Wednesday, March 12: Four AIG Irish Senior Cup Semi-Finals headline the weekend, with storied rivalries set to reignite, and potential history to be made.
In the Women’s AIG Irish Senior Cup, Railway Union and Catholic Institute play out a repeat of last year’s final, with Catholic Institute hoping to reach their fourth final on the bounce, and Railway looking to retain the title. UCD and Loreto battle to make their first finals appearances since 2020 and 2019 respectively.
In the Men’s AIG Irish Senior Cup, YMCA and Corinthian will both look make history for their clubs. For Corinthian a win would see them play in their first ever final, while YM could put an end to a 24 year wait for a title chance. Monkstown visit Lisnagarvey the second semi-final, with the two storied clubs set to meet in the latter stages of this competition yet again.
In the Women’s EYHL2 Muckross and Portadown will both hope to go another step closer to a place in the play-offs as they face Greenfields and Cork Harlequins in Pool A. In Pool B, Queen’s University host Corinthian in a battle for top spot, while Ashton look to keep their hopes of progression alive against University of Galway.
In the Men’s EYHL2, Cookstown will look to retake top spot when they face Railway Union away from home, and Bandon will try to keep pace with the pool leaders with a win over Kilkenny at home. In Pool B, Portrane face a test to maintain their perfect record when they face Cork Harlequins, and Kilkeel could boost their progression chances with a win over Clontarf.
On Sunday, Lisnagarvey have a chance to retain top spot in the EY Hockey League when they face UCD on home soil.
Saturday, March 15
AIG Irish Senior Cup – Women
Semi-Finals
Railway Union vs Catholic Institute
11:00 | Park Avenue
In a repeat of the 2024 AIG Irish Senior Cup Final, Railway Union and Catholic Institute meet this Saturday, this time a stage early as both look to return to the crucial match in May. Railway are the in-form side of this matchup, with the hosts enjoying an unbeaten run that stretches right back to November. Institute will be out for vengeance after a late goal last year denied them their second AIG Irish Senior Cup in club history.
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Julie Fisher
UCD vs Loreto
13:00 | Belfield Water
It’s been contrasting season for both of these sides, with Loreto yet again setting the standard, while UCD have struggled to find their rhythm. However, the students have enjoyed a very positive cup run to date, something that has also played a key role in their league resurgence and will have no intention of making things easy for Loreto in Saturday’s Semi-Final.
Umpires: Bruce Bale, Eimear Linehan
AIG Irish Senior Cup – Men
Semi-Finals
Corinthian vs YMCA
12:00 | St Columba’s College
A historic opportunity lies ahead for both YMCA and Corinthian on Saturday as they battle for a place in the Men’s AIG Irish Senior Cup Final. YM have a storied history in the competition dating back to the 1940s, but have appeared in just two finals since the last time they lifted the trophy in 1979. For Corinthian, a win on Saturday would secure the club their first ever Irish Senior Cup appearance since being founded in 1934.
Umpires: Malcolm Coombes, Gary O’Connor
Lisnagarvey vs Monkstown
11:00 | Comber Road
Two storied Irish Senior Cup clubs will go head-to-head once again in the latter stages. The sides faced just a week earlier in League action, with Lisnagarvey emerging 2-0 victors. The hosts will hope to repeat the performance to secure fifth finals appearance in six years and give themselves the opportunity to retain the title. Monkstown, however, will no doubt have learn a lot from last week’s game, fresh tactics could make things difficult for Garvey.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Simon McAllister
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Women
Pool A
Greenfields vs Muckross
14:30 | Dangan
Muckross travel to Dangan to face Greenfields with the hopes of securing a potentially crucial third Pool B win for the Dublin side. A result on Saturday could be enough to secure Muckross’ place in the play-offs should results elsewhere go their way. For Greenfields, the Connacht side are still waiting for a first ever EYHL2 win. They will hope the opportunity to cause an upset, along with home advantage, could be enough to see them grab a result in Dangan.
