Dublin, Sunday, October 20: Another 15 games across the Men’s and Women’s EY League this weekend saw the current league leaders continue their fine veins of form. Another double-weekend, this time for the women, offered additional opportunities for sides to produce heroic moments, with some exceptional upsets and thrilling comebacks among the games across the weekend.
Weekend Round-Up
On Saturday, in the Men’s EYHL it was another high scoring round started by league leaders Lisnagarvey. The Comber Road side eased passed fellow Ulster side Annadale 7-1, with Ben Nelson grabbing 4 goals.
Not to be outdone by their rivals, Banbridge made it three from three as they beat Avoca 5-0 at home. It took the home side a little while to put the game to bed, but a brace each for Phillip Brown and Johnny McKee, as well as a goal for Fergus Gibson gave the side the win.
Three Rock Rovers kept up the pace with their 4-2 win against UCD in Belfield. Rovers scored 4 unanswered goals against the students inside 40 minutes, but UCD showed a marked improvement to score two goals, albeit just consolations, against a Three Rock defence that has been one of the best in the league thus far.
Pembroke Wanderers and Corinthians put on a serious show in a 5-5 draw that eventually ended with Pembroke securing the bonus point in the shootout. Pembroke led the game an incredible four times, but Corinthians fought back on every occasion, with Max Neill grabbing a hattrick in the process. Pembroke had the last word when debutant Fawaaz Kahder scored the decisive penalty shootout, flicking the ball in off the crossbar on his reverse stick.
YMCA came out on top of an eight-goal thriller against Monkstown in Rathdown School. YM looked to be cruising to an easy three points, leading by three goals. Monkstown, however, responded closing the gap to one goal in quarter three and then drawing level with just 6 minutes to play. YMCA’s Ross Henderson grabbed his second goal of the game with 2 minutes on the clock to give his side the lead, before Adam Walker put the game to bed from a Penalty Corner in the final minute.
Following the weekend, Three Rock Rovers and Lisnagarvey remain top on 12pts each with Banbridge remaining in pursuit on 9 points and a game in hand. YMCA enter the top four, also on 9pts. Monkstown drop to fifth on 6pts. At the bottom, UCD and Annadale remain bottom with neither side securing any points thus far. Pembroke rise to 8th thanks to their bonus point draw over the weekend, and Avoca and Corinthians sit just above them on 3pts and 4pts respectively.
On Saturday in the Women’s EY Hockey League, UCC secured their first points in the EYHL with a draw away from home against in-form Ards. The Cork students came from behind twice during normal time to grab a draw, Sarah Murphy’s 66th minute penalty corner proving the decisive moment in the game. UCC then proved the better prepared side in the shootout to get the bonus point.
Railway Union returned to winning ways with their 3-0 win over UCD. With all three goals coming in the first half for the home side, it would have taken a staggering change for UCD to make a comeback. An improved second half saw the students ask more questions of their hosts but Railway stayed resolute, keeping a clean sheet, and securing all three points.
Pegasus broke Catholic Institute hearts in Queen’s University to win 3-2 at home. Naomi Carroll appeared to have salvaged a point for CI with her brace of goals, but Pegasus’ Lucy McKee had other plans slotting home a penalty corner in the 69th minute to snatch the win.
After a slow start to the season, Pembroke Wanderers grabbed their first win of the season with their comprehensive 4-1 win over Ulster Elks in Serpentine Avenue. Pembroke pressed Elks well, turning the ball over high up the pitch on two occasions to build a 2-0 lead. Elks looked to have given themselves a lifeline, scoring from a penalty corner. The goal was eventually overturned, and Pembroke wasted no time grabbing a third goal to put the game to bed. Katherine Egan grabbed the goal of the game, pinpoint accurate strike from a tight angle on 58 minutes. Jessica McMaster grabbed Elks’ first goal of the game with 9 minutes remaining, but it proved to just be a consolation.
Lastly, Loreto proved why they are the reigning champions with a crucial win over Old Alex. Loreto took a comfortable 3-0 lead over the home side in the first half. Alex did manage to respond when Robyn Hetherington reduced the lead to 2. However, Loreto restored their 3-goal cushion in the final quarter through Yasmin Pratt to continue their perfect start.
The arrival of Storm Ashley meant more challenging conditions for our women’s sides as they all played their second games of the weekend.
Loreto extended their lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over Railway Union. The sides were locked at 0-0 at half time having both produced their fair share of opportunities in the opening 35 minutes. Loreto, however, made the necessary adjustments to take control of the game, with goals from Christina Hamill and Siofra O’Brien giving the home side the win.
Old Alex produced an emphatic comeback in Alexandra College. Pembroke Wanderers looked as if they were about to have a perfect weekend as they lead 2-1 going into the closing stages of the game, thanks to goals from Christine Powell and Amy Kate Trevor. Old Alex had other ideas as Millie O’Donnell put her side level in the 64th minute before Abigail Russell kept her composure to score from a penalty corner to win the game.
Bolstered by the confidence of their draw against Ards, UCC secured another two points against Pegasus to make it four from a possible six in what looked like a very tricky away weekend for the Cork students. Anna Pim was yet again amongst the goals for Pegasus, converting a penalty corner to break the deadlock. UCC’s Micaela Sanderson scored in the dying embers of the game to grab a draw and take the match to penalty shootouts, which UCC went on to win 3-2.
A quickfire duo of goals were enough to see Catholic Institute beat Ards in Londonderry Park. A penalty corner goal each for Eimear Ryan and Seodhna Dervan in the 11th and 12th minute gave CI the lead. Ards scored late to make it a nervy final 2 minutes, but Catholic Institute held firm to win the game.
Ulster Elks recovered from their disappointing result yesterday to win the battle of the universities against UCD. The home side went 2-0 up thanks to a five-minute brace from captain Gabriella Scott. UCD made their way back into the game just a minute later when Lauren Moore scored in the 59th minute. A comeback wasn’t to be, with Ulster Elks managing to see out the game.
Following the double weekend, Loreto sit comfortably atop the table with 15pts, with Catholic Institute 4 points behind them on 11, and Old Alex hot on their heels on 10. Ulster Elks and Pegasus occupy the fourth and fifth spots on 8pts each. Ards drop to sixth with 7 points, with Railway Union and Pembroke behind them on 6pts and 5pts, respectively. UCD fall to bottom after their two defeats, with just a point to their name, while UCC duo of bonus point draws takes them up to ninth on 4pts.
