EYHL PLAY OFF WEEKEND
In the EYHL Men’s Champions Trophy Three Rock Rovers hosted Glenanne and YMCA took on Monkstown in the Quarter finals to see who would face Banbridge and Lisnagarvey in next weekend’s semi-finals in Banbridge . In the EYHL Women’s Champions Trophy Old Alexandra took on Pegasus and Catholic Institute hosted Pembroke Wanderers to see who would face UCD and Loreto in next weekend’s semi-finals in Banbridge. But that was just EYHL Champions Trophy in the EYHL 2 it was semi-finals weekend at St. Columba’s College home of Corinthians hockey club who also had skin in the game.
EYHL MEN’S CHAMPIONS TROPHY
THREE ROCK ROVERS 3 GLENANNE 7
A ten goal thriller at Grange Road resulted in a 4 goal margin of victory for the visitors Glenanne who take on either Lisnagarvey or Banbridge in next week’s semi-final weekend. Glenanne raced into an early lead, Shane O’Donoghue converting two penalty corners, and Gavin Gibney adding another to put them 3-0 ahead . James Walker got on the mark for Three Rock Rovers to make it 3-1 but Glenanne responded within a minute through Shannon Boucher to make it 4-1 to Glenanne. Gavin Gibney made it 5-1 to Glenanne and Three Rock responded through Ben Johnson (5-2) but a penalty stroke by Shane O’Donoghue made it 6-2 to Glenanne. Rex Dunlop got Three Rock’s final goal of the game to leave the score 6-3 and Johnny McCormack got a final goal to leave it 7-3
YMCA 3 MONKSTOWN 3 ( MONKSTOWN WON 6-5 ON SHUTTLES)
YM began well and early goals from Harry McCarthy Peabo Lembethe saw them leading the visitors 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. Monkstown finished the half strongly and Sam Hohn got them on the scoreboard , YMCA 2 Monkstown 1 at half-time.
Adam Walker restored the two goal margin for YM but goals from Rory Nichols and also Geoff Cole made it 3-3 at full time and so went to shuttles. Monkstown built on the momentum from their second half fight-back and secured their semi-final berth 6-5 in the shoot out.
Glenanne and Monkstown will be in the draw for next week’s semi-finals alongside League Champions Banbridge and runner ups Lisnagarvey
EYHL WOMEN’S CHAMPION’S TROPHY
OLD ALEXANDRA 2 PEGASUS 1
Emma and Abbie Russell are not only sisters but also a goalscoring duo . Abbie Russell assisted in the first goal of the game for Old Alexandra which was converted by her sister Emma to put OId Aexandra 1-0 up. Lucy McKee equalised for Pegasus. And then Emma Russell provided the final pass for Abbie Russell to give Old Alex a 2-1 lead which they held on to advance to the semi-finals weekend in Banbridge.
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 1 PEMBROKE WANDERERS 0
Pembroke Wanderers were visitors against Catholic Institute . A first half goal from Rebecca Barry was enough to secure a semi-final spot for the hosts who advanced 1-0 and will face either UCD or Loreto in Banbridge subject to the draw . They all join OId Alexandra, winners from the first quarter-final, in the hat for the draw which will take place in the next few days.
EYHL 2 MEN’S DIVISIONAL SEMI-FINALS
UCD 1 RAILWAY UNION 1 ( UCD WON SHUTTLES BY 2-1)
UCD’s second half of the season excellence continued in the semi-final of the EYHL 2 Men’s Division.
UCD took the lead through a Mark Smyth field goal in 20 minutes to go 1-0 up. Railway responded through Jeremy McKeever on the hour mark it was 1-1 at full time. That meant shuttles. UCD began with Kevin O’Dea taking a shuttle he was fouled by goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe and a penalty stroke was awarded which was duly converted to leave UCD leading 1-0 in shuttles. Mark English converted the first shuttle for Railway Union it was 1-1. Sam Walker took the second shuttle for UCD and was upended by keeper Stephen O’Keeffe who then received a warning about any future similar fouls, before having to face a second penalty stroke in succession, which also was converted leaving UCD 2-1 ahead on Shuttles. Railway proceeded to miss all 4 of their remaining efforts and UCD failed to convert their remaining 3. UCD advance to Sunday’s final and are promoted back to EYHL top Division.
CORINTHIANS 3 BANDON 1
Corinthians took the lead after only 4 minutes through Chad Futcher and Ian Stewart added a second on 23 minutes both from open play. Sam Maxwell made it 3-0 on 45 minutes also with a field goal. Ross Smyth converted a penalty corner for Bandon on 61 minutes to leave the final score 3-1. The Dubliners joining UCD in Sunday’s final and winning promotion to the EYHL top flight.
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION SEMI-FINALS
CORINTHIANS 3 CORK HALREQUINS 2
Corinthians were 1-0 ahead through Jodie Douglas in the 10th minute, and Harlequins equalised through an Yvonne O’Byrne penalty corner on 12 minutes. Jodie Douglas got her second of the match to put Corinthians 2-1 up on 34 minutes and Jess McGrane added another to leave Corinthians 3-1 ahead on 43 minutes. Cork Harlequins responded with another penalty corner from Yvonne O’Byrne on 46 minutes and it remained a 1 goal match until the very last seconds when a penalty corner awarded to Corinthinans was converted by Jess Mc Grane in the very last act of the game. A first trip to the EYHL top flight for the Corinthians women crowning a great weekend for their club.
ULSTER ELKS 2 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 0
Six years after being relegated Ulster Elks are back in the EYHL after this win over Queen’s. Elks opened the scoring with a Shannon Atkinson goal in the 9th minute and then seemed to get nervous and allowed Queen’s back into the game. They sealed the win with a Chloe Mitchell goal to secure a 2-0 win and a place in the EYHL2 Final as well as securing promotion to the top flight for next season. Coming off the back of their 100% record in the Ulster Premier League this past season it’s a remarkable achievement for this largely student based side.