Dublin, November 7: Following on from last weekend’s enthralling rounds of fixtures, this weekend brings with it another exceptional set of EY Hockey League matchups.
In the Men’s EY Hockey League, one of Ireland’s biggest rivalries will be revisited as Lisnagarvey host Banbridge. Avoca welcome Annadale to Newpark School, and Monkstown face Pembroke as all four sides attempt to grab themselves a crucial win. YMCA visit Three Rock Rovers, with their eyes set on another upset, following their draw against Banbridge just a few weeks ago.
In the Women’s EY Hockey League, Railway Union travel to Ards with the hopes of building on last week’s crucial win. Loreto face another test to maintain their unbeaten record as they face a stubborn Pegasus side. UCC and Catholic Institute will both hope to recover from last weekend’s losses but face tough opposition in Old Alex and Ulster Elks respectively. And Pembroke host UCD, with the chance to put some distance between them and the relegation zone up for grabs.
On Sunday, the Girls’ Inter Provincial Series Finals take centre stage as Leinster Take on Ulster in both the U16 & U18 Finals in Monkstown Hockey Club. The Boys’ Inter Provincial Series will also play out it’s penultimate round as Leinster take on Ulster in Portrane HC.
Men’s EY Hockey League Fixtures – Saturday
UCD vs CORINTHIAN
13:00 | Belfield Water
UCD picked up their first league point of the season last week at Pembroke Wanderers, which will bolster their building confidence following week on week improvements in their performances. Equally, Corinthian have made a positive start to their campaign, currently sitting 5th on 10 points. Both sides will have their targets set on securing points from this game, which will certainly make it an interesting tussle.
Umpires: Malcolm Coombes, Colm Kavanagh.
AVOCA vs ANNADALE
14:30 | Newpark School
A must win game for both sides as Avoca seek to gain their second win of the season and maintain pace with the sides above them. For Annadale, the fixture offers a potential opportunity to grab their first points of the 2024/25 campaign. A tough one to call this, and a crucial game for both sides.
Umpires: Shane O’Donnell, Alison Keogh
LISNAGARVEY vs BANBRIDGE
15:00 | Comber Road | Live on Hockey Ireland TV
Last season’s top two clash for the first time this season in undoubtedly the Game of the Week. The two sides met in more finals than you can shake a stick at, with Banbridge coming out on top in the EY Hockey League and Champions Trophy, while Lisnagarvey were the champions in the AIG Irish Senior Cup and Ulster’s Kirk Cup.
Garvey enter as the side both with home advantage and an unbeaten run. Banbridge find themselves in unfamiliar territory, six points behind the league leaders, all be it with a game in hand. A true six pointer that could have a major bearing on the destination of the league title this year.
Umpires: Russell Donaldson, Robert Johnston
THREE ROCK vs YMCA
16:00 | Grange Road
In the second-best tie of the round, second place Three Rock face third place YMCA in another massive tie in round 7. Three Rock boast an impressive defensive record, with equally impressive numbers in front of goal putting them very much in the league winner’s conversation. YMCA appear to have picked up right from where they left off last season, with an impressive tally of 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss to their name, with a win over Monkstown and a draw against Banbridge among their biggest results.
Umpires: Rob Argent, Jamie Telfer
MONKSTOWN vs PEMBROKE
16:00 | Rathdown School
Monkstown currently sit in 7th place having had a difficult start to their 2024/25 league campaign so far. The home side have yet to record a point since their back-to-back wins in the opening two rounds, but to their credit have had to face all the current top four teams in their last four outings. Pembroke sit just one place and one point ahead of Monkstown thanks to their two shootout bonus points. Wanderers’ strike force includes former YMCA forward Tevin Kok and the recently returned Alan Sothern, and they have hit goalscoring form in recent games. This tie could well be separated by which team’s defensive units can prove the more stubborn on the day.
