Hook Hockey » Diocesan

Six national cup draws made at IHA offices

Stephen Findlater — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:06:17 +0000

On a bumper day of draws, clubs from all over the country found out their national fate as the initial rounds of the Irish Junior Cup, Irish Hockey Trophy and Irish Hockey Challenge competitions were decided at the IHA Offices this afternoon

Some big guns will fall by the wayside in the men’s IJC as Leinster sides – after a harrowing 2010/11 season – face tough trips up north. 2010 winners travel to Annadale to face the current Ulster Junior One leaders while Pembroke go to Shawsbrige on December 3 to play Instonians in another high quality encounter.

Glenanne and YMCA have been among the more impressive sides domestically thus far and so they serve up the most eagerly awaited tie in Dublin while Fingal make a short hop to Suttonians. Lisnagarvey enter the competition at home against Belfast Harlequins while last season’s semi-finalists Three Rock are on the road for a sixth successive game in this competition, drawn at South Antrim.

On the women’s side, Railway are through to the second round without having to lift a stick in earnest as one of four teams to get a bye – potential threat UCD are another, along with Ballymoney and Galway. Perhaps the tie of the round pits the Ulster Elks against Randalstown in a repeat of their 3-3 draw two weekends ago while Old Alex’s hosting of Catholic Institute is another to vye for that mantle.

Dublin Uni are the only side to enter the men’s Irish Hockey Trophy at the first round stage as they face Queens just a couple of weeks after the intervarsities. Avoca, Portrane, Suttonians, Weston and Rathgar lie in wait in round two.

On the women’s side, Rathgar travel to Ashton in their first national competition since renaming from Diocesan. Avoca host Bandon in the other round one game as Bray, Clontarf, Genesis, Naas, Newbridge, North Kildare, Our Ladys, Suttonians, Weston and YMCA – in their first time at this level of competition following two successful Irish Hockey Challenge runs.

It leaves Monkstown and Botanic as Leinster’s main contenders in the women’s IHC but they will aim to avoid Dungarvan away. The Co Waterford club ran to the final with a series of home successes and are back on home territory again this year, facing NUIG.

The Men’s Challenge has handed finalists Kilkenny a route into the second round via the bye option while winners Portrane have moved into the Trophy.

Men’s Irish Junior Cup draw: Suttonians v Fingal; Annadale v Monkstown; Newry v Clontarf; Instonians v Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne v YMCA; Bangor v NICS; Dublin Uni v Corinthian; South Antrim v Three Rock Rovers; Cookstown v North Down; Cork C of I v Mossley; Kilkeel v UCC; Lisnagarvey v Belfast HQ; UCD v Banbridge; Bandon v Cork Harlequins; Raphoe v Railway Union
Bye: Antrim

Women’s Irish Junior Cup: Old Alex v Catholic Institute; Ashton v Dublin University; Loreto v Portadown; Lisnagarvey v Pembroke W; Queens v Hermes; Genesis v Dromore; Ulster Elks v Randalstown; Armagh v Pegasus; Corinthian v UCC; Bandon v Belfast Harlequins; Cork C of I v Lurgan; Glenanne v Cork Harlequins
Byes: UCD; Ballymoney; Galway, Railway Union

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy: Raphoe v Newry; Queens University v Dublin Uni…
Byes: Antrim, Armagh, Avoca; Bangor; Campbellians; Catholic Inst; Cliftonville; Portadown; Portrane; Rathgar Chiefs; South Antrim; Suttonians; UCC; Weston

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Ashton v Rathgar; Avoca v Bandon
Byes: Bray; Clontarf; Cookstown; Cork C of I; Dromore; Fermoy; Galway; Genesis; Greenfields; Greenisland; Kilkeel; Knock; Larne; Naas; Newbridge; NICS; North Down; North Kildare; Omagh; Our Ladys; Portadown; Suttonians; UL; Victorians; Waterford; Weston; Wexford; YMCA

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Galway v Naas; St James Gate v Portrush; Ballymena v Larne; Saintfield v North Kildare; Omagh v Parkview
Byes: Limerick, Kilkenny, PSNI

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Monkstown v Gorey; Dungarvan v NUIG; Cork Wanderers v Clonmel; Botanic v Wexford; Tipperary v Enniscorthy
Byes: Cashel New Inn; Parkview, Kilkenny

The Hook begins 2011/12 preparations

Stephen Findlater — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:41:01 +0000

With the release of the Leinster men’s early season fixtures with those of Leinster and South East women to follow in due course, thoughts of the 2011/12 season are slowly appearing on the horizon with the odd pre-season notion coming to mind. The Hook is no different and is looking forward to its fifth season since the site first started in its blog format.

