The Irish playoff stage is set with Banbridge and Loreto both looking to retain their national titles next week and make a return to the Euro Hockey League for the 2024/25 season.
Both enjoyed a weekend off as the EY Champions Trophy quarter-finals took place, a phase which both clubs bypassed due to their respective wins in the regular EY Hockey League season.
For Banbridge, they will play YMCA who reached the final four phase for the first time in their history following a late 1-0 win over Three Rock Rovers thanks to a Grant Glutz volley in the last four minutes.
The other half of the draw sees Lisnagarvey come up against Monkstown. The latter side finished the regular season in sixth place but they picked up an impressive 2-1 win over the Glens with Geoff Cole and Jeremy Duncan scoring the defining goals in the first 10 minutes.
On the women’s side, Loreto will meet UCD in their final four encounter after the student side made it through their quarter-final game against Pembroke following a shoot-out.
Catholic Institute completed the semi-finalists with a 3-1 success against Old Alex courtesy of Ciara Moloney, Tory Byrne and Leah Clery strikes.
They will meet Railway Union in the final four with all of those fixtures set to take place at Banbridge’s Havelock Park on Saturday with the final happening a day later on Sunday.
