Men's Irish Hockey League
{{Short description|Field hockey league}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title = Men's Irish Hockey League
| image =
| pixels =
| country = {{flag|Republic of Ireland}}
{{NIR}}
| administrator = Hockey Ireland
| headquarter =
| format =
| inaugural = 2008–09
| confed = EHF (Europe)
| teams = 10 (Division 1)
10 (Division 2)
| champion = Lisnagarvey
| most_champs = Lisnagarvey (5 titles)
| domestic_cup = Irish Senior Cup
| confed_cup = Euro Hockey League
EuroHockey Club Trophy
| relegation = Senior provincial leagues
| level = 1 and 2
| tv =
| website = [http://www.hockey.ie/eyhl www.hockey.ie]
| current =
}}
The Men's Irish Hockey League is a field hockey league organised by Hockey Ireland that features men's teams from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The league was first played for during the 2008–09 season. It replaced the All-Ireland Club Championships as the top level men's field hockey competition in Ireland. Since 2015–16 the league has been sponsored by Ernst & Young and, as a result, it is also known as the EY Hockey League.
History
{{Location map+ |island of Ireland |float=right |width=280 |caption=2024–25 Men's Irish Hockey League Division 1 |places=
{{Location map~ |island of Ireland |marksize=12 |lat=53.34957 |long=-6.260190 |label=Dublin |position=top}}
{{Location map~ |island of Ireland |lat=54.35980 |long=-6.278552 |position=bottom|label=Banbridge }}
{{Location map~ |island of Ireland |marksize=12|lat=54.51602 |long=-5.900892 |label=Belfast|position=top}}
{{Location map~ |island of Ireland |lat=54.46028 |long=-6.064126 |position=left|label=Lisnagarvey}}
{{Location map~ |island of Ireland |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=55.43 |long=-10.93 |label=Dublin teams Avoca
Monkstown
Pembroke Wanderers
Three Rock Rovers
UCD
YMCA}}
{{Location map~ |island of Ireland |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=55.43 |long=-5.1 |label=Belfast teams Annadale}}
}}
=Format=
The league was first played for during the 2008–09 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2008/08/irish-hockey-league-dates-confirmed/#.W9Yct_Z2ty0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029030835/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2008/08/irish-hockey-league-dates-confirmed/#.W9Yct_Z2ty0|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 29, 2018|title=Irish Hockey League dates confirmed|publisher=www.hookhockey.com|accessdate=28 October 2018|date=25 August 2008}}
Between 2008–09 and 2014–15 the league used pool stages and play-offs to determine the league champion. Teams were divides into two pools with the winners and runners-up in each pool then qualifying for the semi-finals. The league title was then decided by a final. Teams continued to play in their respective provincial leagues and qualified for the next season's national league via their position in the provincial league. However for the 2015–16 season the league was reorganised. The pool stages were abandoned and replaced with a full league programme consisting of 18 rounds of home and away matches. In addition the play-offs were effectively replaced by a new competition, the EY Champions Trophy. Furthermore the clubs no longer entered their senior teams in provincial leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.ey.com/ie/en/newsroom/news-releases/news-ey-hockey-league|title=EY Hockey League to continue to raise standards on club and international stage|publisher=www.ey.com|accessdate=28 September 2018}}
Graham Shaw guided Monkstown to three successive league titles in 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/the-kieran-shannon-interview-irish-womens-hockey-coachgraham-shaw-856774.html|title=The Kieran Shannon Interview: Irish Women's Hockey coach Graham Shaw|publisher=www.irishexaminer.com|accessdate=6 September 2018|date=21 July 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://ie.linkedin.com/in/graham-shaw-92721817|title=Graham Shaw|publisher=ie.linkedin.com|accessdate=5 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey.ie/playerprofile/4479/|title=Graham Shaw|publisher=www.hockey.ie|accessdate=5 September 2018}} In 2017–18 Glenanne won the league title for the first time. They secured the title after defeating Lisnagarvey 4–2. Glenanne were 2–0 down before Shane O'Donoghue scored a hat-trick.{{cite news|url=http://www.echo.ie/sport/article/glenanne-celebrates-75-years|title=Glenanne celebrates 75 years|publisher=www.echo.ie|accessdate=19 September 2018|date=17 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/hockey/43771086|title=Irish Hockey League: Glenanne beat Lisnagarvey to clinch title|publisher=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=19 September 2018|date=14 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey.ie/news-detail/10038401/|title=Glenanne Win EY Hockey League|publisher=www.hockey.ie|accessdate=19 September 2018|date=15 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/hockey/2018/0415/954705-odonoghue-hat-trick-seals-title-for-glenanne/|title=O'Donoghue hat-trick seals title for Glenanne|publisher=www.rte.ie|accessdate=19 September 2018|date=15 April 2018}}