The site has come a long way since its early beginnings. In the past year, the switch to a website format and the development of the site’s excellent photographic arm, culminating in the Irish Hockey Photographers’ dedicated website, were among the projects undertaken.

During the season, the addition of more video elements and our first ever ‘livestream’ – the vast majority with thanks to Tristan Seaton-Stedham – has been a huge advance.

The first Hook Awards’ night – primarily a fundraiser for Glenanne’s EHL trip at Easter – will hopefully become a regular fixture in the local hockey calendar.

Full league tables, updated on Sunday morning’s based on club submissions were integrated mid-season and the Stats Centre will hopefully be tidied up and improved in the coming months.

For the 2011/12 season, using The Hook’s twitter page, the intention is to be ramp up this service and be able to collate virtually all of the divisional results in a simple, free fashion within minutes of game’s completion and, thus provide the earliest possible league table updates.

During the season, the Hook has endeavoured to travel to as many games as possible, taking in trips to Munster, Ulster, the Netherlands and France to cover as many aspects of our sport to the highest standard.

More details will follow on this in due course but to develop these elements and maintain standards, the site does require a personal financial outlay which is primarily attempted to be covered from those who have donated to the site; 100pc of these funds go back into the Hook’s development.

Should you wish to help the coverage and promotion of Leinster and Irish hockey, feel free to contribute to the site via the ‘Donation’ button on the left-hand side of this page (or follow this link).

Finally, thank you all for taking the time to read, contribute and comment to The Hook. Website hits have increased more close to three-fold this season, an indicator that the Hook’s efforts are being appreciated in some form.

Such indicators, along with the feedback received around the grounds week-in, week-out, make the efforts which go into the site much easier to manage.

All the best for the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing some of you pitch-side as the Irish men and women pursue their Olympic dream, building toward the European Championships in August.

Stephen Findlater

Diocesan and Rathgar welcome new era

Stephen Findlater — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:27:24 +0000

After 50 years of Diocesan Hockey Club, there are changes afoot in Rathgar. 2011 is a memorable year for Dioc, not only celebrating their Jubilee but the club is in the process of undergoing quite a makeover.

For the first time, the club welcomed a men’s section with the formation of the Rathgar Chiefs in September 2010. In addition, a juniors section was introduced, too, with the club recently starting a section for 2nd class girls and upwards, flourishing to host more than 50 players on any given Friday evening.

This growth has been made possible thanks to the laying of two new Astroturf pitches in High school’s Danum grounds.

These developments have ushered in a new era with the club deciding to fully amalgamate with the Chiefs under the new official moniker of Rathgar Hockey Club.

The name change was toasted at Diocesan’s recent 50th anniversary ball, raising a glass to say goodbye to Diocesan and hello to Rathgar.

The ball also gave the club perfect opportunity to look back on their history in the presence of past and present members while a special presentation was made to retiring chairperson and founding member – Ethni Seymour who has played for the club since its start in 1961 and hasn’t missed a season to date.

Prior to the new season, the club will running summer hockey in High School on Monday evenings at 7.30pm from June 13 while on September 10, there will a mixed hockey 5-a-side tournament and barbecue.

For more details, check out this (facebook) link, or go here for Diocesan info and here for Rathgar Chiefs info

The Hook celebrates first Awards Night

Stephen Findlater — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:53:14 +0000

The Hook celebrated its first Awards Night in Kobra on Leeson Street on Grafton Street last Saturday evening, honouring its first seven official award winners at the event, excellently organised by members of Glenanne sports club, with Gary Shaw in particular the driving force behind what we hope will become an annual event.