Umpires: Sunny Charles, Martin Hughes
Portadown vs Cork Harlequins
15:00 | Portadown
A win is just about the only result that would keep Cork Harlequins’ in the running for a play-off spot on Saturday as they face a considerable challenge in Portadown who are top of Pool A and yet to lose a game. For Portadown the stakes are equally as high; Monkstown sit just two points below them as things currently stand. Portadown will be favourites for this one, but don’t count Quins out!
Umpires: Lyn Morrow, Michael Scott
Pool B
University of Galway vs Ashton
12:30 | Dangan
Having caused Corinthian plenty of problems in their back-to-back encounters last weekend University of Galway’s confidence will certainly have gotten a boost. They host Cork side Ashton, with the visitors currently just one spot ahead of the hosts on goal difference. Ashton, however, have a game in hand on the rest of the pool, a win on Saturday would put them in touching distance of a top three finish with three games to go.
Umpires: Willow Bardin, Tanja Schafer
Queen’s University vs Corinthian
12:30 | Queen’s University
It’s first versus second in Pool B as Corinthian look to avenge their round 1 home loss to Queen’s University. Queen’s are the only side in the Women’s EYHL2 to remain unbeaten, a record they will be keen to continue against Corinthian on Saturday. This game could well decide which of these sides secures passage straight to the EYHL2 Semi-Finals, meaning the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Eamonn McFerran
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Men
Pool A
Railway Union vs Cookstown
13:30 | Park Avenue
After a slip up a fortnight ago, Cookstown travel to Railway Union looking to retake top spot in Pool A. The visitors are yet to record a loss this season, scoring an impressive 18 goals so far. The hosts Railway Union haven’t enjoyed a particularly good EYHL2 campaign and are yet to secure a win this season, leaving them bottom of the pool. While the possibility of a play-off place isn’t mathematically impossible, a loss on Saturday will deaden their hopes if Bandon gets a win against Kilkenny.
Umpires: Robert Johnston, Neil Mackay
Bandon vs Kilkenny
14:00 | Bandon Grammar
Cork side Bandon host Kilkenny, with the hosts without a win since the last time these teams met just over one month ago. Kilkenny, meanwhile, grabbed a win last week over fellow Leinster side Railway Union to give them a bit of momentum leading into this tie. Should Kilkenny win, they would leapfrog Bandon into the play-off places, while a win for the hosts would help to solidify their place in third spot and apply pressure to the teams just above.
Umpires: Jim Butler, Neil Sandes
Pool B
Portrane vs Cork Harlequins
13:30 | Donabate
With their place in the play-offs almost secured, Portrane will go in search of a sixth straight win on Saturday to take a step closer locking down the top spot in Pool B. They will face a considerable test, however, in Cork Harlequins, with the Munster outfit enjoying an impressive few weeks on the national stage, including a very close encounter with top division side Monkstown. It was a close encounter last time out in Harlequin Park, with Portrane winning by a single goal. Quins will be fired up to overturn that result and put an end to Portrane’s unbeaten run.
Umpires: Graham Hohn, Peter Urwin
Kilkeel vs Clontarf
14:30 | Kilkeel High School
Winless Clontarf make the journey north to face Kilkeel on Saturday. The hosts are just two points above Clontarf in the standings, and 2 points outside the play-off places as things stand, with a win on Saturday going a considerable way in improving the odds of progressing out of the pool. Clontarf’s chances are considerably slimmer having played five games already. However, it’s not over until it’s over, and a performance on the road cold spark a late surge for Clontarf.
Umpires: Les Allen, Ross Jones
Sunday, March 16
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Men
Lisnagarvey vs UCD
14:00 | Comber Road
Lisnagarvey have an opportunity to re-secure top spot in the table this Sunday when they face bottom side UCD in their game in hand. Ulster rivals Banbridge dropped points last weekend in their crucial tie with Three Rock Rovers, giving Lisnagarvey the chance to go a point clear at the top should they beat the students on Sunday, setting up a nail-biting final stage.
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Robert Johnston