Umpires: Simon MacAllister, Gary O’Connor
Women’s EY Hockey League Fixtures – Saturday
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE vs ULSTER ELKS
12:45 | Rosbrien
It’s third vs fourth is what is likely the game of the round in the Women’s EYHL as Catholic Institute host Ulster Elks. Institute faltered last week, losing out to Pembroke in Serpentine Avenue which saw them behind Old Alex in the standings. Similarly, Ulster Elks suffered a narrow defeat to Railway Union. With third place on the line, and potentially even second depending on the results elsewhere, this game is going to be a feisty affair!
Umpires: Julie Beamish, Liz Clifford
UCC vs OLD ALEX
13:00 | The Mardyke
After a run of three straight bonus point draws the Cork students were unfortunately brought back down to earth, and bottom of the table by UCD. This weekend’s game is likely to offer another significant challenge as second place Old Alex make the journey to the Mardyke. Both sides are in need of points, but for very different reasons. Old Alex will continue to try to close the gap to leaders Loreto, while UCC need them as they fight for survival. We wouldn’t rule anything out here.
Umpires: Fiona Davitt, Eimear Linehan
ARDS vs RAILWAY UNION
14:30 | Londonderry Park
Injury ravaged Railway are likely to still be without the services of Katie Mullan and Sarah Hawkshaw this weekend as they attempt to build on last week’s victory. They face an Ards side whose form in front of goal has dipped since their opening games where they seemed to be finding the net almost for fun. And for Ards this weekend will pose another attacking challenge as they will have to try break down a Railway defense marshalled by the peerless Patton sisters, who as a unit don’t give up many opportunities in front of goal.
Umpires: Linda Coughlan, Patrick Wright
PEMBROKE vs UCD
14:30 | Serpentine Avenue
Another matchup between teams of a similar rank, eighth place UCD visit seventh place Pembroke in what will be something of a reunion for a cohort of Pembroke players who made the move over from Belfield this summer. Despite both sides sitting in the bottom half, recent form would suggest that things are starting to click for both following slower than ideal starts to their campaigns. And with the gap from second to tenth being separated by just seven points, every side is still very much in the conversation for those coveted EY Champions Trophy places. This week, however, the focus for both sides will be to build momentum and continue those incremental improvements, so expect a tactical battle to ensue in Ballsbridge.
Umpires: Ellie Duffy, Sarah Craig
PEGASUS vs LORETO
16:15 | Queen’s University
Loreto have looked close to unbeatable so far this season, with Catholic Institute the only side so far to disrupt their charge. Pegasus, though, boast a commendable record in the competition to date, recording just one loss from 7, and conceding only twice in their last three games. Loreto certainly can’t take their foot of the gas going into this game if they plan to extend their unbeaten record by another week.
Umpires: Zoe Hall, Aaron Saunders.
Girls Inter Provincial Series Finals – Sunday
On Sunday, the Finals of the 2024 Girls Inter Provincial Series will take place as Leinster take on Ulster in both the U16 and U18 competition.
In both pool stages Leinster topped the group, maintaining an unbeaten record while Ulster secured their spots in the final having come second. Leinster will arguably enter both finals as the more confident side given they beat Ulster during the group stages, but anything can happen on finals day!
Both finals will take place in Monkstown Hockey Club on Sunday, November 10 with the U16 Final taking place at 13:30, followed by the U18 Final at 15:30. Purchase your tickets now to watch the Girls Inter Provincial Series Finals from the sidelines or grab a Game Pass or Season pass to watch live or on-demand on Hockey Ireland TV.
Boys Inter Provincial Series Round 5 – Sunday
The penultimate round of the Boys U16 & U18 Inter Provincial Series sees Leinster take on Ulster in Portrane Hockey Club. The last time these sides faced each other, in Round 2, Ulster came out as victors in both games to take command of the competition. Wins for Ulster on Sunday will see them secure the 2024 title with a game to spare. For Leinster, a win is the only option. Should they beat Ulster the competition will go down to the final round, where Ulster will face Munster to decide the trophies’ destinations, with a win for Munster seeing Leinster crowned champions, but a win for Ulster seeing them take on the silverware.