Carlsberg, Ed Sports and Gilmour Sports also came on board to support the event with proceeds from the event going to support Glenanne’s EHL bid over the Easter weekend.

The awards themselves took on a two-part process with clubs asked to nominate players, coaches and umpires from within their own club and from others to produce the main shortlist.

From those shortlists, the public vote drew well over 4,000 responses and was the most viewed story on the site since moving to the new format at the start of the season. Winners were determined solely on this basis.

Adrian Boehm received the largest percentage of the vote in any category as he took the Contributor of the Year title with a massive 41.72% of the vote for his sterling photographic work that he provides each week.

Indeed, his volume and quality of photos over the last weekend can be seen on the Irish Hockey Photographers website, covering all four of the national finals in Belfield to the highest standard.

Gillian McAuliffe, the woman responsible for the site’s overhaul last summer, took second place in this category just ahead of photographer Deryck Vincent.

The umpire of the year award was the closest category but was eventually taken down by Olympic whistle-blower Carol Metchette (left), coming in just ahead of Fiona Davitt and Kieran Bolger.

Metchette continues to impress in both the men’s and women’s division one games while also showing the tenacity in the past week in the line of duty, umpiring in key games this week despite picking up a shiner sustained in the first meeting of Loreto and Old Alex.

A feature of the umpire’s vote was the spread of nominations in the “Other” option with UDP umpires Karl Chapple and Ali Keogh along with Kris Cholewa picking up a number of votes.

Scott Beattie took the Coach of the Year following a bumper debut year with Sutton Park, winning the northside school’s first Senior title when they claimed the Senior Trophy in dramatic fashion while also reaching the Minor Cup final.

Will Powderly was among the “other” nominations, receiving a high proportion of the public vote while Richard Mason and Didi Cole’s dual-work at Monkstown and Gareth Borland’s role as Leinster U-16 boss and Clontarf player-coach also drew plenty of praise beyond the initial nominees.

Onto the player awards and Dannielle Cummins, Avoca’s first team goalkeeper took the Junior Women’s title just ahead of YMCA taliswoman Tara Powderly.

And another goalkeeper took the Junior Men’s gong, Rathgar Chiefs’ Dan Gribben certainly his side’s most consistent performer until he broke his hand recently in the club’s maiden season.

Audrey McCormack tallied the most votes of any of the categories as the Glenanne woman took home the Senior Women’s Player of the Year. The midfielder continues to be a powerhouse in midfield and the engine which drives the Glens all-action approach.

Finally, Gareth Watkins (below, left) added another personal achievement to 2010 Irish Hockey Club Player of the Year crown, as he topped the Senior Men’s Player of the Year tally ahead of Glenanne’s Joe Brennan.

A big thanks again to Gary Shaw and his crew for putting together the night and to all the people who attended on the night, helped with nominations and voted for the various awards.

The Hook exists for and because of the people that take part in our game at all levels week in and week out and so, to receive the support for this venture and, indeed, the site in general is pretty overwhelming and suggests a need is being fulfilled.

These awards honour just some of the people that make the sport a source of enjoyment for people to be involved in and want to prosper, capturing some of the spirit of the game. Long may it continue.

*** The top three in each category is below with the percentage of the final vote in brackets while also mentioned are some of the people who received sizeable votes in the “other” section and are worthy of mention for their efforts in the past season.

Contributor of the Year (Total votes: 676)
1. Adrian Boehm (41.72%)
2. Gillian McAuliffe (18.64%)
3. Deryck Vincent (18.49%)
Honorable mentions outside of the nominees: Emer Keogh – photographic contributions

Umpire of the Year (615)
1. Carol Metchette (18.21%)
2. Fiona Davitt (14.47%)
3. Kieran Bolger (12.85%)
Honorable mentions: Kris Cholewa, Karl Chapple, Ali Keogh

Coach of the Year (904)
1. Scott Beattie, Sutton Park (22.57%)
2. Graham Shaw, Loreto/Glenanne (14.82%)
3. Mick McKinnon, Railway ladies (10.73%)
Honorable mentions: Will Powderly (YMCA ladies), Richard Mason/Didi Cole (Monkstown); Gareth Borland (Leinster U-16/Clontarf); Mary Logue (Hermes); Brendon Carolan (Pembroke)

