(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
EY Champions Trophy Play-Offs Set for High-Stakes Weekend Showdowns
Four women’s teams and four men’s teams will compete this Saturday for the final spots in the EY Champions Trophy Finals Weekend, scheduled for May 9–10 at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club.
So far, Loreto and Railway Union in the women’s competition, along with Lisnagarvey and Banbridge in the men’s, have already secured their places after finishing top of the EY Hockey League standings.
Women’s Play-Off Action
The women’s play-offs feature two cross-provincial clashes:
- UCD will host Portadown at UCD Belfield. UCD finished third in the league and enter the match as favourites, but Portadown will look to build on strong recent form and their historic first top-flight season.
- Pegasus will take on Pembroke Wanderers at The Dub in what is expected to be a closely contested encounter. Pegasus finished fourth, while Pembroke recovered strongly late in the season to secure their place in the play-offs.
Both fixtures are expected to be tightly fought, with previous meetings between the sides showing little to separate them.
Men’s Play-Off Battles
In the men’s competition, four Leinster teams will compete for the remaining two finals spots:
- Three Rock Rovers face Corinthian at Grange Road. Three Rock finished third in the league and recently recorded a strong win over Corinthian, but their opponents will aim to cause an upset after showing competitive form throughout the season.
- Pembroke Wanderers meet Monkstown in another long-standing rivalry. The teams finished close in the league standings, and both will be aiming to secure a place in the finals weekend.
Finals Weekend Ahead
With places at stake in one of the biggest events of the EY Hockey season, Saturday’s play-offs are expected to deliver competitive and closely fought matches as teams look to extend their campaigns into the finals weekend.
