Irish Hockey Sees European Milestones In Record-Breaking Weekend

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Irish hockey clubs and internationals delivered standout performances on the European stage over the weekend, as Loreto and Railway Union carved out major milestones, while Niamh and Michelle Carey secured silverware in a European club competition.

Bronze For Loreto in Czechia

Loreto Hockey Club led the charge early, storming to a 6-1 victory over France’s Cambrai HC in the 3rd/4th place playoff of the EuroHockey Club Trophy I.

Held in Czechia, the Dublin side made their intentions clear from the outset, racing to a commanding 4-0 lead by half time.

Mia Jennings, Rebekah Fitzpatrick and Caitlin Sherin all converted from penalty corners, while Siofra O’Brien added a goal from open play before the break. The second half saw both Fitzpatrick and O’Brien score again, sealing a dominant performance and a well-deserved bronze medal!

Irish Internationals Michelle And Niamh Carey Shine

Meanwhile, Niamh and Michelle Carey earned silver medals in the Women’s Euro Hockey League with Belgian club Braxgata.

In what was the club’s debut appearance in the competition, Braxgata impressed throughout, reaching the grand final of the elite tournament before falling short to hosts and European Powerhouses Den Bosch.

The two former Railway Union players contributed greatly to the Belgian side’s first campaign in the Euro Hockey League, coming out with a podium finish.

Railway Union Make History

Railway Union delivered a landmark victory for Irish Hockey when they became the first Irish club to win a Women’s Euro Hockey League match since the competition’s inception. Having qualified through their EY Champions Trophy in 2024, the Dubliners faced Sumchanka of Ukraine in a classification match.

Irish international Katie Mullan led the charge as Railway dominated and created chances. The breakthrough came in the third quarter when Lily Lloyd tucked away a penalty corner, notching the only goal of the game.

The 1-0 victory was the first of its kind for any Irish club in the current iteration of the competition. It comes 11 years after the club’s previous European high point, a win in the EuroHockey Club Cup in 2014.

A Weekend To Remember

With medals for Loreto and Braxgata’s Irish duo, as well as a huge win for Railway Union, we can clearly see the gap closing between Irish sides and Europe’s elites, a testament to the growing strength of domestic hockey and the impact that Irish athletes are having on European stages.

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