Junior Women’s Player of the Year (487)
1. Danielle Cummins, Avoca (28.13%)
2. Tara Powderly, YMCA (23.82%)
3. Sarah Lovett, Monkstown (18.69%)
Honorable mentions: Emma Kilbride (Our Lady’s); Fiona Walshe (Swords); Courtney Watkins (Monkstown)

Junior Men’s Player of the Year (454)
1. Dan Gribben, Rathgar Chiefs (31.5%)
2. Martin Naughton, Avoca (21.37%)
3. Stephen Cairns, Clontarf (16.08%)
Honorable mentions: Harry Spain (Suttonians), Tom Noonan (Clontarf), Paul Kennedy (St James’ Gate)

Senior Women’s Player of the Year (977)
1. Audrey McCormack, Glenanne (22.01%)
2. Chloe Watkins, UCD (14.23%)
3. Kate Dillon, Railway Union (13.61%)
Honorable mentions: Maebh Horan (Trinity), Jeamie Deacon (Railway Union), Sinead Walsh (Railway Union), Nikki Symmons (Loreto), Sinead Dooley (Railway Union)

Senior Men’s Player of the Year (710)
1. Gareth Watkins, Monkstown (21.55%)
2. Joe Brennan, Glenanne (15.07%)
3. Alan Blennerhassett, Corinthian (12.25%)
Honorable mentions: Ali Haughton (TRR); Andrew Walker (YMCA); Brian Groves (Monkstown); Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne); Andrew Sutton (Corinthian); Fran Lee (Monkstown)

Have your say in the Hook Awards!

Stephen Findlater — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:04:31 +0000

The nominations are in and now it is your chance to have a say in who wins the first Hook Awards as the public vote for Umpire, Coach and Senior men’s and women’s player of the year went live this morning.

The poll is also still open for the Hook’s Contributor of the Year with the nominees for Junior Player of the Year (those operating for first teams outside of men’s and women’s division one) set to go live later today.

Nominees for these awards have come about from proposals in the various categories, seeking to honour the broad spectrum of Leinster hockey.

Voting will be open up until March 30 with the winners being announced at The Hook’s Awards Night and end of season party – held in conjunction with Glenanne SC – on April 2 in Kobra on Leeson Street.

To secure your ticket for the event, contact Gary Shaw on 087 986 1942 or email shawsie14@gmail.com. Tickets costs €10 and will also include free entry into NV nightclub while there will be finger-food and spot prizes on the night.

Here are the five votes online thus far:

First step on path to national glory known

Stephen Findlater — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:53:31 +0000

Six cup draws were made by the IHA on Monday afternoon with interesting ties in the men’s and women’s Irish Junior, Trophy and Challenge events becoming apparent.

Monkstown II’s path to the men’s IJC starts off with a reasonable pleasing tie, hosting Ulster Junior One side Raphoe II at Rathdown as they aim to keep their chances of retaining their treble on track. Most of the Leinster big guns have avoided each other with Pembroke travelling to Clontarf; Corinthian host Armagh’s Ulster Junior Three side.

Glenanne against Instonians could be the tie of the round while YM hope they can catch the Hyde-side of Dublin Uni who have lost 19-0 to Railway before shocking the Town while Three Rock have a real test down in Cork against C of I, the 2009 champions.

In the women’s competition, last year’s finalists Old Alex II and Randalstown II both start with home games, the latter facing a tester against Pembroke II. Railway Union II – finalists in 2009 – play Ulster Elks who top the Junior leagues up north in what could be the tie of the round.

In the Women’s IHT, Muckross reward for their win last weekend over Weston is a home tie with Diocesan but most of Leinster’s entrants are on the road with Genesis, Three Rock Ladies, Naas, North Kildare, Avoca and Our Lady’s drawn away. Suttonians and Clontarf, though, will play in North Dublin on November 27.

Bray are the one men’s Trophy side to play in the preliminary phase, facing the long trek to Donegal to play Raphoe. A couple of Leinster derbies highlight the second round in January; Clontarf bring Avoca to the bullring while Rathgar face Suttonians.

