Loreto and Banbridge landed the Irish EY Champions Trophy titles at the weekend to earn their country’s top seeding for next season’s European club competitions with their defeated finalists taking the second seed for 2023/24.

On the women’s side, UCD had won the regular season title and they advanced to Sunday’s final with an impressive 3-0 win over Catholic Institute.

It set up a final date with Loreto who saw off Old Alex 3-2 in their semi-final on Saturday, a result which guaranteed both finalists a place in Europe.

In the final, former UCD player Rachel Kelly got the only goal of the game in a 1-0 success, the strike coming in the third quarter.

On the men’s side, Banbridge added the Champions Trophy title to the regular season success with a strong 3-1 win over Lisnagarvey. 

Bann burst into the lead in the third minute through Louis Rowe from a corner; his elder brother Jake got the next with a drag-flick in the second quarter and then Josh Moffett put the game out of sight with another set piece goal.

Garvey got one back late on from Andy Williamson but Banbridge were in the clear and are now looking to complete a remarkable season with two more titles up for grabs.

Next weekend, they will face Glenanne in the Irish Senior Cup final before hosting the EuroHockey Club Trophy II in late May. In the women’s cup final, Catholic Institute will meet Monkstown.