrilling showdown as Ards and Railway Union advanced with impressive performances. Ards secured their final berth with a hard-fought 2–1 win over Corinthian in a feisty encounter. Corinthian pushed late for an equaliser, but Ards held firm to book their place. Railway Union, meanwhile, produced a dominant display against Queen’s University Belfast, racing into a 5–0 lead before Queen’s responded with two goals before the break. Railway ultimately closed out a confident 7–3 victory.
The final proved to be one of the most memorable in recent years. Ards stunned the reigning champions by scoring inside the opening minute. Railway responded quickly with two goals to regain the lead, only for Ards to level. The pattern continued, with Railway edging ahead twice more and Ards refusing to go away. A late flurry of goals saw Railway lead 7–5 entering the final two minutes. Showing real bravery, Ards withdrew their goalkeeper, and the gamble paid off as Emma Reid and Frankie Brown struck to force a shootout.
Ards delivered a flawless performance from the spot. Goalkeeper Naomi McKnight denied Railway on every attempt while her teammates converted clinically, sealing Ards’ first National Indoor title since 2018. The victory also marked their eighth championship crown, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history and ending Railway Union’s recent dominance.
In the 3rd/4th play-off, Queen’s University Belfast showcased their quality with a commanding 7–1 win. Queen’s surged into control early, scoring four times in the opening quarter, and added three more later to seal an emphatic bronze-medal finish.
The men’s competition saw Three Rock Rovers continue their remarkable indoor legacy, capturing a fifth consecutive title — and their tenth since 2015 — to once again secure European qualification. They defeated provincial rivals Corinthian in a fiercely contested final. TRR booked their place in the decider with a convincing semi-final win over an emerging Portrane side. Just one goal separated the teams after the first quarter, but TRR steadily took control, adding three before half-time and two more after the break to claim a 7–1 victory.
Corinthian’s path to the final came via a tense clash with Lisnagarvey. After an even start, Corinthian built a 4–1 advantage. Lisnagarvey rallied late to narrow the gap, but Corinthian held on to progress. The final lived up to expectations. TRR carried a narrow 2–1 lead into the break before Corinthian equalised shortly after half-time. The champions responded with three unanswered goals across the third and fourth quarters, securing a deserved victory despite a spirited Corinthian performance that suggests the gap is closing.
In the bronze-medal match, Portrane demonstrated their growing credentials at this level. They stormed into a 4–1 lead against Lisnagarvey before being pegged back to 4–4. A late winner ultimately sealed a dramatic bronze for Portrane.
