Wednesday, March 26: With the final few rounds of the EY Hockey League season now upon us, there is no room for error from the sides pursuing the EYHL title.
In the Men’s EYHL, Lisnagarvey host a stubborn YMCA side who held TRR to a draw last weekend, before playing Annadale in their second tie of a crucial double-header. Banbridge and Three Rock will look to keep pace as they come up against a high scoring Pembroke side and in form Avoca outfit, respectively. Monkstown will hope to seize an opportunity to climb the table when they face Corinthian. And Annadale travel to Belfield to face UCD in search of a crucial win.
In the Women’s EYHL, Loreto face a considerable test as they look to return to winning ways against Catholic Institute. Railway Union travel to Pegasus with aspirations of extending their unbeaten league run to ten games. Old Alex meet Ulster Elks in a battle for fourth place in the table. Pembroke Wanderers host UCC as pressure piles on the hosts to get some crucial points with the relegation zone just one space away. And Ards play UCD in Londonderry Park with time running out in the fight for survival.
In the Men’s EYHL2, Cookstown can secure top spot in Pool A with a win against Kilkenny, and Cork C of I can cement second when they face Railway Union. In Pool B, Cork Harlequins travel to Dublin to face Clontarf, who could see their play-off chances reduced to almost nothing if they can’t pick up a result, and Instonians host Pool leaders Portrane looking to cause an upset.
In the Women’s EYHL2, Monkstown travel the short distance to Muckross as they hope to take another step closer to topping Pool A, while Portadown will earn an automatic 3pts from their final game following the withdrawal of Greenfields from the tie. In Pool B, Lurgan host Ashton with the visitors needing a win to keep their play-off hopes alive, and Queen’s University travel to University Galway with a win seeing the Ulster side go top of the pool heading into the final round.
Saturday, March 29
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Men
Monkstown vs Corinthian
14:15 | Rathdown School
With a lot at stake for these sides on Saturday, Monkstown and Corinthian’s encounter is likely to be an exciting one. Monkstown have their sights set on fourth spot, having closed the gap to YM to a single point, while Corinthian will have a fight on their hands in the run in to maintain their play-off spot after Tuesday’s defeat to Avoca. Last time these sides met it was an eight-goal thriller, with Monkstown eventually emerging from the penalty shoot-out with the bonus point, so this game is poised to be very interesting.
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Robert Johnston
Avoca vs Three Rock Rovers
14:30 | Newpark School
What a difference a fortnight can make as Avoca go into Saturday’s match on a three-game unbeaten streak with a play-off place now a very real possibility. Their opponents Three Rock have just as much, if not more, to play for as they look to keep pace with Lisnagarvey at the top of the table and exact their revenge for the Leinster Mills Cup defeat less than a fortnight ago.
Umpires: Malcolm Coombes, Gary O’Connor
Lisnagarvey vs YMCA
14:30 | Comber Road
Every game is a must win from here on out for Lisnagarvey as they look to defend their position at the top of the table. The hosts will need to be wary this Saturday when they face a YMCA side who managed to hold Three Rock to a 0-0 draw. The visitors have proven stubborn this season against top sides, but have had a tough run of games in the EYHL of late, last recording a win back in February.
Umpires: Oli Brown, Russell Donaldson
Banbridge vs Pembroke Wanderers
14:45 | Havelock Park
After their loss to Lisnagarvey last weekend, Banbridge’s hopes of retaining their EY Hockey League title have taken a considerable dent as they now trail the league leaders by three points and having played an extra game. However, Ban still have plenty to fight for. If Three Rock slip up at any stage the door opens to a second-place finish in the standings and automatic progression to the EY Champions Trophy Finals Weekend. For this to be a possibility though they first have to beat Pembroke Wanderers at home this Saturday. The visitors have proven themselves to be effective in front of goal, scoring in every game they have played in the league this season bar one, something Banbridge will need to be wary of in the tie.
Umpires: Neil Mackay, Patrick Wright
UCD vs Annadale
15:00 | Belfield Water
The pressure is now well and truly on Annadale in their fight for survival. With four games still to play Annadale will have to pick up at least two wins and a bonus-point draw to exceed Pembroke or Avoca’s points tally provided neither side pick up any points in their final games. UCD, who are already relegated, provide a good opportunity for Annadale to translate their positive performances of late into points.
Umpires: Bruce Bale, Shane O’Donnell
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Women
Loreto vs Catholic Institute
13:15 | Loreto Beaufort
After last weekend’s defeat to Railway Union, their first in the EYHL since April 2023, Loreto must recover quickly if they are to pick up the points they need to secure their third league title on the bounce. They don’t have an easy task on their hands as Catholic Institute pay them a visit fresh off the back of two wins over the weekend that lifted them to third. Loreto still control their own destiny but will find themselves under considerable pressure if Saturday doesn’t go their way.
Umpires: Gillian Garrett, Gill Hohn
Old Alex vs Ulster Elks
14:00 | Alexandra College
A penultimate league outing for these sides sees Old Alex and Ulster Elks face off in a battle for third spot. Hosts Old Alex enter the tie having won last weekend, while Ulster Elks might have had their confidence knocked following their 5-0 loss at the hands of UCD. This one could go either way and could prove crucial in the EY Champions Trophy Play-Off battle.