Reigning men’s IHC champions St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park will have the home option again when they face Portrush while Campbellians may feel they have something to prove after last year’s run to the semi-final ended with a withdrawal. They have been drawn to play in Mullingar.

In the women’s draw, NUIG face Kilkenny in the sole first round tie, fighting for the right to play Monkstown in the New Year. The Rathdown side will be hoping to break the two year run of YMCA.

Men’s Irish Junior Cup, round one (December 11): Railway Union vs Kilkeel; Bandon vs Fingal; Monkstown vs Raphoe; Banbridge vs Belfast Harlequins; Mossley vs UCC; NICS vs Antrim; Clontarf vs Pembroke Wanderers; Cork C of I vs Three Rock Rovers; South Antrim vs Cork Harlequins; North Down vs Newry; YMCA vs Dublin University; Glenanne vs Instonians; UCD vs Annadale; Lisnagarvey vs Cookstown; Corinthian vs Armagh

ESB Women’s Irish Junior Cup, round one (December 11): Queens vs Portadown; Railway Union vs Ulster Elks; Lurgan vs Armagh; UCD vs Catholic Institute; Belfast Harlequins vs Greenisland; Old Alexandra vs Cork C of Ireland; Bandon vs Loreto; Pegasus vs Victorians; Dromore vs Corinthian; Randalstown vs Pembroke Wanderers; Lisnagarvey vs Glenanne; Hermes vs Cork Harelquins; Ashton vs Galway; Dublin University vs Omagh; UCC vs Genesis
Bye: Bray

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round one (November 27): Raphoe vs Bray; UCC vs Catholic Institute
Round Two (January 22): Newry vs Antrim; Clontarf vs Avoca; Cliftonville vs Portadown; Queens vs Belfast Harlequins; Dublin University vs South Antrim; Raphoe/Bray vs UCC/Catholic Institute; Navan vs Armagh; Rathgar Chiefs vs Suttonians

ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round two (November 27): Portadown vs Our Ladys Terenure; Muckross vs Diocesan; Waterford vs NUIG; Omagh vs Avoca; Belvedere vs Three Rock Ladies; Victorians vs Naas; Greenfields vs North Kildare; Cookstown vs Fermoy; Raphoe vs Dromore; Ashton vs Wexford; NICS vs Cork C of I; Greenisland vs Galway; Clontarf vs North Down; Suttonians vs Carrickfergus; Ballymena vs Bandon; Lisnagarvey vs Genesis

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, round one (December 4): Kilkenny vs Limerick; Ballymena vs Saintfield; Down vs Larne
Round Two (January 29): Parkview vs Naas; Mullingar vs Campbellians; Kilkenny/Limerick vs PSNI; Portrane vs North Kildare; St Brendans/Phoenix Park vs Portrush; Omagh vs St James Gate; Ballymena/Saintfield vs Skerries; Down/Larne vs Galway

ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge, round one (December 4): NUIG vs Kilkenny
Round Two (January 29): Dungarvan vs Wexford; Clonmel vs Mallow; Enniscorthy vs Gorey; YMCA vs Annadale; Renmore vs Limerick; NUIG/Kilkenny vs Monkstown; Banbridge vs Yeats County; Athlone vs Tipperary

Suttonians and Weston to fly flag: IHT results

Stephen Findlater — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:18:00 +0000

Goals galore in the men’s Irish Hockey Trophy as Suttonians and Weston keep the Leinster flag flying into the quarter-finals. Suttonians produced an incredible 8-3 win over Down which included no less than seven yellow cards and one red. Reuben Holden scored a goal to help his side into a 3-2 lead before being permanently dismissed with half an hour to go.

Down, however, received five yellows to regularly even up the balance of play and Suttonians took advantage to stretch the lead with Richie Wormold bagging a hat-trick and Simon Walsh and Conor Gillett scoring twice.

Weston had a more comfortable win with Alan Browne on target twice in a 5-0 win over Galway. Trinity, however, bowed out in an 8-4 turnover in Antrim. Despite Simon Clarke’s hat-trick, Navan fell to the odd goal in nine to Cliftonville for whom Stevie McMillen matched Clarke’s tally while former international Julian Stevenson was also on target. Avoca lost 6-1 to Ulster Senior One leaders NICS at Stormont.

