Ireland: EY HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S ROUND 3 AND EYHL WOMEN’S ROUND 2 FIXTURES SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30 – PREVIEW.

ROUND 3 of the EY Hockey League Men’s Division 1 gets underway on Saturday September 30 when Instonians host Banbridge at Shawsbridge. Instonians who have yet to pick up a point thus far in the 2023-24 season, face a Banbridge side that had victory snatched from them last time out by a last gasp equalising goal from Glenanne. Glenanne themselves are on the road again this time for the much shorter trip to Grange Road in Rathfarnham where they take on Three Rock Rovers. Both sides have 4 points out of a possible 6 from their opening two rounds of games. UCD take on Corinthian at Belfield. Corinthian won the EYHL 2 last season and beat UCD in the final. Both sides also finished in the top three in the Leinster Division 1A last season. Corinthian have 4 points out of 6 from their opening two rounds of games. UCD have zero points so far in their opening games but also have shipped 11 goals during those two fixtures and will need to shore up their defense immediately if they are to achieve anything in the League this season. Although they scored 4 times last week against Lisnagarvey they managed to lose the game 8-4. Annadale play Lisnagarvey and the latter have scored 15 goals in their first two outings and are currently on top of the table, two points clear of all the others and the only remaining side with a 100% record. Annadale got their first points last weekend with a 4-1 win over Instonians. Monkstown take on YMCA in the late game at Rathdown School. They have a win and a loss so far this season and will be looking to add to their points tally at home to a YMCA side still in search of their first point of the campaign.

ROUND 2 of the Women’s Division 1 gets underway on Saturday also, with Corinthian hosting EYHL Division 1 champions UCD. Last season’s EYHL2 winners were beaten by the 2022 Irish Senior Cup winners Catholic Institute in their opening game while UCD were held scoreless by the EYHL winners from 2021-22 Pembroke Wanderers last time out. Loreto take on Catholic Institute at Beaufort and having gotten off to a brilliant start to the campaign have lived up to the belief of many, that they are favorites for this year’s title with 9 current senior international squad members in their line-up. Insta themselves are fresh from a home win against Corinthian. Old Alexandra take on Ulster Elks, and last season’s Ulster Premier Division Champions and EYHL 2 runners up had a good 3-1 win in their opening match. Alex have 0 points so far following an opening day defeat to Railway Union. Union themselves host Pegasus and will be looking to add to that victory last week. Pegasus were thumped 4-0 at home by Loreto last week. Monkstown host Pembroke Wanderers looking for their first League points of the campaign. Having lost to newly promoted Ulster Elks last week they will be hoping to get a positive outcome against Pembroke who drew 0-0 away to UCD last weekend.