Men’s League Preview – LM EY Qualifier 2025/26 Part 1
September 16, 2025
The countdown is almost over! The Men’s Leinster top league, the LM EY Qualifier, gets underway on Friday, September 19th, and excitement is building as ten clubs prepare to open their campaigns.
The opening weekend offers some standout clashes:
- Railway Union vs Glenanne
- Clontarf vs Bray
- Kilkenny vs Rathgar
- Weston vs Portrane
- UCD vs Dublin University
Plenty of competitive hockey awaits as teams look to make an early statement and lay down a marker for the season ahead. In this first part of our preview, we take a closer look at five clubs stepping onto the pitch this weekend.
Bray HC – Men’s 1s
Bray Men’s 1s begin their second season under head coach Elun Hack, joined this year by assistant coach Guy Garrett, whose experience adds further depth to the backroom team.
Last season brought moments of promise, highlighted by a strong Neville Davin Cup run, though consistency proved challenging. The squad now has a refreshed look, with senior figures supporting the development of the 2s while younger players continue to step up from the club’s youth programme.
After a positive pre-season, Bray enter 2025/26 with renewed focus and a balanced mix of experienced returnees and emerging talent.
Clontarf HC – Men’s 1s
Clontarf approach the new campaign buoyed by last year’s achievements, which included qualification for EYHL 2 and the memorable lifting of the Neville Cup against Three Rock Rovers.
Captain Tim Cullen continues to lead the group, supported by a strengthened coaching setup of Craig Stewart, Ian Maxwell, and Ross McMullen. Player depth has also increased, with the return of Kevin Mullins and John McNally from Australia, alongside rising star Lee McMullen, who impressed as co-captain of the Leinster U18s.
With a deep squad and strong momentum behind them, Clontarf enter the season in confident form.
Dublin University HC – Men’s 1s
Dublin University head into the season looking to build on last year’s second-place finish, where they narrowly missed out on EYHL 2 qualification.
The summer saw the arrival of new head coach Simon Thornton, who brings fresh ideas and a clear vision for the group. A thorough pre-season — including a training tour to Loughborough University — has ensured the squad is well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
The team retains the core of its youthful lineup, with only one regular departing, and has added further quality across the pitch. Among the standout performers is Ed Collins, highlighted as a player to watch this season.
Glenanne HC – Men’s 1s
Following a difficult campaign last year, Glenanne have placed a strong emphasis on coaching and structure to support their return to form. Mark Lambe now leads as head coach, with support from Noel Keogh, goalkeeper coach Paul Bastable, and performance consultant Graham Shaw.
The squad will be without Richie Shaw through injury and Mark Keppel due to work commitments, but reinforcements have arrived in the form of Borna Vuladinovic, Grant Pio, Nikola Dananic, and David Keogh.
Early focus will be on settling the new arrivals and building cohesion. Players such as Marco Gaybo and Raigan Dunne are expected to play prominent roles in Glenanne’s season.
Kilkenny HC – Men’s 1s
Kilkenny return to Leinster’s top division after competing in the second tier of the National League, with a clear ambition to re-establish themselves among the province’s leading sides.
The summer brought some changes, with Pablo Gimenez and Javier Romero returning to Argentina. In their place, Kilkenny welcomed player-coach Jack Gilbert from New Zealand, Stuart Bradley rejoining from Clontarf, and Harry Earl arriving from Waterford.
Youth remains central to their approach, with Kyle Hancock and Rian Delaney — part of Leinster’s U18 Interpro-winning side — stepping into bigger roles, alongside midfielder Sean Corbett, who impressed late last season. Experience is also in abundance, with Emmett Hughes, Eddie Dore, and Billy McEnery all bringing international pedigree from Ireland’s Over-35s European Championship campaign.
Kilkenny begin the year with a strong balance of youth and experience, ready to test themselves against the top tier of Leinster competition once again.
We’d like to wish all clubs the very best as the new season begins — here’s to an exciting year of men’s hockey across Leinster. Stay tuned for Part 2
