Hockey Ireland Domestic Weekend Results Round-Up – Saturday March 2
EY HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S DIVISION 1
THREE ROCK ROVERS V YMCA
This game failed an early morning pitch inspection, there was ice and residual snow still on the field, so the game was postponed. It will be rescheduled for another date in due course.
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
RAILWAY UNION 1 LORETO 1
This top of the table clash could potentially have crowned the new champions of the EYHL Women’s Division 1 had Loreto managed to maintain their 100% record by winning this game at Park Avenue. However, Railway Union can claim the distinction of forcing Loreto to drop their first two points of the season and in so doing postpone their ascent to the throne as it were for another week at least.
The game was a little slow to get going early on and that might have been due to what was at stake. Loreto will no doubt be crowned champions eventually, but Railway Union did take a step towards claiming second spot in the table and the second bye to the semi-final of the Champions Trophy play offs, which will take place as soon as the regular League campaign ends. Loreto probably shaded the first half in terms of scoring opportunities, but they capitalized on the first penalty corner they were awarded in the match. Sarah Torrans scoring in the 25th minute to give the league leaders a 1-0 lead. The game got more energy almost straightaway and while Loreto led 1-0 at half time the closing minutes of the first half had a lot more incident than the previous 24. Railway created more chances. Sarah Patton almost scored following a penalty corner and the parsimonious Loreto defence got in telling blocks as well as goalkeeper Liz Murphy whose saves helped preserve Loreto’s lead. Both sides had key figures absent.
For Railway Union, the experienced Holly Jenkinson remains sidelined with a broken hand, but they did welcome Katie Mullan back to action following international duty alongside colleagues Sarah Hawkshaw, Niamh and Michelle Carey. Loreto were minus former international Hannah Mathew’s who is sidelined following a cut eyebrow that required stitches. Despite these losses their replacements stood tall, and the second half was very engaging. There were incidents in both goalmouths, and it was no surprise when Railway Union equalised through Lily Lloyd in the 55th minute. Railway Union pressed ahead in search of a winner but the next time the ball hit the backboard Síofra O’Brien’s effort was disallowed. The game ended with both sides getting a share of the spoils , but Railway Union took an important step towards clinching a bye to the playoffs semi-final.
RAILWAY UNION: Emma Buckley, Sarah Patton, Orla Patton, Orla Fox, Katie Fearon, Niamh Shaw, Sarah Hawkshaw, Michelle Carey, Emma Smyth (C), Niamh Carey, Lisa McCarthy, Aebhfinn Bourke, Jenny Long, Lily Lloyd, Saoirse Griffin, Katie Mullan
LORETO: Liz Murphy, Ella Pasley, Aisling Murray, Lisa Mulcahy, Katie Dunne, Síofra O’Brien, Mia Jennings (C), Grace McLoughlin, Caitlin Sherin, Yasmin Pratt, Caoimhe Perdue, Sarah Torrans, Grace Donald, Chritina Hamill, Hannah McLoughlin, Rachel Kelly;
EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A
PEMBROKE WANDERERS 2 QUEENS UNIVERSITY 4
The visitors took the lead in the 8th minute, Conor Irwin converting a penalty corner. Pembroke equalised through a Jack Flanagan goal from open play in the 16th minute. Harry Scott restored the lead for Queen’s with a 29th minute penalty corner. Cian Murphy scored from a converted penalty corner in the 48th minute to bring the sides level, this time at 2-2. Harry Scott scored from open play in the 49th minute to restore the lead for Queens at 3-2 and Conor Irwin converted a penalty corner in the 63rd to secure a 4-2 win.
BANGOR 2 BANDON 2
Clinton Sweetnam opened the scoring for Munster Division 1 visitors Bandon from a converted penalty corner. Callum Duncan equalised for the hosts Bangor in the 18th minute from open play. Clinton Sweetnam scored from a converted penalty corner again on 29 minutes to restore the lead for Bandon.
Samuel McMillan ensured the Ulster Premier league side had a share of the spoils with a converted penalty corner in the 58th minute to make the final score 2-2.
EYHL MEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B
CORK HARLEQUINS 4 SOUTH ANTRIM 1
Sean Curtin opened the scoring for Harlequins with a 15th minute goal from open play. Ryan West got the Ulstermen back on level terms with a 22nd minute equaliser. 1-1 at half time. Cork Harlequins went for the jugular after the break. Andrew Dale restored the lead from open play on 37 minutes. Sam Dale made it 3-1 for Harlequins in the 59th minute and Julian Dale got the fourth from open play to seal a 4-1 win.
CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND 3 COOKSTOWN 4
The Ulstermen won a seven goal thriller at Garryduff. Ryan Millar put them 1-0 up in the 3rd minute from open play. Rob Olden equalised in the 15th minute for Church of Ireland. Scott McCabe restored the Northerners lead in 26th minute. And C of I captain Ian Balding restored parity with a converted penalty corner on 30 minutes. It was 2-2 at half-time. Cookstown got two in front, Greg Allen from a converted penalty corner in the 47th minute and Paul Watt from open play on the hour mark. 4-2 to Cookstown. A late Jonathan Baldwin converted penalty corner in the 67th minute left the final score Cork Church of Ireland 3 Cookstown 4.
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A
CORK HARLEQUINS 6 BELFAST HARLEQUINS 2
Anything the men of Farmers Cross can do their women can match. In the battle of the Harlequins the Munster women secured bragging rights with a comfortable win at Harlequins Park. Michelle Barry opened the scoring from open play in the 2nd minute. She made it 2-0 for Cork Harlequins with another goal in the 4th minute. Beth Anne O’Farrell added a third goal in the 5th minute. Rachel O’Shea scored a fourth in the 25th minute. Beth Anne O’Farrell got her second of the match in the 32nd minute for Cork. Belfast Harlequins trailed 5-0 at half-time. But they began strongly in the second half and two goals in the 40th and 45th minutes respectively by Jennifer McAuley cut the deficit to three as Cork led 5-2 . Emma Cripps 57th minute Penalty corner for Cork left the Munster women 6-2 up at full time.
GREENFIELDS 2 AVOCA 4
Caro Theunisz opened the scoring for the visitors at Dangan in the 8th minute. Anna Richardson made it 2-0 to Avoca in the 25th minute. Ellie Browne got the hosts on the scoresheet with a goal in the 28th minute and a third Avoca goal in the 30th minute by Lauren Tracey from a converted penalty corner left the Dubliners 3-1 up at half-time. Alice Keogh scored for Greenfields to reduce the deficit to a single goal in the 46th minute but Sarah Gardiner’s 66th minute goal was enough to secure the win for Avoca by 4-2
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B
MUCKROSS 2 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 2
Nancy Browne opened the scoring for Muckross in the 14th minute from open play. Robyn Murphy equalised for UCC in the 30th minute to make it 1-1 at half time. Daisy Costello gave Muckross the lead in the 44th minute and Jane Murphy equalised for the visitors in the 53rd minute converting a penalty corner to make the final score 2-2
ARDS 3 LURGAN 1
Lydia McNeill opened the scoring for the visitors at Londonderry Park in only the 3rd minute. 1-0 to Lurgan. Ellen Robinson scored in the 14th minute to level matters. She got her second of the match in the 31st minute to give Ards a 2-1 lead. They sealed the win when Naomi Grundie converted a penalty corner in the 50th minute sealing a 3-1 win.