=Division 2=
The 2018–19 season saw the introduction of a Division 2. The new division revived the original format of the league. It uses pool stages and play-offs to determine the Division 2 champion and which teams get promoted to Division 1. Division 2 teams will continue to play in their respective provincial leagues.{{cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/hockey/division-two-of-irish-hockey-league-to-be-launched-in-201819-36019574.html|title=Division Two of Irish Hockey League to be launched in 2018/19|publisher=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk|accessdate=30 September 2018|date=10 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2018/07/ihl2-groups-and-seasons-schedule-laid-out-for-2018-19/#.W_7vjvZ2ty0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729190322/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2018/07/ihl2-groups-and-seasons-schedule-laid-out-for-2018-19/#.W_7vjvZ2ty0|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 29, 2018|title=IHL2 groups and season's schedule laid out for 2018/19|publisher=www.hookhockey.com|accessdate=30 September 2018|date=7 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2018/10/mens-eyhl2-hits-the-turf-for-the-first-time/#.W_66TPZ2ty0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015222550/http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2018/10/mens-eyhl2-hits-the-turf-for-the-first-time/#.W_66TPZ2ty0|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 15, 2018|title=Men's EYHL2 hits the turf for the first time|publisher=www.hookhockey.com|accessdate=28 November 2018|date=12 October 2018}}
2024–25 teams
=Division 1=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Team
! Home town/suburb ! Home pitch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Annadale | Belfast | Queens University Belfast |
| Avoca | Blackrock | Newpark Comprehensive School |
| Banbridge | Banbridge | Havelock Park |
| Corinthian | Rathfarnham | St Columba's College, Dublin |
| Lisnagarvey | Hillsborough, County Down | Comber Road |
| Monkstown | Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown | Merrion Fleet Arena |
| Pembroke Wanderers | Sandymount | Serpentine Avenue |
| Three Rock Rovers | Rathfarnham | Grange Road |
| UCD | Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown | UCD Sports Centre |
| YMCA | Ballinteer | Wesley College |
=Division 2=
;Pool A
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Team
! Home town/suburb ! Home pitch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bandon | Bandon | Bandon Grammar School |
| Cookstown | Cookstown | Cookstown High School |
| Cork Church of Ireland | Cork | Garryduff |
| Kilkenny | Kilkenny | Kilkenny College |
| Railway Union | Sandymount | Park Avenue |
;Pool B
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Team
! Home town/suburb ! Home pitch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Clontarf | Clontarf | Mount Temple |
| Cork Harlequins | Cork | Farmers Cross |
| Instonians | Belfast | Shaws Bridge |
| Kilkeel | Kilkeel | Kilkeel High School |
| Portrane | Portrane/Donabate | Donabate Community College |
Winners
=Division 1=
;Notes
=Division 2=
Since the 2021-22 season both the winner and runner up of the EYHL2 Playoffs earn automatic promotion {{cite web|url=https://hockey.ie/competitions/rules-regulations/|title= Hockey Ireland: Rules & Regulations| accessdate=20 April 2025}}
;Notes
EY Champions Trophy
In addition to introducing a new format, the 2015–16 season also saw the introduction of the EY Champions Trophy. The top three placed teams from the league and/or the winners of the Irish Senior Cup all qualify for the end of season competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.ey.com/ie/en/newsroom/news-releases/news-ey-hockey-league|title=EY Hockey League to continue to raise standards on club and international stage|publisher=www.ey.com|accessdate=28 September 2018}} The winners of the EY Champions Trophy qualify to represent Ireland in the Euro Hockey League.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/more-sport/hockey-lisnagarvey-defeat-banbridge-to-lift-inaugural-champions-trophy-1-7360211|title=Lisnagarvey defeat Banbridge to lift inaugural Champions Trophy|publisher=www.newsletter.co.uk|accessdate=28 November 2018|date=1 May 2016}}
References
{{Reflist|3}}
{{Men's Irish Hockey League}}
{{Ireland field hockey links}}
{{Field hockey leagues}}
Category:2008 establishments in Ireland