Wednesday, April 2: Now in it’s final stages, the destination of the EY Hockey League silverware could be decided this weekend, with the fight for EY Champions Trophy places continuing.
In the Women’s EYHL, Loreto have an opportunity to seal the Women’s league title when they travel to The Mardyke to face UCC. Pembroke Wanderers host Ards in a relegation six-pointer in Serpentine Avenue, anything but a win for Ards would see them relegated out of the competition. Catholic Institute face UCD, with the hosts able to almost guarantee themselves third spot with a win, while a result for UCD would see them climb into the Play-Off places.
In the Men’s EYHL, Monkstown and Avoca kick things off with a Wednesday night encounter in Newpark School tonight. Lisnagarvey and Three Rock Rovers face off in a massive clash that could decide the title. Corinthian host Banbridge and Avoca travel to UCD as the battle for Play-Off places continues. YMCA face Pembroke Wanderers, with Pembroke looking to guarantee their survival with a win. And Annadale host Monkstown with a win being the only outcome that keeps Annadale’s survival hopes alive.
In the Women’s EYHL2, the final weekend of the pool stage sees Cork Harlequins and Muckross play out their final game in Pool A, while Queen’s University travel to Ashton and Corinthian host Lurgan as both Queen’s and Corinthian make a final push for the top spot in Pool B.
In the Men’s EYHL2, with the Pool A standings locked in for the top 3 it’s all about moment as Cookstown face Bandon and Cork C of I make the trip to face Kilkenny. In Pool B, Cork Harlequins host Kilkeel for a double-header between the two sides in Harlequin Park on Friday and Saturday, while Clontarf need to pick up a huge win against Instonians to make a final push into the play-off places.
Wednesday, April 2
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Men
Avoca vs Monkstown
20:00 | Newpark School
A local derby with plenty of recent history kicks things off as Avoca host Monkstown in a refix of their postponed Round 11 clash. Both Avoca and Monkstown have enjoyed a positive spell of late, with the former now mathematically safe and within a point of the EY Champions Trophy Play-Off places, and the latter climb to within touching distance of YMCA in fourth. These sides have enjoyed close encounters this season, making this tie a tough one to call.
Umpires: Bruce Bale, Alison Keogh
Friday, April 4
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Men
Pool B
Cork Harlequins vs Kilkeel
20:15 | Harlequin Park
The first of a double-header between Kilkeel and Cork Harlequins takes place under the Friday night floodlights in Harlequin Park. It’s all about momentum for the hosts as they begin to build towards the EYHL2 Play-Offs in a week’s time as they try to yet agan secure a place in the topflight.
Umpires: Malcolm Coombes, Stuart Edgar
Saturday, April 5
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Women
Catholic Institute vs UCD
12:45 | Rosbrien
A penultimate league outing for both these sides as Catholic Institute host UCD on Saturday. The hosts remain unbeaten on home soil and will hope to add another three points to their tally to help solidify third spot and a potentially crucial home draw in the EY Champions Trophy Play-Offs. UCD meanwhile are in seventh, having enjoyed a fine run of form that has seen them exit the relegation conversation and establish themselves as a potential play-off contender. They sit a point off Pegasus with a more favourable goal difference so leaving Rosbrien with even a point will help them with their ambitions.
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Eimear Linehan.
UCC vs Loreto
13:00 | The Mardyke
Having had their celebrations delayed by Railway Union a fortnight ago, Loreto have another chance to secure their third success league title when they travel to Munster to face UCC. While UCC’s fate has now been sealed, the Cork college side will no doubt relish the opportunity to again spoil Loreto’s party.
Umpires: Ellie Duffy, Ian Strange
Pembroke Wanderers vs Ards
14:30 | Serpentine Avenue
A true six-pointer sees Pembroke Wanderers host Ards in a relegation battle. Pembroke currently sit in eight, six-points clear of Ards, making it a must win tie for the visitors. Should Ards get a result it sets up a crucial battle in the final round to decide who will stay in the topflight, with Pembroke set to travel to Ulster Elks, and Ards away to UCC.
Umpires: Zoe Hall, Aaron Saunders
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Men
UCD vs Avoca
13:00 | Belfield Water
With just two games remaining, UCD will continue their search for a league win before the season is out, with Avoca their next target. The visitors have similar ambitions of taking home all three points, but for very different reasons as they look to pick up crucial points in their quest for a Play-Off place in their first ever EYHL season. As things stand, Avoca sit a point behind Corinthians but could well have already surpassed them depending on their result against Monkstown.
Umpires: Malcolm Coombes, Neil Mackay.
Annadale vs Monkstown
14:30 | CIYMS Sports Ground
It’s do or die for Annadale this Saturday when they face Monkstown in a must win game as they continue their fight for survival. Despite their significant improvements on the pitch, the Ulster side still haven’t picked up enough points to control their own destiny with Pembroke able to guarantee safety with a win in their tie. Their opponents, Monkstown, will take no prisoners as they themselves hope to leapfrog YMCA in the standings and push for a home draw in the EY Champions Trophy Play-Offs.
