IN the Women’s EY Hockey League, UCD will look to continue their climb up the table when they host Pembroke Wanderers. Ulster Elks host Catholic Institute as the sides jostle for third spot. Loreto will hope to continue their unbeaten season as they host Pegasus. Railway Union will look to maintain the pressure on the leaders when they face Ards.
In the Women’s EYHL Division 2, Pool A sees Greenfields play their first home tie of the competition against winless Cork Harlequins while Portadown will hope to make it three games unbeaten against fellow promotion hopefuls Monkstown.
In Pool B, Corinthian will look to recover from their defeat when they travel south to face Ashton, and Lurgan get their campaign underway with a trip to Dangan to face University of Galway.
EY Hockey League – Women
UCD vs Pembroke Wanderers
1:00pm | Belfield
A Dublin Derby gets things underway in the Women’s EYHL. UCD fresh from their win against UCC, are now in eighth place in the table and welcome seventh placed Pembroke Wanderers to Belfield for another six-pointer. Just a point separates the two sides, with a win for either making the prospects of a play-off place a real possibility, and a loss putting them agonisingly close to the relegation zone. Pembroke so far have shown that, when they find their rhythm, they can beat almost anyone in the league, while for UCD it still feels like their best is still to come.
Umpires: Fiona Davitt, Ellie Duffy
Ulster Elks vs Catholic Institute
1:00pm | Ulster University
While most eyes have been on the top two, third place Ulster Elks and fourth place Catholic Institute have been quietly and clinically picking up points and closing the gap on Loreto and Railway Union. At the time of writing Catholic Institute have two games in hand on second place Railway Union and one game in hand against league leaders Loreto. A full six points from those games would put Institute in second place in the current standings. Elks meanwhile continue to assert themselves as a top side and have a chance to make yet another mark on the competition this Saturday.
Umpires: Julie Fisher, Robert Johnston.
Old Alex vs UCC
1:30pm | Alexandra College
Old Alex will go in search of a first league win since November when they face UCC, having endured a spell of challenging results that saw hem slip down the table. The side are still i the play-off places, and another three points would help cement their position, and no doubt instil some confidence in this young side. UCC are by no means down and out though, with a slim chance of survival still at play. The Cork college side had a strong performance last week against UCD where they produced plenty of chances, and will hope they can continue their improvement against Alex.
Loreto vs Pegasus
3:00pm | Loreto Beaufort
Loreto started 2025, as they did 2024, with a victory, a habit they maintained throughout the entirety of the last calendar year and will look to repeat in 2025. However, they yet again had to weather a storm as they let Ards come within a goal having led 3-0 for most of the game. Pegasus will no doubt gain confidence from this fact, and will fancy themselves coming away with points, having grabbed their eighth draw of the season last week. For the Belfast side the pressure is mounting on them in their pursuit of the play-offs as Pembroke and UCD close the gap, points against Loreto would go a long way in helping them achieve their goal.
Umpires: Eimear Linehan, Ian Strange
Railway Union vs Ards
3:15pm | Park Avenue
A second versus ninth clash rounds off the EYHL Women’s action on Saturday as Railway Union host Ards in Park Avenue. The odds are likely heavily in favour of Railway Union given their continued fine form that sees them stretch their run to 9 unbeaten games. Ards, however, derive confidence from seeing fellow Ulster-side Elks hold Railway to a 1-1 draw, and will certainly target an upset on their visit to the current EY Champions Trophy holders.
Ards were without the services of Zara Malseed last week and still managed to put two goals past league leader Loreto, should she be present this week this game could go either way.
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Amy Jones
Standings
- Loreto – 30pts
- Railway Union – 25pts
- Ulster Elks – 22pts
- Catholic Institute – 21pts
- Old Alex – 20pts
- Pegasus – 17pts
- Pembroke Wanderers – 15pts
- UCD – 14pts
- Ards – 13pts
- UCC – 6pts
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Women
Pool A
Greenfields vs Cork Harlequins
2:30pm | Dangan
Both sides will go in search of their first win this Saturday as Greenfields host Cork Harlequins in Dangan. Neither side enjoyed positive results last weekend with Greenfields suffering at the hands of Muckross, and Harlequins losing out to Portadown on home soil. Early points are crucial in this group given how competitive it has already proven to be.
Umpires: Martin Hughes, Tanja Schafer.
Portadown vs Monkstown
3:00 | Portadown
Portadown will be sky high in confidence having made the difficult journey down to Cork last week and left with all five points, particularly given how prolific they were in front of goal. The EYHL2 newcomers face their biggest challenge yet on Saturday with Monkstown hellbent on restoring their EYHL status.
Umpires: Les Allen, Lyn Morrow.
Pool B
University of Galway vs Lurgan
12:30pm | Dangan
Lurgan begin their 2025 EYHL2 campaign with a trip to Dangan to face the University of Galway. The hosts will look to build on their 4-4 draw against Ashton as they continue their pursuit of a first ever EYHL2 win. For Lurgan, the delayed start may have given them time to scope out their Pool B opposition, it will be interesting to see how they fair in their first outing.
Umpires: Peter Agnew, Sunny Charles
Ashton vs Corinthian
2:30pm | Ashton
Having suffered an early upset in their pursuit of an EYHL return, Corinthian will be hoping their trip to Cork is a positive one. Ashton won’t make things easy for the Dublin side, having begun their campaign with a 4-4 draw against competition mainstays University of Galway.
Umpires: Jim Butler, Neil Sanders
Pool A Standings
- Muckross – 7pts
- Portadown – 7pts
- Monkstown – 5pts
- Cork Harlequins – 1pt
- Greenfields – 0pts
Pool B Standings
- Queen’s University – 5pts
- Ashton – 2pts
- University of Galway – 2pts
- Corinthian – 1pt
- Lurgan – 0pts