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Julie Fisher
Ards vs UCD
14:30 | Londonderry Park
A massive clash for both sides on Saturday as Ards host UCD in Londonderry Park. For Ards, just 3pts separates them and Pembroke Wanderers in eighth, with a win on Saturday likely going a long way towards their topflight survival hopes. UCD, meanwhile, could take another major step towards a play-off place if results elsewhere go their way.
Umpires: Eimear Linehan, Aaron Saunders
Pegasus vs Railway Union
14:30 | Queen’s University
Railway Union, emblazoned by their victory over Loreto last weekend, travel north to Pegasus in search of an eleventh league win as they hope to keep the pressure on at the top of the table. Pegasus will prove a more than capable opponent as they themselves look to stave off the chase of UCD in the battle for Play-Off spots. The hosts enjoyed a win away from home to UCC last weekend, and a scalp this week of Railway’s calibre would be a considerable bonus to the 3pts a win would earn them.
Umpires: Linda Coughlan, Sarah Craig
Pembroke Wanderers vs UCC
14:30 | Serpentine Avenue
Much like Ards, the pressure is mounting on Pembroke to pick up results with just three games remaining for the Leinster side in the league. They face a UCC who are still in search of a first EYHL win. The Cork students came close last week against Pegasus, but couldn’t quite hold out. They’ll hope this is their week when they travel to Serpentine Avenue.
Umpires: Rob Argent, Ellie Duffy
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Men
Pool A
Kilkenny vs Cookstown
13:00 | Loreto Kilkenny
A penultimate EYHL2 outing for both sides sees top of Pool A face bottom. Cookstown can guarantee themselves a first-place finish if they can get a win on the road, given them passage straight to the EYHL2 Semi-Finals. For Kilkenny, a win is the only result that gives them any chance of a play-off place.
Umpires: Ben Geoghegan, Graham Hohn
Cork C of I vs Railway Union
14:00 | Garryduff
Like Cookstown, Cork C of I can lock down second place and keep the pressure on Cookstown, if Kilkenny do them a favour. The sides shared the points in their first Pool A encounter in Park Avenue. Railway have struggled considerably on the road this season but do have last weekend’s win over Bandon to draw inspiration from as they hope to close out their EYHL2 campaign on a high.
Umpires: Jim Butler, TBC
Pool B
Clontarf vs Cork Harlequins
13:00 | Mount Temple
The play-off hopes remain alive for Clontarf with two games to go, but they need Portrane to do them a favour against Instonians if the hope is to become a reality. They face an in-form Cork Harlequins side that have already booked their place in the play-offs but will be gunning to lock down second place. It’s unlikely that home advantage will play much of a role in this tie, as Quins are yet to lose a game on the road this campaign!
Umpires: Sunny Charles, Ian Strange
Instonians vs Portrane
14:30 | Shaw’s Bridge
Portrane’s final pool outing takes them to Shaw’s Bridge to face former topflight side Instonians. While they are already guaranteed a play-off place for the first time in the club’s history, a win on Saturday would secure them passage directly to the Semi-Finals by locking down top spot in the table. Hosts Instonians have a lot on the line on Saturday as they sit within the Play-Off places but have Clontarf, who they are set to play in the final round next week, breathing down their neck. This could be a very interesting encounter.
Umpires: Les Allen, Aaron Donnell
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Women
Pool A
Muckross vs Monkstown
13:30 | Muckross
Arguably the tie of the round in the EYHL2 pits promotion hopefuls Muckross and Monkstown against each other. While both sides have already secured passage out of the pools, Monkstown can still push their way into first with two wins from their last two games, while Muckross could make a late surge for second. The two sides are well acquainted having met many times in both Provincial and National competitions this year. A game too close to call!
Umpires: Allister Campbell, Michael Scott
Pool B
Ashton vs Lurgan
13:00 | Mount Temple
A proper 6 pointer pits third place Lurgan against fourth place Ashton as the sides jostle for that all important top three finish. The hosts must pick up a win on Saturday, and score considerably more than their opponents to close the gap between the teams. For Lurgan, the task is simple; a win, draw or loss by a one goal will guarantee they progress to the next stage.
Umpires: Stuart Egner, David Murray
University of Galway vs Queen’s University
14:30 | Dangan
An all-university clash sees Queen’s travel to Dangan in search of a critical win that would see them overtake Corinthian at the top going into the final round. The hosts are without a win this campaign but have run plenty of teams close, including two narrow losses to current pool leaders Corinthian, so Queen’s will still need to bring their A-game for this one.
Umpires: Martin Hughes, Simon O’Connor
Sunday, March 30
EY Hockey League Division 1 – Men
Annadale vs Lisnagarvey
14:00 | CIYMS Sports Ground
The second game in a crucial double-header for Lisnagarvey sees them face fellow Ulster side Annadale on Sunday. A win for Garvey on both Saturday and Sunday would mean they would go three points clear at the top with a considerably better goal difference to the chasing pack, giving them a safety net as they enter their penultimate game against Three Rock Rovers. Hosts Annadale have a tall task ahead if they are to take any points from this game in their hunt for survival, but anything is possible!
Umpires: Sarah Craig, Robert Johnston