Hannah McLoughlin’s hat trick of backhand goals saw UCD pick up their first win of the season, lifting them to the head of the early season women’s EY Hockey League table.
The Olympian struck her picture-perfect treble in a 4-0 success against Muckross, adding to Sophia Cole’s opening goal, to lift them clear on goal difference of Old Alex.
For Alex, they played out a high quality but ultimately scoreless 0-0 draw at Milltown against Catholic Institute with both goalkeepers – Holly Micklem and Pam Smithwick – impressing between the posts.
For Insta, they could not work a way through from nine penalty corners while Alex had their moments with Lena Tice back in the fold but it was not enough to find the vital goal.
Indeed, overall, it was a good day for goalkeepers with five clean sheets recorded in contrast to last week when not a single blank was kept.
Pembroke’s Emma Buckley got that honouor at Serpentine Avenue as a stunning second half performance earned them a 3-0 victory over Loreto.
Sinead Loughran and Leah McGuire scored in Q3 and Tori Wensley completed the victory with seven minutes to go.
Railway Union are the only side left with a perfect record in the women’s EY Hockey League after day two of the competition as they picked up an impressive 6-0 win away to Cork Harlequins.
The tie was closely fought in the first half with just Florence Maughan’s goal separating the sides but four goals in a five-minute spell in the second half soon turned the tide. The Sandymount side are back in action on Wednesday night when they meet Loreto.
Meanwhile, Glenanne and Three Rock Rovers made it two wins from two to head up the early season men’s standings following impressive victories over YMCA and Banbridge on Saturday.
For the Glens, they outdid YMCA 4-2, leading from start to finish. Shannon Boucher opened the scoring in the first minute before Shane O’Donoghue added another before half-time.
YM were back in it via Aaron Bailey only for Adam Clayton to reply instantly, making it 3-1 within a minute. O’Donoghue and Grant Glutz exchanged late goals to complete the scoring.
Three Rock, meanwhile, came from behind to defeat Banbridge 3-1 at home. John McKee gave Bann a deserved lead in the first quarter but a quick reply from Ben Johnson and then further strikes from 16-year-old debutant Ben Pasley and Ross Canning put Rovers out of sight.
Chad Futcher made it three goals in a week for Corinthian to underpin their fine start to the campaign as they beat UCD 4-2 at Whitechurch Park.
His goal came in the second minute with Ian Stewart tacking on another couple along with one from Max Wright. UCD were back in it at 2-1 and look to have improved in their first full week together but Corinthian were too strong and made it four points from six.
Guy Sarratt’s hat trick propelled Monkstown to a big win over Pembroke, making it four points from six for Eddie O’Malley’s side. For Pembroke, they are awaiting their first point of the season despite taking an early lead through Julian Dale.
But Sarratt’s double put Town 2-1 up going into the final quarter; Dale equalised but a third from Sarratt and a Max Guilfoyle effort saw the sky blues win the derby 4-2.
In the all-Ulster clash, meanwhile, Lisnagarvey got back to winning ways with a 5-1 win over Annadale at Lagan College. International team mates Peter McKibbin and Tim Cross exchanged early goals but a trio of Garvey strikes in the third quarter soon put the game out of reach.
EYHL Division 1
Women’s Results: Cork Harlequins 0 Railway Union 6 (S Hawkshaw, F Maughan, K Dillon, K Lloyd, L Lloyd, E Smyth); Muckross 0 UCD 4 (H McLoughlin 3, S Cole); Old Alex 0 Catholic Institute 0; Pembroke 3 (S Loughran, L McGuire, T Wensley) Loreto 0
Wednesday 22nd September 2021: Loreto v Railway Union, Beaufort, 8.15pm; Pegasus v Belfast Harlequins, Queens University, 8pm
Men’s results: Annadale 1 (T Cross) Lisnagarvey 5 (P McKibbin, T Chambers, J Lorimer, D Nelson, C Chambers); Corinthian 4 (I Stewart 2, C Futcher, M Wright) UCD 2 (S Byrne, H Lynch); Glenanne 4 (S O’Donoghue 2, S Boucher, A Clayton) YMCA 2 (G Glutz, A Bailey); Pembroke 2 (J Dale 2) Monkstown 4 (G Sarratt 3, M Guilfoyle); Three Rock Rovers 3 (B Pasley, B Johnson, R Canning) Banbridge 1 (J McKee)
