The 2025/26 Legacy Wealth Management Premier League season has finally arrived, with five action-packed games set to take place this weekend.
The season kicks off this evening with two games taking place at Strathearn School and Comber Road.
In Belfast, two former league winners go head-to-head as Ards host Lurgan in an early clash between potential title challengers.
Tonight’s game marks a return to the division for the hosts, following last season’s relegation from the EYHL, with the side having come second in the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Looking for an immediate bounce back, the side are led by Zara Malseed, who was amongst the leading scorers in the EYHL last season, netting 9 goals.
However, the face the tough task of breaking down a stubborn Lurgan defence which ranked fourth best in the division last season as Andy Brown’s side narrowly missed out on the EYHL2 places.
Also taking place tonight, Lisnagarvey host Ballymoney in their first game under the stewardship of new coach Ryan McMaster.
Last season, the Comber Road side came fourth in the division, securing an EYHL2 place, but will now have to cope with the loss of Chrissy Hopkins to Queen’s University and their goalkeeper Anna Wilson to university.
Tonight’s opponents, Ballymoney, will be hoping they can beat last season’s ninth-place finish.
The side won just two of their 18 games last season and suffered two narrow defeats against tonight’s opponents in that time.
In the first of three games on Saturday afternoon, newly promoted Larne make their bow in the division with an away trip to Omagh.
The East Antrim side has reached the division after a remarkable three promotions in a row, climbing straight from Senior Three to the Premier League.
Saturday’s away trip to Omagh sees them take on Mark Cuddy’s side, who last season, almost doubled their 2023/24 points tally to come eighth.
Scoring goals proved to be the problem for his side last season, netting just 11 in their 18 games, with Sophie Egerton leading the side with four strikes to her name.
Elsewhere, Banbridge host Belfast Harlequins at Havelock Park.
Having experienced a difficult campaign last season, coming bottom of the league, Banbridge are now under the leadership of new coach Finlay Marney.
The Havelock Park outfit will be optimistic of making a positive start to this campaign, playing three of last season’s bottom half and newly promoted Larne in their opening five games.
But first, the side face an uphill task on the opening day as they take on a Belfast Harlequins side which beat them 7-0 in this fixture last season.
The South Belfast outfit came third last season – the highest of any team still in league from the 2024/25 campaign and will be hopeful of being in the title mix come February.
The final game of the weekend’s action sees Armagh meet Mossley on matchday one for the second season in a row.
In last year’s opening day meeting, it was a Mia Taylor strike which proved to be the difference between the two sides as tomorrow’s hosts secured a narrow 1-0 win.
However, it was Mossley who went on to finish higher in the league, coming sixth in their first season following promotion, and Davy Menaul’s side will now be hoping they can break into the top half in 2025/26.