Saturday, May 2: A blockbuster day in Three Rock Rovers drew the 2026 AIG Irish Senior Cup and Irish Junior Cup campaigns to a close, as Railway Union and Lisnagarvey secured the AIG Irish Senior Cup, while Old Alex and Lisnagarvey took home the Irish Junior Cup honours.
In the Women’s AIG Irish Senior Cup Final, Railway Union and Monkstown met in a tense tie, as Railway Union went in search of their third successive title, while Monkstown hoped to cause a statement upset against their Leinster counterparts. A scoreless first half saw Railway Union enjoy the majority of the possession but were denied by the post to see the teams enter the break on level terms.
Railway Union eventually broke the deadlock, Australian Aisling Utri continuing her sensational scoring form as she expertly lifted the ball over Monkstown goalkeeper Madeleine Williamson. Railway enjoyed a period of momentum following their goal, but strong defending from Monkstown kept them out.
Monkstown enjoyed an early opportunity at goal from a penalty corner, but Railway Union’s defensive unit performed their duties perfectly to keep Monkstown out. Railway snuffed out any hopes of a Monkstown comeback in the minutes that followed, Katie Mullan striking across goal for Aisling Utri to tap in and secure her side the win.
The win adds another chapter to Railway Union’s rich AIG Irish Senior Cup history, as they become only the second women’s side ever to win the over-100 year old competition three consecutive times.
In the Men’s AIG Irish Senior Cup, two of the country’s top sides this year went head-to-head as Three Rock Rovers took on Lisnagarvey.
Three Rock were rapid out of the blocks, with Evan Jennings acting as the provider for Ryan Spencer who finished smartly to break the deadlock. Chances came thick and fast for both sides, but neither found the finishing touch, giving Three Rock a narrow lead at the break.
Ryan Spencer stepped up once again in quarter three to grab his second of the game, a tap in at the back post after Three Rock reworked a broken-down corner well, but a penalty stroke four minutes later provided Lisnagarvey a lifeline.
With seven minutes remaining, Lisnagarvey won a penalty corner which provided captain Mark McNellis the chance to draw level, a chance he took. But Three Rock Rovers responded with vigour, going up the other end almost immediately and working the ball to Ryan Spencer yet again to complete his hattrick.
That wasn’t to be the last twist in the tail, a penalty corner for Lisnagarvey with just over a minute left to play gave them a last chance to equalise. Their first effort was well saved by goalkeeper James Coffey, but Lisnagarvey were quickest to the loose ball, with Matthew Nelson getting the crucial touch to force the shootout.
Lisnagarvey goalkeeper James Milliken stepped up and shrouded himself in glory, saving three crucial penalty strokes to secure his side their third successive AIG Irish Senior Cup title, fifth since 2020, and 28th in the competition’s history.
Earlier in the day, the Irish Junior Cup took centre stage. Old Alex and Railway Union kicked off the action with another thrilling encounter. Old Alex took an early lead through Clara Garcia in the first quarter, but two goals in just under 15 minutes gave Railway Union the lead in quarter 4. A late penalty corner gave Old Alex their equaliser, Emily Sexton, deflecting in to force a shootout. Old Alex went on to secure the national honours, holding their nerve in sudden death.
Afterwards, Lisnagarvey took on Corinthian in the Men’s Irish Junior Cup. Corinthian stunned their opposition early on, with captain Ciaran O’Shea finding the back of the net in the first three minutes. Lisnagarvey responded well, scoring eight minutes later through James Lorimer. A second and a third eventually came for the Ulster side, Benjamin Aughey and Harry Archbold finding the net the make it 3-1.
A late Corinthian goal piled the pressure on Lisnagarvey as the Leinster side tried to find a route back into the game, but Lisnagarvey held out to secure the Irish Junior Cup title.
Old Alex II 2 [3 – 2] 2 Railway Union II
Corinthian II 2 – 3 Lisnagarvey II
Monkstown 0 – 2 Railway Union
Three Rock Rovers 3 [1 – 3] 3 Lisnagarvey
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