EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 FINAL
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 0 ARDS 2
TWO goals from Emma Reid secured the EYHL All Ireland hockey Division Two title for Ards in a final victory over UCC at Cork Church of Ireland grounds. Ards had earlier secured an instant return to Division One, after relegation last year, by defeating Cork Harlequins in the semi-final.
The Women’s final of the EYHL 2 may have taken place in the relatively familiar surroundings of Garryduff for University College Cork but they derived no ‘home’ advantage from their relative lack of travel on the day. This game was decided by two penalty corners, one in the first quarter and the other in the final quarter.
Emma Reid gave the Ulster Women’s Premier League side the lead in the 12th minute with her first converted penalty corner of the match and it remained 1-0 at the break. It was nip and tuck in quarter three but again there was no further scoring. And just as it appeared that the goal scored in the first quarter might be the decider in this tie, Ards were awarded a penalty corner in the 67th minute which Emma Reid converted to get her second goal of the match and secure a 2-0 win for Ards, making them EYHL Women’s Division 2 Champions for 2023-24.
There was a huge consolation for UCC as they, too, will be joining Ards in the EYHL Women’s Division 1 for season 2024-25, which was their main target to achieve in the current season. Promotion to EYHL Women’s Division 1 comes exactly 12 months after being relegated for Ards, and there will be three Ulster teams and two Munster teams in the Division next season.
Emma Reid
