Ards were crowned champions of the 2026 Ladies Indoor Championships after yesterday’s final matchday at Queen’s University PEC.
Following their success, the sides have qualified for the All-Ireland Championships, whilst runners-up Queen’s University have qualified for this weekend’s Super Sixes in Dublin.
The day got underway with the eventual top two going head-to-head and it was the students who came away with the victory.
With four minutes played Ellie Montgomery scored her first goal of the competition from a penalty corner to open the scoring.
Two goals in four minutes saw the Queen’s player net a first half hat-trick as she extended her sides advantage to 3-0 going into the break.
When play resumed, Emma Reid struck back from an Ards penalty corner, but her side were unable to find a route back into the game as they suffered their first defeat of the competition.
The second game of the afternoon saw a local derby between Antrim and Randalstown with the latter coming out on top with a comfortable 3-0 win.
After a hard-fought first half, the deadlock was broken in the final seconds as Rebecca Kennedy sent her side into the break 1-0 ahead.
In the second half, two goals from Kerry Coulter and Sophie Cox sealed the win for Randalstown as well as fourth place in the overall standings.
Queen’s University then ended their tournament with a resounding 6-0 win against Coleraine.
Jenna McCarlie was the star performer for her side, netting four goals alongside strikes from Megan Cochrane and Kaia Moore.
The side will now compete in the Hockey Ireland Super Sixes in Dublin, where they will face Avoca (Leinster) and University of Galway (Connacht) for a place in the All-Ireland Championships.
The final game of the tournament saw champions Ards take on third place Coleraine.
Emma Reid scored her sixth goal of the tournament from a penalty corner to open the scoring before a quickfire double from Ellen Fitzpatrick gave the side a 3-0 lead after just six minutes.
In the second half, another goal from Reid and a strike from Naomi Grundie saw the Ards lead extended to 5-0 before Maddie McNally got a consolation effort for Coleraine.
However, in the final minute of the tie, Ellen Fitzpatrick completed her hat-trick to round off a 6-1 victory for her side.