26-04-2025
Derby rivals Ulster Elks and Pegasus lock horns in mouth-watering Play-Off Quarter-Final duel
It is the hosts who come into the weekend as hot favourites having finished six points and two places ahead of their Belfast rivals in the regular season.
Meanwhile, of the 2024/25 season's previous four meetings, it is Joel Cathcart's side who come out on top with two wins and two draws.
However, Elks come into the tie with just one win in their previous three outings, beating Pembroke Wanderers 1-0 on the last day of the season with a Zahra Lowry strike.
In contrast, Pegasus won three of their previous four League games, with a Katie McKee strike earning a 1-0 win on the last day of the season to secure their Play-Off spot.
Elsewhere, Banbridge are also in Quarter-Final action as they host Avoca in the men's section of the competition.
The 2023/24 EYHL champions finished the regular season in third place, ending the season with a 3-1 defeat to Monkstown two weeks previously.
Looking to bounce back, they take on an Avoca outfit they have already beaten twice in the 2024/25 season with an aggregate score of 9-2.
The sides last met back in February when four goals from Johnny McKee were added to by Peter Brown and Phillip Brown (2) strikes that sealed a comfortable win for the Ulster side.
In the EYHL2, Cookstown, Portadown and Queen's University could all earn promotion as they contest their Semi-Final clashes.
In the men's section, Cookstown take on Cork Harlequins in Dublin with the mid-Ulster side looking to return to the EYHL after two seasons in the Premier League.
The Ulster Premier League champions finished the group stages with an almost faultless record, winning seven of their eight group games and scoring an outstanding 37 goals.
Forward Greg Allen was also in sensational form in the group, scoring 10 goals, and his side will be relying on him once more today as they take on the Munster champions for a place in the EYHL in the 2025/26 season.
In the women's section, Queen's take on Monkstown, hoping to cap off an impressive 2024/25 season.
In the midst of a successful season, Simon Bell's side finished the domestic League unbeaten to win the Legacy Wealth Management Premier League for a second consecutive term, wrapping up their invincible campaign with a 3-0 win over Mossley in midweek.
Two goals from Ellie Edwards and a Zoe Wilson strike sealed the win and continued their fine form in their push for promotion.
They now face a Monkstown side who came second in Pool A behind Ulster outfit Portadown and are led by Chloe Watkins, who scored three goals in the group stages of the competition.
The final game of the weekend sees Portadown just one win away from promotion, and they face a Corinthians side who knocked them out of the Irish Senior Cup with a shoot-out victory in February.
