ULSTER Elks and Ards secured vital All Ireland hockey wins as the season reaches a decisive stage while Pegasus, Harlequins and Lurgan each drew their games.
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
UCD 1 ULSTER ELKS 2
UCD played Ulster Elks in a real six pointer in the EYHL Women’s Division 1. Ulster Elks needed points for two completely different reasons 1/ to make themselves mathematically safe from relegation 2/ to try and secure sixth place and a route to the play-offs.
For UCD reason 2 was the most pressing need. Despite being relatively speaking back to full strength after not having their internationals available and also Katie Jane Marshall who missed the Irish Senior Cup semi-final on Wednesday night due to a slight injury, they didn’t deliver on the promise that their superior ball possession and indeed the number of penalty corners they racked up in this game suggested they should.
Instead, it was the visitors with a fraction of the possession and set pieces, who took the lead when Chloe Stewart scored from open play in the 12th minute. After a period when the hosts dominated possession and had a number of penalty corner opportunities, it was Ulster Elks who increased their lead when Serena Campuzano scored from open play in the 22d minute to leave the visitors 2-0 ahead at half-time.
Penalty corners are the most important set piece in the game of hockey. How often has that mantra been drilled into hockey players young and old? Well, it looked as if UCD had forgotten this pearl of wisdom as it was only their final penalty corner of the day having been awarded more than half a dozen that hit home. By then Mikayla Power’s late finish was a mere consolation goal. To be fair in recent weeks, penalty corners had actually been one of their strengths. Final score: UCD 1 Ulster Elks 2 .
UCD: Erika Gallagher; Leah O’Shea; Florence Maughan; Caoimhe Byre; Ali Griffin; Sarah McAuley; Lauren Moore; Mikayla Power; Katie-Jane Marshall; Emma Paul (C); Anna McCarthy. Subs used: Anna Costello [5 mins] ;Sophia Cole [6 mins] ; Katharine Egan [7 mins]; Aine Naughto n[8 mins]; Sydney Weir McErlean [8 mins]
ULSTER ELKS:- Gemma Ferguson; Serena Campzano; Katie Craig; Leah McGuire; Lucy McKimm; Bethany Scott; Jessica Mc Master; Gabriella Scott (C); Katie McKee; Erin Getty. Subs used: Chloe Stewart [8 mins]; Nieve Caldwell [10 mins]; Sarah Byrne [15 mins]
Serena Campuzano (below) scored what proved to be Elks winner
PEGASUS 3 CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 3
PEGASUS are determined to hang on to their EYHL Division 1 status and proved the point in this game at Queen’s University Sportsground against Irish Senior Cup finalists Catholic Institute. Zara Malseed (above) gave Pegasus the lead with a goal from open play in the 11th minute. Sophie McDowell increased their lead in the 22nd with another open play goal to make it 2-0. Catholic Institute responded through a goal from Leah Cleary from open play in the 29th minute, making it 2-1 at half time.
Pegasus captain Ruth McCandless scored another from open play goal in the 46th minute to leave Pegasus leading by 3-1. Catholic Institute showed they are made of sterner stuff and responded with goals from Sarah Fitzgerald from a converted penalty corner in the 53rd minute to make it 3-2. They secured a point then when Naomi Carroll’s 59th goal from open play secured a point for the visitors and the game ended 3-3.
OTHER RESULTS: ALEXANDRA 3 CORINTHIANS 1, LORETO 2 MONKSTOWN 2, RAILWAY UNION 4 PEMBROKE WANDERERS 1
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL A
AVOCA 2 BELFAST HARLEQUINS 2
A very closely fought and cagey affair at Newpark school was still scoreless at half-time. Avoca took the lead through a converted penalty corner by Hannah De Burgh-Whyte in the 52nd minute. Another Belfield alumni scored again for Avoca two minutes later when Ciara Feely got a goal from open play to leave the hosts ahead 2-0. Two late goals from the visitors secured a share of the spoils. Claire Whiteside scored in the 66th minute and Jenna Henry equalised a minute from time to secure a 2-2 draw.
EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 2 POOL B
ARDS 3 UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY 0
CONNACHT Division 1 table toppers University of Galway had no answer to Ards’ onslaught in this tie at Londonderry Park. Elizabeth Holden opened the scoring for Ards in the 28th minute. It was 1-0 at half-time. Ards increased their lead in the 37th minute when Ali Scott scored from open play. Susannah Cotter completed the scoring two minutes later to seal a 3-0 win for Ards.
LURGAN 2 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 2
LURGAN Junior High School was the venue for this game in the EYHL Women’s Division 2 Pool B game where UCC provided the opposition. Veteran Stephanie Thompson opened the scoring when she converted a penalty corner on the half hour mark. Half-time saw no change in the scoreline with Lurgan still 1-0 ahead. Abi O’Mahony equalised for UCC in the 45th minute from open play to make the score 1-1. Jane Murphy gave the visitors a lead in the 56th minute with a goal from open play. But Chloe Gillard clawed back an equaliser for Lurgan with just a minute remaining to seal a 1-1 draw.
Chloe Gillard saved a point for Lurgan
