The first round of the EYHL Women's Division 1 2023-2024 season got underway at Queen's University where Pegasus hosted Loreto. It was the visitors that struck first, Rachel Kelly scoring from open play in only the fourth minute. She grabbed her second of the game in the 10th minute. It was 2-0 at the end of the first quarter and remained 2-0 at the half -time break.
Síofra O'Brien added a third for Loreto in the 42nd minute. Caoimhe Perdue made it 4-0 to Loreto with a 61st minute goal from a penalty corner.
Catholic Institute hosted promoted side Corinthians at Rosbrien. The hosts took an early lead through Aoife Hickey and led 1-0 at half-time. Anna Horan made it 2-0 in the third quarter and got her second of the game to leave Insta leading 3-0. Jessica McGrane got a consolation goal for the visitors three minutes from time so the final score was Catholic Institute 3 Corinthians 1.
Dublin derby at Alexandra College saw Old Alexandra host Railway Union. After a very tight first quarter and an equally tight second it was 0-0 at half time. Railway Union took the lead in the 53rd minute when Leah Warren converted a penalty corner to put them 1-0 ahead. In the 55th minute Railway Union increased their lead through an Ailish Long goal from open play and it finished Old Alexandra 0 Railway Union 2.
Defending champions UCD took on Pembroke Wanderers in a derby at Belfield.
It was a bit of a reunion as the Pembroke Wanderers squad had six former UCD players in their ranks, most of whom had played at some point under current UCD coach Miles Warren. Both sides have been continuous members of the EYHL since it became a season-long League format in 2015-16 season. Given the familiarity of both sides with each other, it's probably no surprise that the game ended in stalemate (and given the high quality of defenders in action in this game in both camps, probably even less of a surprise that it was scoreless). UCD 0 Pembroke Wanderers 0.
Ulster Elks took on Monkstown at the University Sportsgrounds in Jordanstown and got off to a successful opening day despite a challenging start.
Monkstown were bolstered by the return to the ranks of experienced players Laura Pinder and Sarah Greene and indeed took the lead early on when they were awarded a penalty stroke which Chloe Watkins converted the 8th minute. Elks responded in the 20th minute when Serena Campuzano converted a penalty corner. Bethany Harper gave Elks the lead when she scored from open play in the 35th minute and Jessica McMaster sealed the 3-1 win for Elks scoring from open play in the 58th minute. Final score Ulster Elks 3 Monkstown 1.
PEGASUS 0 LORETO 4 (Rachel Kelly 4 & 10 mins, Síofra O'Brien 42 mins, Caoimhe Perdue 61 mins)
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 3 (Aoife Hickey 8 mins, Anna Horan 52& 53 mins) CORINTHIANS 1 (Jessica McGrane 67 mins)
OLD ALEXANDRA 0 RAILWAY UNION 2 (Leah Warren 55 mins, Ailish Long 57 mins)
UCD 0 PEMBROKE WANDERERS 0
ULSTER ELKS 3 (Serena Campuzano 20 mins, Bethany Harper 35 mins, Jessica McMaster 58 mins) MONKSTOWN 1 (Chloe Watkins PS 8 mins)
