PEGASUS, Ulster Elks, Ards and Belfast Harlequins were all winners in the EY All Ireland hockey league on the weekend Queen’s University were officially crowned Legacy Ulster Women’s Premier League Champions and celebrated with a 4-1 win over Ballymoney. Elsewhere in the EY League, Lurgan suffered an uncharacteristic heavy defeat, 5-0 away to University College Cork.
Ninth placed Pegasus got a badly needed 1-0 win at home to second placed Dublin visitors Railway Union .
Sophie McDowell scored a goal from open play in the fourth minute and the hosts retained that lead at half-time.
Try as they might, Railway Union got not get on the scoresheet in the third or fourth quarter.
This win for Pegasus keeps them in ninth but narrows the gap on eighth placed Monkstown to a single point.
Ulster Elks built on their win over Monkstown last weekend by winning their second EYHL Division 1 game of 2024 on the spin at Jordanstown, 3-0 against Old Alexandra. Bethany Scott scored from open play in only the second minute. to make it 1-0 to the Elks.
Jessica McMaster increased the home side’s lead in the 10th minute Erin Getty added the third goal from open play to leave it 3-0 at half time. While Old Alex were not to concede any more goals, their forward line, minus the services of Deirdre Duke, could not find a way past an Elks defense marshalled by former Ireland internationals Bethany Harper and Leah McGuire.
This win keeps the Elks in 6th place in the table and in contention for a Champions Trophy playoff spot.
Other results: UCD 3 CORINTHIANS 1, CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 0 LORETO 3, PEMBROKE WANDERERS 2 MONKSTOWN 2.
Belfast Harlequins defeated Avoca 2-1 in EYHL 2 Pool A.
Amy Bell-Cummings gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute, and they led at the half-time break 1-0. Laurn Tracey equalised for the Dublin visitors in the 37th minute but Julie Dennison secured the win for Harlequins with a field goal in the 68th minute.
In Pool B, Ards were massive 8-1 winners over University of Galway. The students were leading the Connacht Women’s Division 1 before the Christmas break but have not had too many other fixtures, apart from EYHL 2 games, since then – and it showed.
Ellen Robinson gave Ards the lead in 10th minute from open play. Ailis Carson made it 2-0 from a converted penalty corner in the 18th minute. Ali Scott increased their lead in the 20th minute and Rachel Houston, from open play in the 33rd minute, made it 4-0.
Francesca Brown added a fifth in the 58th minute and Ailis Carson’s second goal of the game made it 6-0 in the 62nd minute when she converted a penalty corner. Megan Clinton got one back for the students in the 65th minute. Ali Scott’s second goal of the game then made it 7-1 in the 66th minute and Rachel Houston’s second of the game rounded off the scoring in the 68th minute.
University College Cork showed why they are near the top of the standings in their native Munster with their 5-0 eclipse of Lurgan at the Mardyke.
Despite their long journey, Lurgan were in the game until falling behind to Abi O’Mahoney’s goal in the final minute of the half. Emma O’Sullivan made it 2-0 in the 40th minute followed by Sarah Murphy netting in the 49th minute and two late goals from Zarah Lowry in the 66th and 69th minute respectively secured the 5-0 win for UCC.
Also in Pool B: KILKENNY 2 GREENFIELDS 0
Saturday, February 17 results