On the women’s side, Diocesan won the Dublin 6/4 derby with Muckross with a fine 3-0 win and became one of just three Leinster sides to progress in the women’s Trophy. Clontarf nicked a 1-0 win over Parkview courtesy of Ciara Brody’s goal while Three Rock Ladies received a walkover from Yeats County.

Our Lady’s, meanwhile, face a refix as their tie with a talented young Greenfields’ side was postponed – one of three ties which did not survive the weather. Naas, Fingal, Suttonians and Skerries all exited the competition. Former Pembroke player Emma Glanville, though, was on target for Galway as they snuck an extra-time 2-1 win over Cookstown.

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy
Suttonians 8 (Conor Gillett 2, Reuben Holden, Richile Wormold 3, Simon Walsh 2) Down 3 (S White 2, P Tate); Antrim 8 (David McGrillen, Stuart McIlroy 5, Neil McCullough, Alan Mullan) Dublin University 4 (Tolly Humphries 2, Henry Butler, Chris Tyrell); Catholic Inst 2 (J O’Sullivan, S Brickenden) Newry 1 (J Taylor); NICS 6 (P Johnston 3, A Gill, C Irwin, C Posnett) Avoca 1 ; Navan 4 (Simon Clarke 3, Simon McKeever) Cliftonville 5 (Stevie McMillen 3, Julian Stevenson, David Hurley); Weston 5 (Alan Browne 2, Shane O’Hare, Karl Taylor, Enda Tucker) Galway 0; Queens vs Portadown OFF; Belfast HQ vs UCC OFF

ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy
Knock 3 (D Hagan, J Carlisle,S Campaganaro) Naas 1 (H O’Sullivan); Diocesan 3 (Maria Scanlan, Alison Gill, Sarah Lodola) Muckross 0; Wexford 3 (Jean Devoy, Miriam Sherlock, Miriam Lambert) Ballymena 1; Omagh 3 (Anne Buchanan, Emma Shortt, Julie Frazer) NICS 1 (Leanne Moore); Galway 2 (Emma Glanville, Lynsey Trainor) Cookstown 1 (Ruth Browne) aet; Fingal 1 (Ita McMahon) Greenisland 2 (Jenny Henry, Carly Ann Bennett); Bandon 4 (Ann O’Donovan 2,Lorna Dennehy, Racehlle Nyham) North Down 0; Suttonians 1 (Laura Trainor) Portadown 5 (Sam Hill 2, Debbie Archer, Alison Rainey, Esther Irwin); Catholic Institute 9 (Rosie Pratt 3, Kealy Cantrell, Roisin Upton, Naomi Carroll, Nicky Sterritt, Edel Higgins, Elaine Bromell) Skerries 1 (Susan Mooney); Clontarf 1 (Ciara Brody) Parkview 0; Banbridge 2 (N Robb, A Atkinson) Carrickfergus (E Boal, K McIlroy, S McGookin); TRL w/o Yeats County scr; Ashton w/o Priorians scr; Queens vs Waterford OFF; Dromore vs North Kildare OFF; Greenfields vs Our Ladys Terenure OFF

* For more of Deryck Vincent’s photos of Clontarf vs Parkview, click here

Women's junior league round-up

Stephen Findlater — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:24:00 +0000

Virtually all the Leinster women’s leagues have come to a conclusion in the past fortnight. Here’s a quick round-up of whose going up and down across the divisions as well as a couple of cup finals last Sunday:

Division Two:

One of the few issues yet to be resolved this season is the destination of the division two title with Loreto II and Railway Union II the two sides who are potential winners. Loreto must wait anxiously for Railway to play their last two matches against Hermes II (April and a Skerries (April 20) side looking to escape relegation.

Genesis (pictured above left), currently in fourth, are the highest placed first team in the division but not near enough to the top to take an automatic promotion place and must now play-off with Corinthian for division one status at a date to be decided.

At the bottom, Our Lady’s drop out of the division with either Skerries or Clontarf to follow.

Division Three:

North Kildare were one of the first sides to pick up a league title as they eased to the divisional title. Pembroke III took second spot with a crucial final day win over the Kilcock-based side which kept their nose just in front of the chasing Corinthian II and Suttonians. Sutton picked up the division three/four cup with a 2-1 win over Bray.

