03-05-2025
Banbridge, Lisnagarvey and Ulster Elks in hunt for glory at EYHL's Finals Weekend
In the men's section, both Banbridge and Lisnagarvey are in action, while Ulster Elks are the only side from the province involved in the women's competition.
The first game of the weekend sees the EYHL's second and third-placed teams go head-to-head for a spot in the Final as Banbridge take on Three Rock Rovers.
The hosts reached the Semi-Final stage with a 6-0 thrashing of Avoca last weekend, with goals from Jonny McKee (3), Adam McKee, Fergus Gibson and Peter Brown.
They now prepare to face a Three Rock side who finished nine points ahead of them during the regular season.
In the previous two meetings the Dubliners secured a draw and a win as they narrowly missed out on the League title.
The other men's Semi-Final sees a pre-emptive meeting between this year's Irish Senior Cup finalists as Lisnagarvey take on YMCA.
The Ulster side finished the regular season as EYHL champions having lost just twice in 18 games and now begin their quest for European hockey next season.
Erroll Lutton's side come into the weekend in fine form having won 10 of their last 11 League outings including two narrow victories over this weekend's opponents.
Meanwhile the side are led by top scorer Andy Williamson who ended the season with 18 League goals including two in his last game — a 6-0 win over Corinthian.
In the women's section, Ulster Elks take on a Railway Union side who finished second in the League.
Joel Cathcart's Elks progressed to the Semi-Finals with a derby day win over south Belfast side Pegasus last weekend as Anna Mollenhauer and Gabi Scott helped to seal a shootout victory following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
Their Dublin opponents have won each of their last five games, a run of form which included a 4-0 thrashing of EYHL champions Loreto with the last time the side failed to win having been in February's meeting with Elks.
That day goals from Jessica McMaster and Orla Fox saw the sides play out a 1-1 stalemate as the spoils were shared, but with there having to be a winner this weekend a shootout is a likely scenario once more for the Ulster side.
In the Men's Premier League, newly-crowned champions Cookstown are set to receive their League title as they host North Down.
The mid-Ulster side retained their League title with a 3-2 midweek win away to Kilkeel on Wednesday evening with goals from Jack Haycock (2) and Callum Anderson and now face a struggling North Down outfit.
The visitors come into the game ahead of their Relegation Play-Off with NICS on Tuesday evening and have gone seven games without a win.
Meanwhile, in the reverse fixture, it was the reigning champions who won the reverse fixture with goals from Ethan Redford, Isaac Kelso, Paul Thompson and Jack Haycock sealing a 4-1 win.
