Dublin, November 20: Now passed the halfway point for the Women’s EY Hockey League, and reaching the halfway point for the Men’s the pressure is beginning to mount.
In the Men’s EY Hockey League, Monkstown have an opportunity to build on their win a fortnight ago as they face Annadale. Lisnagarvey host Three Rock Rovers with an opportunity to topple the league leaders and take back top spot. Banbridge face a fiery Corinthian side as they continue their pursuit to retain the title. And the battle for both EY Champions Trophy Play-Off spots and league survival rages on as Avoca host UCD, and YMCA face Pembroke.
In the Women’s EY Hockey League, Loreto will hope to return to winning ways against Ulster Elks following two straight draws. Catholic Institute and Old Alex will try to keep pace as they go up against UCC and UCD. Pegasus visit Ards in an Ulster Derby that could prove pivotal for both teams. Resurgent Railway Union face Pembroke as both sides hope to continue their climb up the table.
Men’s EY Hockey League
PEMBROKE WANDERERS vs YMCA
14:00 | Serpentine Avenue
Having both suffered defeats at the hands of Ulster opposition last week, both Pembroke and YMCA will be desperate to return to winning ways on Saturday. YMCA boast the better record and will likely be favourites in this clash, with their deadly short corners being a key driving force in their success so far. Pembroke, however, boast a threat of their own, with Alan Southern sitting second in the scoring charts on his first season back at the club.
Umpires: Colm Kavanagh, Graham Hohn.
MONKSTOWN vs ANNADALE
14:15 | Rathdown School | Live on Hockey Ireland TV
Monkstown’s stop-start campaign thus far endured another disruption as their game versus Corinthian last week was abandoned due to a technical issue. With Annadale next on their fixtures list, they will be anxious to get back on the pitch.
Monkstown will go in search of their fourth win of the season as try to make ground on the top four, while Annadale are still searching for their first win but are edging closer, having secured two draws from their last two games.
Umpires: Neil Mackay, Patrick Wright.
LISNAGARVEY vs THREE ROCK ROVERS
14:30 | Comber Road
It’s a top of the table clash as Lisnagarvey host Three Rock Rovers in Comber Road. The visitors currently sit two points clear of Garvey at the top of the table, with their respective results against fellow league challengers Banbridge the only thing to separate the sides. A game that everyone will have one eye on this Saturday, the outcome could have major implications as we hit the halfway point.
Umpires: Bruce Bale, Alison Keogh.
AVOCA vs UCD
14:30 | Newpark School
A game that both sides will have had circled in the calendar from early on, UCD make the short trip to Blackrock to face Avoca. For Avoca, a win would bring them to a much more comfortable 8 points as they reach the halfway point, distancing themselves from the dreaded relegation zone and potentially re-opening the conversation of a possible spot in the EY Champions Trophy Play-Offs. A win for UCD, their first of the year, could lift them off bottom and put them on level terms with Avoca, making the fight for survival a very interesting one.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Malcolm Coombes.
BANBRIDGE vs CORINTHIAN
14:45 | Havelock Park
Defending champions Banbridge face high-flying side Corinthian, who are much improved this season, finding themselves in fifth with a game in hand as things currently stand. Last season, this matchup would have been heavily weighted in the favour of Banbridge, but Corinthian performances to date mean an upset is far from impossible. If the visitors can quell Ban’s formidable attack and give the likes of Greg Williams and Max Neill the service they’ve thrived off to date, all possibilities are on the table.
Umpires: Robert Johnston, Aaron Saunders.
Women’s EY Hockey League
UCC vs CATHOLIC INSTITUTE
13:00 | The Mardyke
Tenth placed UCC host second placed Catholic Institute in an EYHL Munster derby. Since their first fixture which ended 3-0 in favour of Catholic Insitute, UCC have made themselves a much harder team to beat, picking up six points so far (albeit all from draws). Catholic Institute have yet again proven themselves as one of the countries’ top sides. Stopping Naomi Carroll will be just one of the tasks that UCC will have to complete if a similar outcome to round 1 is to be avoided.
Umpires:Julie Beamish, Jim Butler.
LORETO vs ULSTER ELKS
13:15 | Loreto Beaufort
League leaders Loreto host sixth placed Ulster Elks at Loreto Beaufort. Elks have proven themselves to be tricky customers so far and will be looking at the form charts thinking they couldn’t be catching Loreto at a better time given the home side have dropped points in three of their last four games. For Loreto, they will need to find their feet again quickly, with the gap between them and those behind them narrowing.
Umpires: Eimear Linehan, Shane O’Donnell.
OLD ALEXANDRA vs UCD
13:30 | Alexandra College
Old Alex have worked their way to third in the table and have looked good enough to justify their league position so far. They face a UCD side who find themselves lower down the table than they are typically used to at this stage, but that are much improved after their slow start, accumulating three wins from their last four games. A win is a must for both sides as the second half of the season begins.
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Simon O’Connor.
ARDS vs PEGASUS
14:30 | Londonderry park
Having played out a 2-2 draw in the opening game of the season, these two sides have ended up on slightly different trajectories. After a bright start, Ards have struggled to find the back of the net, with last week’s draw against Ulster Elks the only points the side have managed since Round 3. Pegasus meanwhile have focused on making themselves very tough to beat, with most of their wins and losses being by just a single goal, leaving them with a record of two wins, five draws and just two losses
If Ards can find the net early, they could force Pegasus to come out in search an equalisers. But the longer the game remains level, the more you’d expect the probability to swing in favour of Pegasus.
Umpires: Russell Donaldson, Ellie Duffy.
PEMBROKE WANDERERS vs RAILWAY UNION
16:15 | Serpentine Avenue
Having been slow out of the traps, both Railway and Pembroke have enjoyed a return to fine form over the last few weeks. This has seen both teams climb into the top half, well within reach of Catholic Institute and Old Alex.
Now very different to the two teams that faced off in Round 1, a scoreline in this fixture is impossible to predict. No doubt though this game will be a brilliant one to watch.
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Fiona Davitt.