TWO goals from Rachel Houston secured promotion to Division One of the EY All Ireland Hockey League and earned a place in the Division Two final against UCC at Cork Church of Ireland grounds. UCC defeated Belfast Harlequins, ending their promotion hopes.
EYHL DIVISION 2 WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS
CORK HARLEQUINS 1 ARDS 2
IN Garryduff, the afternoon began with the first women’s EYHL 2 semi-final between Cork Harlequins and Ards. In the men’s semi-final earlier in the day Cork Harlequins men had failed to advance to tomorrow’s final. Unfortunately, their women’s team made it a double heartbreak by finishing on the wrong side of a 2-1 result. Ards took the lead through Rachel Houston from open play in the 19th minute. Cork Harlequins captain Michelle Barry equalised in the 22nd minute to make it 1-1. Rachel Houston scored her second goal from open play in the 34th minute to secure the victory by 2-1.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 3 BELFAST HARLEQUINS 1
UCC will be in the EYHL Women’s Division 1 next season after this 3-1 over Belfast Harlequins who face another season in the Ulster Premier League in 2024-25. Julia McCarthy opened the scoring when she converted a penalty corner in the 36th minute to make it 1-0 to UCC. Abi O’Mahony added a second goal in the 44th minute to put the students 2-0 ahead. Emma O’Sullivan made it 3-0 in the 54th minute. Emma Fraser got Belfast Harlequins on the scoresheet in the 69th minute with a converted penalty corner, but it proved to be only a consolation goal as UCC ran out 3-1 winners. Three Cork teams in the EYHL 2 semi-finals between men and women’s teams but only UCC got promoted.
