Only a few hours late (!) but here is the February newsletter with snaphsot of what is going on around the club

Read it here: https://threerockrovershc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/February-2025-Newsletter-1.pdf

It includes:

• a report of the incredible success of the men’s indoor side in Slovenia
• Race Night details
• Club Dinner and new pitch fundraiser (spread the word!) details
• Rovers representing for Ireland
• We have also welcome new club supporters – Couverture, Luxury Irish Deserts and Manna Drone Delivery. Do look through our sponsors page and support all the great companies who support us!
  As always, if you have anything you want featured in the newsletter, let me know!
  Finally, there are several big cup games this weekend with the W3 and M4 sides in semi-finals and the M2, W2 and M1 playing quarter-finals this weekend! Good luck to all!

Three Rock Rovers sat through a tense waiting game before finally having their promotion up to the second tier of European indoor hockey copper-fastened on Sunday in Puconci, Slovenia.

It came following a whirlwind weekend of six games in three days, finishing in second place overall at the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge I, lifting them back to the Trophy event in 2026 when they will again represent Ireland.

The seven-team tournament began in inauspicious fashion with the team’s sticks, goalkeeping and penalty corner defensive equipment getting lost in transit between two flights to Zagreb.

It meant the side trained with borrowed equipment on the eve before the tournament and fell to a sluggish loss in their first game against Welsh champions Cardiff & Met.

Rovers had started well, going 3-0 up, but subsequently laboured as Cardiff roared back to win 6-4.
It put the campaign on the back foot. The response was strong, however, as they picked up a 4-3 win over Valchisone ASD on Friday evening with a strong comeback.

Evan Jennings and Ross Canning built a first half lead only for the Italians to eke out a 3-2 lead going into the final quarter. Canning’s second gained parity and then Rex Dunlop – with his first European goal – won the game with time running out.

They added an 8-6 win over host club Triglav Predanovci. The Slovenian side had lost both their first games but double-figures and it was expected Rovers would run up a big score but if did not pan out that way, finding themselves 6-5 down with eight minutes left.

Rovers eventually got over the line with Canning, Jennings and Jody Hosking providing the goals.
The evening session saw the Dublin 16 side produce their highest quality performance and gainst a very slick Danish side, Slagelse. Tiny margins defined this one with the game level on four occasions but the eventual tournament champions prevailed 6-4 in the final reckoning.

It left Three Rock fourth going into the final day of action, eight points off the leading duo and knowing they had to end joint leaders Western Wildcats’ perfect record to have any chance of a top two finish.

The 2-1 win duly arrived as coaches Scott Crombie and Liam Canning switched up the plan to play a counter-attacking cat and mouse format which played dividends.

Ross Canning gave Rovers an early lead which they held until Q4 as smart, deep defence served them well. They also hit the post twice and Western did so once before Hosking made it 2-0 before the Scottish side made things tight down the closing stretch.

That opened up a wide range of permutations, most of which required them to run up a huge win over Swedish side SLF Mesaicos and then hope for two other results to go favourably.

The earlier narrow win over Triglav meant Three Rock were a long way back on goal difference but a ridiculous 29-0 win over Mesaicos redressed the balance.

It lifted them to temporary first place with their series of games complete. A draw between Western and Slagelse, however, in the next fixture could have seen both promoted.

And it looked like it might go that way when their first half ended 1-1 but the Danes put in a sterling performance in the second half for a 5-2 win.

Valchisone could then overhaul Three Rock if they could record a 10-goal win over Cardiff. They did score three early goals to raise the possibility but the Welsh side stormed back for an 8-5 win, confirming second spot for the Irish champions who could finally celebrate.

Canning ended as the tournament top scorer with 17 goals in six games, bringing his tally beyond 50 goals in European competition.

It concludes the indoor phase of the season with Rovers winning their 12th national title since 2008 and now have another European campaign to look forward to in 2026.

Squad: Shane Davey, Harry MacMahon, Ali Haughton, Ross Canning, Ryan Williams, Jody Hosking, Evan Jennings, Rex Dunlop, Luke Madeley, James Walker (captain)
Coaches: Scott Crombie, Liam Canning
Manager: Diarmuid MacMahon

Four current club members have touched down in India today for the next phase FIH Pro League.

Special congratulations to Ben Ryder who is set to make his senior debut; he has been selected alongside Ben Pasley, Kevin O’Dea and Ben Johnson for the trip.

Speaking about the debut call-up, coach Mark Tumilty said: “Ben Ryder has been on the radar for 12-18 months and has done very well at the regional sessions. His biggest asset is his work ethic. He’s definitely performed well at regional level and deserves his opportunity.”

Ireland will play Germany and India twice each on the trip where they will join the Rovers abroad Ben Walker, Daragh Walsh, Jaime Carr and Conor Empey!

A massive good luck to the six Three Rock youth players lining out for the Irish underage teams this week in England in Lilleshal!

U16 girls: Laura Keogh
U16 boys: Louis Rothwell, Josh Kelly, Jonah Nathan, Simon Montgomery
U18 boys: Sam Rothwell

An incredibly proud moment for the club and for the coaches who have helped them along their journey!

The men’s indoor side head to Puconci, Slovenia this weekend for the latest in their European exploits, taking in the seven-team EuroHockey Club Challenge I.

