EYHL WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
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 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 and it was 2-1 at half time. Pegasus captain Ruth McCandless scored another 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.
OLD ALEXANDRA 3 CORINTHIANS 1
Old Alexandra secured another precious win in their quest for a playoff berth with this game against Corinthians. Abi Russell converted a 2nd minute penalty corner for 1-0. She got her second of the game from open play in the 9th minute to leave the Milltown based side 2-0 ahead. A converted penalty corner in the 35th minute appeared to have sealed the win on the stroke of half-time where they led 3-0. Corinthians might be struggling for points this season, but they don’t admit defeat without putting up some kind of a fight and Ava Maleady’s 56th minute field goal was just reward for their efforts, but alas that was all they could muster on this occasion. It finished Old Alex 3 Corinthians 1.
LORETO 2 MONKSTOWN 2
Loreto, the recently crowned League champions, don’t give up many points in the League during the current season, so it was a bit of surprise that they gave up two points on this occasion and Monkstown deserve great credit for helping themselves to one of those. Chloe Watkins from open play in the first minute gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Yasmin Pratt equalised for the homesters in the 7th minute. Rebecca Carthy restored Monkstown’s lead in the 27th minute with another goal from open play and they led 2-1 at half-time. Champions don’t like losing and hate losing at home even more so. Rachel Kelly’s 57th minute goal from open play secured a point for the Champions. The game ended 2-2.
RAILWAY UNION 4 PEMBROKE WANDERERS 1
Railway Union Irish Senior Cup finalists had a terrific 4-1 win over local rivals Pembroke Wanderers in this derby game at Park Avenue. Niamh Shaw with a goal from open play gave the hosts the lead. Orla Macken converted a penalty corner to get Pembroke on the scoresheet for the equaliser. Sarah Hawkshaw gave Railway Union the lead with a goal from open play to make it 2-1 to Railway. Niamh Carey increased their lead with another open play goal for 3-1 and Katie Mullan sealed the win to make the final scoreline Railway Union 4 Pembroke Wanderers 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 and 2) to try and secure 6th 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 Women’s firsts 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. The final score was UCD 1 Ulster Elks 2.
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. And 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.
The second pool A game is due to take place on Sunday.
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
The Junior High School was the venue for this game in the EYHL Women’s Division 2 Pool B game on Saturday where UCC provided the opposition to hosts Lurgan. 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, 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.