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Patrick Wright
YMCA vs Pembroke Wanderers
15:00 | Wesley College
There’s plenty at stake for both sides even this late on in the season. YMCA have Monkstown breathing down their neck and are in need of some crucial points to fend them off and secure fourth spot. Pembroke are still mathematically in a relegation scrap, with a win on Saturday guaranteeing their safety. YMCA will enter the tie the more confident of the two sides having beaten Pembroke twice already this season, once in the league and once in the AIG Irish Senior Cup.
Umpires: Robert Johnson, Gary O’Connor.
Corinthian vs Banbridge
15:15 | St Columba’s College
While title hopes may now be out of the question for Banbridge, they won’t take their foot off the pedal with the EY Champions Trophy still up for grabs. While it might pain them to do so, they will likely be rooting for fellow Ulster side Lisnagarvey simultaneously on Saturday as should Banbridge beat Corinthian, and Lisnagarvey beat Three Rock, a second-place finish and passage straight to the EY Champions Trophy Weekend becomes a real possibility. Host Corinthians though won’t make things easy, with aspirations of a first EY Champions Trophy Play-Off appearance still on the line for them. A scalp on Saturday would be massive if they are to realise their ambitions.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Russell Donaldson.
Three Rock Rovers vs Lisnagarvey
16:00 | Grange Road
The tie of the round pits top of the table Lisnagarvey against second place side Three Rock Rovers in a potential title decider on Saturday. With two games left to play for both sides and three points separating them Lisnagarvey can put themselves out of reach at the top if they can grab even a point in Saturday’s tie which would see them secure a record fifth title since the national league was established in 2008/09. Three Rock Rovers will do everything in their power to force the title race to go to the final weekend, particularly with a home crowd spurring them on in Grange Road.
Umpires: Bruce Bale, Shane O’Donnell.
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Women
Pool A
Cork Harlequins vs Muckross
12:45 | Harlequin Park
With the Pool standings confirmed it’s all about positive performances, particularly for Muckross as they prepare for their Play-Off match just a week later. Last time these sides met in Dublin, Muckross came away as 3-1 victors, but the trip to Cork is a challenging one, and Harlequins will certainly be keen to end their campaign on a high, particularly in their own backyard.
Umpires: Stuart Egner, Martin Hughes.
Pool B
Ashton vs Queen’s University
12:30 | Ashton
Queen’s make the long trip to Cork for their final pool game as they look to shore up their place at the top of Pool B. A win over Ashton would almost definitely do that, given their +7 goal difference over Corinthian in second unless Corinthian can put up an almighty scoreline against Lurgan. For Ashton, a win over promotion hopefuls Queen’s would be a huge cherry on top of a positive first ever campaign in the EYHL2.
Umpires: Jim Butler, Graham Hohn.
Corinthian vs Lurgan
13:15 | St. Columba’s College
While it is unlikely they will overtake Queen’s, it is still paramount that Corinthian put in a strong performance to close out this phase of the competition as they go in search of immediate promotion back to the EYHL. Bug Lurgan will want to do exactly the same in order to build momentum going into next week’s play-off round where they will face Monkstown.
Umpires: Gillian Garrett, Simon McAllister
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Men
Pool A
Kilkenny vs Cork C of I
14:00 | Loreto Kilkenny
Kilkenny arguably have the most to gain from this final Pool A tie; a win enough to lift them to fourth in the pool standings, leapfrogging Leinster rivals Railway Union in their first EYHL2 campaign. Cork C of I meanwhile will have one eye on their Play-Off game in a week’s time. The side will want to keep confidence high with a win but could potentially opt to rotate their squad to avoid any unnecessary risk to key players.
Umpires: Sunny Charles, Aaron Donnell
Cookstown vs Bandon
14:30 | Cookstown High School
With a chance to go unbeaten in the Pool, Cookstown will be gunning to get a result to close out this stage of the tournament when they face Bandon on Saturday. The sides played out an exceptionally close tie the last time they face each other in Cork a month ago, with this tie potentially just as tight if Bandon can bring a strong squad on the long journey north.
Umpires: Neal Hermon, Ross Jones.
Pool B
Clontarf vs Instonians
13:00 | Mount Temple
Clontarf have one last chance to try secure a Play-Off appearance, but they have to record a win, and a big one at that to surpass Instonians in the standings. Instonians are five points clear of the standings with a goal difference that is seven better than Clontarf meaning a win by eight goals is the tall task that lies ahead. For Inst, provided they keep it a close game they will progress, but we suspect they will want to go home with a win as they prepare for next week.
Umpires: Peter Motyer, Peter Urwin.
Cork Harlequins vs Kilkeel
14:30 | Harlequin Park
A second meeting between these sides in less than 24 hours will prove a tricky task given the shorter than normal recovery time agreed between the two clubs to accommodate the refix. For hosts Cork Harlequins in particular, managing their playing squad will be top priority as they look ahead to their Play-Off match next week.
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Simon O’Connor.