North Kildare, meanwhile, are hoping to have an astroturf pitch in place at the Maws in time for the 2009/10 season.

Three Rock Ladies II (pictured, right) went down after a mid-season slump in one of the tightest divisions, having occupied the top half of the table in December. Diocesan picked up 18 points but still came ninth and also face the drop.

Division Four:

Rowland Rixon-Fuller’s Muckross added division four to their decent cup run in the Irish Hockey Trophy to make it a successful season as the Teresians-based club continues their rebuilding process.

Cup finalists Bray II will join them after they won the last game of the season against Trinity II 5-0 to push Weston out of the promotion places. Clontarf II and Corinthian III are relegated.

Division Five:

Naas translated top league form into a decent IHC cup run which was only ended after extra time by Fermoy. Consolation was quick to come, though, as they took the league with an immaculate nine wins from nine on the road. They followed up with cup success on Sunday, beating Swords 2-1 powered on by Tracey Dunlop.

Railway Union III took second in spite of a one-point penalty while Loreto IV and Fingal II propped up the table.

Division Six:

North Kildare II added to the success story around the Maws, topping division six, leading home Navan by two points. At the bottom, Loreto V drop a league while Tullamore have one last chance to escape the same fate with a refix against North Kildare. If they gain three points, Old Alex IV will end in ninth place.

Division Seven:

Skerries II took the league win with a dramatic 2-0 win over Bray III last Saturday to leap-frog Newbridge II – who have a cup final against Hermes III to come later this month. They end in second with Bray just outside the promotion places in third. Our Lady’s III and Corinthian IV occupy the last two spaces.

Division Eight:

Dalkey (left) continue their rise through the divisions as they sealed the title in mid-March. Suttonians II follow them up to division seven while Diocesan III and UCD IV go down.

Division Nine:

A 100pc league record and an IHC title, YMCA (below right) completed a perfect season at Grange Road on Sunday when they beat Old Alex V 2-0 in the division 9/10 cup final. With a goal difference of +83, YM look like they can definitely hold their own quite a few divisions higher.

Malahide were best of the rest, garnering 46 points which would have assured the league in the vast majority of the other final tables. Loreto VI and Genesis V were ninth and tenth respectively.

Division Ten:

Old Alex V’s may have been denied a double by the mighty YMCA but did have a league title in the bank to ease their worries. Bray IV go up with Tullamore II and Fingal III going the other way.

Division Eleven:

Avoca II took division eleven in emphatic style, taking the eight-team table by a massive eleven points from Corinthian V. Loreto VII were bottom of the table but league restructuring may ensue at this level of competition due to number of teams left in the table as a result of Three Rock Ladies V withdrawal.

Division Twelve:

Only the league’s most crucial fixture remains as Naas III and Mullingar occupy the top two slots. Naas have a one-point advantage but Mullingar have home comforts in what could be a thrilling end to the season. Pembroke VII came ninth of nine in this table.

Division Thirteen:

Newbridge IV came within one win of a perfect season, dropping just two points all year to take first place. Malahide II follow their first team’s lead and gain promotion too. UCD VI will finish bottom but RCSI have three games left to try and get safe with Skerries III and Phoenix Park II within reach.

Division Fourteen:

Monkstown’s return to women’s hockey has been greeted with a tenth successive promotion, though there has been quite a hiatus between the ninth and tenth. The latter preceded the club changing their moniker to Glenageary United and subsequently disbanding. This vintage has had a hugely impressive first year with an IHC semi-final and a near perfect league record yielding a goal difference of +90. Navan II take second place of the 14 team division.

North Kildare, Muckross and Avoca II take league honours

Stephen Findlater — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:46:00 +0000

Kickstarting the busy season for trophy-engravers, the first three Leinster women’s league titles were confirmed in the past week with numerous others up for decision on Saturday afternoon.

North Kildare’s firsts took the division three crown last Saturday with a 2-0 victory away to Diocesan before extending their advantage to ten points over the chasing pack, with just two games remaining, with a 1-0 win on Sunday in Fingal.