The event is the third tier of European hockey and features the national champions from six other countries, namely: Western Wildcats (Scotland), Cardiff & Met (Wales), HK Triglav Predanovci (Slovenia), SLF Mesaicos (Sweden), Slagelse (Denmark) and HP Valchisone ASD (Italy).

*** Here’s the EuroHockey website’s preview of our side ***

Three Rock Rovers retained their Irish National Indoor Trophy last week when they edged out Corinthian 4-3 in the final. This was their 13^th Irish title since 2007 and their fourth successive win.

Three Rock is predominantly an outdoor hockey club that took up indoor hockey to try a different game format and learn new skill sets while combining a competitive but fun-filled approach. 

The result has been a domination of their National Championship since 2008, winning the title eleven times and representing Irish Hockey in European competition ten times.

The team is rebuilding after the disappointing relegation from the Trophy in Plzeň last February. It is composed of some veteran stalwarts: two players, Ross Canning and Jody Hosking have represented the club indoor team consistently since 2011 and 2012 respectively; picking up 26 European Club caps each.  

Shane Davey, aged 46 is their veteran goalkeeper who played in the club’s first foray into European Hockey in 2009, in Cambrai, France. Alastair Haughton made his first Challenge 1 appearance in Budapest, in 2013. There are three debutants Matteo Romoli, Evan Jennings and Rex Dunlop.

***

Fixture schedule (all Irish times)

Friday, February 21: TRR v Cardiff & Met, 8.30am; TRR vs Valchisone ASD, 3.30pm

Saturday, February 22: TRR v Triglav Predanovci, 11.10am; TRR v Slagelse, 4.50pm

Sunday, February 23: TRR v Western Wildcats, 7.30am; TRR v SLF Mesaicos, 11.15am

To follow all the latest scores from the tournament, click here: https://eurohockey.altiusrt.com/competitions/346

Lucky 13!! Another amazing chapter in the history of our men’s indoor team who won the National Indoor Trophy for the 13th time – and four in a row – as they produced a steely performance to win the final 4-3 against Corinthian at the Antrim Forum.

We opened the day with a 9-4 semi-final win over Avoca to go through to a repeat of the Leinster final which we lost in a shoot-out. This one was similarly tight, 0-0 after Q1, 1-1 at half-time and then we trailed 3-2 going into the final quarter.

But we turned it around with Ross Canning scoring a late corner to complete the turnaround and allow James Walker to lift the trophy.

It puts them in good stead ahead of their EuroHockey Club Challenge I tournament in two weeks time in Puconci, Slovenia with a return ticket to Europe confirmed for 2026!

Pictured, back row: Scott Crombie, Shane Davey, Harry MacMahon, Ross Canning, Evan Jennings, Mark Collins, Liam Canning, Diarmuid MacMahon

Front row: James Walker, Ryan Williams, Rex Dunlop, Luke Madeley, Jody Hosking

The date for the biggest fundraiser of the season for the front pitch replacement has been confirmed. Tickets will be €25 which will include entry, a race card and some food on the night in the clubhouse.

All welcome to join what is sure to be a fun-filled night in support of a great cause.

You can confirm your place in advance. Contact Scott Crombie on Whatsapp for tickets (+353 87 610 4370) while there are items available for sponsorship via Fraser Morris (+353 87 413 2316).

Keep an eye on the club’s social media and website for further updates.

The men’s indoor side reached the final of the Leinster indoor league last weekend, just missing out on the title after a shoot-out to Corinthian.

Normal time ended 3-3 after an epic comeback from 3-0 down and we were only denied by an incredible goal line save in the final minute by the reds’ defence.

We have the chance for revenge over the next two weeks on the National Indoor Trophy stage. Six sides compete in the competition with the national title and a return place to Europe up for grabs at the Antrim Forum. Sunday sees us play in a three-team group with Munster champions Waterford and Ulster’s Cookstown.

It is an other step on their incredible journey over the past 17 years which saw them honoured on Thursday night at The Echo’s 2024 Sports Awards where they were the February Team of the Month winners.

They will head to Puconci, Slovenia in February where they represent Ireland in the EuroHockey Club Challenge from February 21st to 23rd, a hugely competitive competition featuring seven national champions.

It is an expensive endeavour and honour; if you would like to support their journey, please contact Liam Canning on canningliam@gmail.com.

Click here for a round-up of some of what is going on around the club between all the storms including:

https://threerockrovershc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/January-2025-Newsletter-1-1.pdf

• Big Race Night fundraise confirmed for March 8th – mark the diary
• Quiz night on February 8th
• Indoor teams in National playoffs and off to Europe in February
• Updated sponsor list – do support these brilliant companies who help us run the club each year!
  Today, the men’s 1sts are back in action in the EYHL – get out and support them at 3.15pm today vs Corinthian in Whitechurch Park before dropping back into the club bar where the rugby will be shown on the big screen!

We are thrilled to be hosting the men’s Neville Cup final on St Stephen’s Day, the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air and support the side after the Christmas Day excess!!

Entry is free and club captain Doug is opening up the bar! #leinsterhockey#roversrepresenting

Remember, the club is also collecting your recycled cans and bottles as part of the U18s initiative to raise funds for our new pitch. If you need a clear-out after the 25th December, consider dropping them into the stations at the clubhouse!