EYHL Women Face a Double-Header Weekend With Railway Union Five Clear
Ireland’s women’s EY Hockey League doesn’t do things by halves this weekend. Two rounds in three days, Friday to Sunday, and the title race gets a proper shake either way.
It starts on Friday night, when leaders Railway Union host Pembroke Wanderers. Railway Union are five points clear at the top after six rounds, 17 points, and they look like the side to beat. Pembroke are second on 12, and they come into this one smarting: Ards beat them 1-0 last weekend. Friday is their chance to answer straight away, and a win would cut the gap to two before the weekend even starts.
Saturday brings Round 7. UCD host Old Alex, Loreto take on Monkstown, Pegasus face Queen’s, and Portadown welcome Ards. Portadown are the form pick here: they came from two down to beat Old Alex 3-2 last weekend, and Ards arrive full of confidence after beating Pembroke. That’s the game of the round on Saturday.
Then Sunday, Round 8, and the whole league turns around and goes again. Queen’s host Ards, Portadown take on Pegasus, Old Alex face Monkstown, UCD welcome Railway Union, and Pembroke host Loreto. Ten teams, ten games across the weekend, and by Sunday night the table will look very different from how it looks now.
The chasing pack is bunched tight behind Railway Union. Pembroke and Ards both sit on 12 points, Loreto have 11, Queen’s nine. One bad weekend and you’re sixth. One good one and you’re right on the leaders’ heels. Pegasus, bottom on three points, need points from somewhere, and a double-header weekend is a cruel time to be searching for them.
Two rounds, three days, and a title race that could be blown open or shut down. That’s a proper weekend of hockey.
Fixtures: Friday 6 November — Railway Union v Pembroke Wanderers. Saturday 7 November (Round 7) — UCD v Old Alex, Loreto v Monkstown, Pegasus v Queen’s, Portadown v Ards. Sunday 8 November (Round 8) — Queen’s v Ards, Portadown v Pegasus, Old Alex v Monkstown, UCD v Railway Union, Pembroke Wanderers v Loreto. Kick-off times were not published with the fixture list.