Their success was built on an incredible home defensive record that did not concedea single goal all season.

A division down, Muckross moved ten clear of Weston when they beat Trinity 3-1 in Santry to bounce back up to division three.

Division 11, meanwhile, went the way of Avoca IIs who have built up an 11-point margin over the chasing pack. They were the first side to win their league, taking the honours on February 28 with an 8-2 win over Muckross IV.

On the men’s side, nothing has been decided just yet but Dublin University III are closest to taking league honours. They need a point from their remaining two games or Fingal III to drop a point in their last four games.

Having presided in the now defunct division ten nine years ago, this could prove a fifth promotion in recent years. They set up the acheivement with a 3-0 victory over Avoca – the Blackrock side featuring former Trinity stalwarts Alan Stokes, Paddy Frankel and Hugh Passmore.

*For more pictures from Dublin University III vs Avoca, taken by Jessica Pakenham-Money, click here and for more Dublin University photos, click here

Women's weekend preview

Stephen Findlater — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:19:00 +0000

Both men’s and women’s Leinster Senior leagues get under way tomorrow after seismic changes in the transfer market.

The women’s side would seem to offer the most interesting match-ups given a crazy summer with big moves across the board. Bray play their first ever senior league game since their inception in 1992 but will not want for talent and could well be involved in the race for IHL places come the end of the season.

Added to Irish internationals Linda O’Neill and Catherine Murray, Mary Goode, Elaine Brommell and Stephanie Hall -all from Pembroke – have been added with Loreto’s Sarah Scott joining as a player-coach and Roy Horsefield taking overall charge.

They are due to get their season underway on Saturday (1.15pm) against Glenanne though the match may be moved following the passing of Pat McGinley. The Glens started with a surprise win over Pembroke last week in the cup and have brought in Nikki Daly from Diocesan and Valerie Sexton from Corinthian.

Pembroke – who have added Orla Ryan – will see how their squad measures up against Loreto (2pm). In addition to the three moves to Pembroke, Emer Harte will move to England to study for the season.

Loreto, meanwhile, start the season under new management with Orla Bell taking the reigns. She replaces Guy Garrett who brought the club to within just a few minutes of Club Championship glory last season.

Hermes look in great shape for the season with a couple of notable additions. Irish international Christine Quinlan returns from UCD, as does Sarah Jenkinson. U-16 international Deirdre Duke comes in from Three Rock while the young quartet Sarah Greene, Chloe Watkins, Gillian Pinder and Niamh Atchelor are available for their first full season.

Jill Hodgins will be away until January but Jenny Burke returns in October. Up front, though, Liz McInerney will be a big loss, going to UCD while Liane Costello moves to Old Alex.

Their tie with Railway Union (2pm) is likely to be the most high quality tie as the top two from last season. Railway, however, are without Emma Smyth and Kate Dillon – still on holidays – while last season’s skipper Kathy Kenefick is travelling and Sinead Dooley will take no part in the season due to a cruciate ligament injury, sustained playing gaelic football.

Mick McKinnon’s squad could be augmented, though, by Lizzie Colvin who will soon start in Trinty College with the University and Railway both hoping for the player’s services.

The fourth match of the weekend sees Old Alex and Corinthian (1.15pm) hoping to break into the top five from thei mid-table perches. Alex have Liane Costello back in the fold while a number who missed last season will return after pregnancy. Zanya Dahl, however, does not look likely to figure due to injury.

Corinthian, meanwhile, have lost a couple of key players with Ali Meeke moving to Loreto, Irish U-18 goalkeeper Stella Davis going to UCD as has Leinster U-18 Leigh Pelow.

The two university sides, meanwhile, have the weekend off with both, once again, suffering overhauls. Apart from Quinlan, Pamela Smithwick, Fyona and Roisin Flynn are away for the first part of the season. Liz McInerney is a strong addition while Julie Garvey comes in from Three Rock and Irish U-18 Laura Wilson arrives from Belfast Harlequins.

Trinity, meanwhile, are still a few day away from freshers’ week but will definitely be without Ciara Murphy, who will play in Belgium this season while it is unclear whether last year’s captain Rebecca Murphy will be available in the longer term, if at all.