EYHL DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS TROPHY QUARTER-FINALS
PEMBROKE WANDERERS 0 UCD 0 ( UCD WINS 2-1 IN A SHOOT OUT)
Pembroke Wanderers, who finished 4th in the League, ended up playing against 5th-placed UCD in this Champions Trophy quarter-final. UCD had won the Division last season and were denied the Champions Trophy by Loreto. This year following this result UCD have a chance to do unto others as they have been done to on two previous occasions. This was a very closely fought game between two very evenly matched sides meeting each other for the fourth time this season. The two league games ended in draws. The only blip in the closeness of these two sides was in the Irish Senior Cup where UCD thumped Pembroke 4-0. This game was more like the two league encounters and both goalkeepers, Pembroke’s Aoife Glennon and UCD’s Erika Gallagher, excelled in normal time, completing saves which kept their own sides in the game as well as denying the opposition. UCD were the dominant side in the final quarter and created numerous chances to score but overall, it was no real surprise when it ended scoreless. 0-0 and it went to a shoot-out.
UCD took the first penalty and Ali Griffin had her effort saved by Aoife Glennon. Emily Beatty took the first penalty for Pembroke Wanderers and UCD goalkeeper Erika Gallagher forced her to put the ball wide. Mikayla Power took the second penalty for UCD and put the Students ahead 1-0. Pembroke Wanderers captain Ellen Curran put her effort wide again under pressure from UCD goalkeeper Erika Gallagher. Katie-Jane Marshall was next up for UCD and despite the best efforts of Aoife Glennon in the Pembroke Wanderers goal Marshall forced the ball over the line within the time allotted to put UCD 2-0 ahead. Up next for Pembroke Wanderers was Martha McCready and she scored her effort to make it 2-1 in the shoot-out to UCD. Leah O’Shea was up fourth for UCD and was forced to put her effort wide by Aoife Glennon, so it remained 2-1. Orla Macken was up fourth for Pembroke Wanderers and her effort was saved by UCD goalkeeper Erika Gallagher. The final penalty was taken by Sarah McAuley but in the 1 v 1 format the goalkeeper can have a bigger effect on the outcome during the 8 seconds time limit and Aoife Glennon forced her to shoot wide. The final effort was from Pembroke Wanderers from Sinéad Loughran whose effort was saved by UCD goalkeeper Erika Gallagher. UCD advance to the Champions Trophy semi-final weekend in Banbridge.
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 3 OLD ALEXANDRA 1
Catholic Institute set themselves up for a potential double by reaching the semi-finals weekend in the Champions Trophy which will take place next week in Havelock Park, Banbridge by defeating Old Alexandra in the quarter-final at Rosbrien. Ciara Moloney opened the scoring for Institute with a field goal in the 5th minute. Tory Byrne increased the lead for Catholic Institute in the 12th minute to make the score 2-0. Old Alexandra, who narrowly qualified for this quarter final on the basis of more League games won, got on the scoresheet through Abi Russell in the 66th minute from open play. It was 2-1 with four minutes remaining but Leah Clery removed any doubt by sealing the win for Catholic Institute with a 70th minute goal from open play for a 3-1 victory. Catholic Institute will join the last four and take on Railway Union next Saturday in Banbridge.
EYHL DIVISION 2 WOMEN’S SEMI-FINAL
CORK HARLEQUINS 1 ARDS 2
In Garryduff Saturday afternoon began with the first women’s EYHL 2 semi-final between Cork Harlequins and Ards. Ards took the lead through Rachel Houston from open play in the 19th minute. Cork Harlequins captain Michelle Barry equalised in the 22nd minute to make it 1-1. Rachel Houston scored her second goal from open play in the 34th minute to secure the victory by 2-1.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK 3 BELFAST HARLEQUINS 1
UCC will be in the EYHL Women’s Division 1 next season after this 3-1 victory over Belfast Harlequins who face another season in the Ulster Premier League in 2024-25. Julia McCarthy opened the scoring when she converted a penalty corner in the 36th minute to make it 1-0 to UCC. Abi O’Mahony added a second goal in the 44th minute to put the students 2-0 ahead. Emma O’Sullivan made it 3-0 in the 54th minute. Emma Fraser got Belfast Harlequins on the scoresheet in the 69th minute with a converted penalty corner, but it proved to be only a consolation goal as UCC ran out 3-1 winners.
