LORETO will hope to continue their unbeaten season In the Women’s EY Hockey League as they travel to Ards when games resume on Saturday after the winter break.
Railway Union will look to keep pace as they face Ulster Elks, who sit just below them in the standings. Pegasus host Old Alex in a crucial game for both sides as they vie to solidify a place in the EY Champions Trophy Play-Offs. Catholic Institute host Pembroke Wanderers, with the Limerick side aspiring to avenge their November loss to the Dublin club. And a crucial collegiate battle in The Mardyke sees UCC face UCD as both sides continue their fights to remain in the topflight next season.
In the Women’s EYHL Division 2, Pool A sees both Muckross and Greenfields play their first ties of the competition as both hope to get off to a winning start, and Portadown make the long trip to Munster to face fellow play-off hopefuls Cork Harlequins. In Pool B, Ashton make their EYHL debut against University of Galway. And Corinthian begin their promotion bid with a visit to Queen’s University.
EY Hockey League – Women (Saturday, February 1)
Pegasus v Old Alex
12:45pm (Queen’s University)
A crucial battle between two sides in play-off contention, Old Alex currently hold the advantage sitting two places above Pegasus in the table with a four-point cushion. Pegasus will fancy themselves on home soil though, having recorded just one loss in their home games so far. This game will be a close one!
Umpires: Zoe Hall, Alison Keogh
Catholic Institute v Pembroke Wanderers
12:45pm (Rosbrien)
With ambitions of a late title charge to keep pressure on Loreto and Railway Union, getting off to a winning start against Pembroke will be a must for Catholic Institute. However, this will not be a straightforward encounter. Last time these sides met it was Pembroke that came away with the win in Serpentine Avenue. Could Pembroke do the double over Catholic Institute, and inflict them with their first home loss of the season? Only time will tell.
Umpires: Kris Cholewa, Ben Geoghegan
UCC v UCD
2:00pm (The Mardyke) Live on Hockey Ireland TV
A collegiate clash in The Mardyke headlines the weekend as UCC and UCD play out a potentially decisive survival showdown. Both sides currently sit in the relegation zone with a win for either considerably increasing their chances at staying in the division for another season. This will be a match not to be missed, particularly when the stakes are this high.
Umpires: Liz Clifford, Malcolm Coombes
Ards v Loreto
2:30pm (Londonderry Park)
Having ended 2024 without a single loss in the EY Hockey League, Loreto will want to continue that record into this calendar year when they return to action against Ards. Despite their current 8th place standing Ards are not to be underestimated. The Ulster side closed out 2024 with three positive results, securing draws with Ulster Elks and Pegasus before ending on a 2-0 home win over Old Alex. Loreto’s 4-1 win at home over Ards will make them favourites, but Ards certainly will not make things easy for the Leinster club.
Umpires: Aaron Donnell, Julie Fisher
Ulster Elks v Railway Union
2:30pm (Ulster University)
A second-third clash bookends the EYHL Women’s action on Saturday as Ulster Elks host Railway Union as they attempt to put an unceremonious end to Railway’s 6-game unbeaten run in the league. A win for Elks would see them leapfrog Railway into second and further stake their claim as one of the division’s top sides this year. For Railway the stakes are simple, win and keep your title hopes alive, lose and see them shrink significantly.
Umpires: Russell Donaldson, Eimear Linehan
EY Hockey League Division 2 – Women
Pool A
Cork Harlequins v Portadown
12:45pm (Harlequin Park)
Both sides started well in Round 1, with Portadown scoring late to grab a draw against Muckross, and Quins narrowly losing 2-1 on the road against Monkstown. With little to separate the sides, Harlequins experience in the competition along with their home advantage could hold them in good stead in this tie, but Portadown will certainly not want the long journey to be in vain!
Umpires: Gill Hohn, Grahm Hohn
Muckross v Greenfields
1:30pm (Muckross)
Two experienced EYHL2 sides meet in Dublin, as Muckross aim to build on their draw against Portadown, while Greenfields aspire to start their season with a win. Last week, Muckross showed their ability to score from set pieces, overturning a one goal deficit with a penalty corner and stroke, something Greenfields might want to be wary of as they approach this game.
Umpires: Abigail Bolger, Peter Urwin
Pool B
Corinthian v Queen’s University
1:15pm (St Columba’s College)
Both sides had to wait a week longer than previously anticipated to get underway with their round 1 games postponed due to Storm Eowyn.
Both Corinthian and QUB sit top of their respective divisions, with Corinthian crowned champions, and QUB unbeaten after 12 games, with 6 still to go. This game could be one of the best of the weekend so worth keeping an eye on.
Umpires: Luka Novakovic, TBC
Ashton v University of Galway
2:30 (Ashton)
Ashton will welcome University of Galway to Cork as the home side make their debut in the EYHL2. For both sides, Saturday poses a massive opportunity; a first EYHL2 win for either club. Despite being a seasoned side in the competition Galway are yet to record a win, but their form provincially this season may indicate that this is the year they make their mark.
Umpires: Stuart Egner, Deirdre Magner
