Avoca Hockey Club

Best of luck to all the Leinster u16s and u18s players, coaches and managers for the Intpro tournament this weekend in TRR. Special mention and many congratulations to the Avoca girls! Everyone super proud and wishing you the very best!

*Leinster u16s*
Charlotte MacManus
Margot Charrier

*Leinster u18s*
Aela Kelly
Rebecca Ryan

*u16 & u18 Girls Interpro Series*
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcgr3rSgA6g/

Congratulations to u16s Macdara Rihan (left), Leo Marnell (centre) and u18s Jacob Vaughan (right) on an amazing weekend down in Garryduff Co Cork. Both the Leinster u16s and u18s boys were victorious and won the boys Interpros!

Congratulations to Aidan Doyle who was also part of the Leinster coaching team that had such a super and exciting weekend! Well done to all the boys, coaches, managers and supports involved!

Leinster u18s had a great come back in their final game against Munster trailing 2-1 with eight minutes to go to then winning 3-2 and complete an unbeaten weekend.

The u16s followed up with two good wins against Ulster across their fours games landing them the title! Special mention to Leo who also picked up the “Technical Excellence award” for the u16 boys competition.

Big Welcome to Milo Fulham to Avoca for the 2026/27 season!

Welcome to Milo Fulham who join’s the men’s firsts as assistant coach. Milo will be supporting Shane O’Donoghue who will take over as head coach of the side this year and an exciting time to be joining the coaching group at Avoca.

Milo was part of the coaching team who completed a highly successful programme with the Irish u16 girls with a number of stand out performances at the 8 Nations tournament down in Cork recently and active member supporting the junior internationals and Pathway programme.

Milo has been heavily involved with the national indoor setup and will be head coach for the senior ladies national indoor squad heading to Cape Town at Christmas. He’s also just finished a successful period with Muckross ladies firsts where he was very unlucky not to quality for EY2 last season finishing 4th just one spot off qualification.

“I’m always keen to learn and develop my coaching experience. The opportunity to work with Shane and the Avoca boys competing in EY1 got me excited because I feel I have a lot of offer the group. It’s a league I was keen to get involved with and this is a great role to get me started.” - Milo Fulham

Big Welcome to Milo Fulham to Avoca for the 2026/27 season!

Welcome to Milo Fulham who join’s the men’s firsts as assistant coach. Milo will be supporting Shane O’Donoghue who will take over as head coach of the side this year and an exciting time to be joining the coaching group at Avoca.

Milo was part of the coaching team who completed a highly successful programme with the Irish u16 girls with a number of stand out performances at the 8 Nations tournament down in Cork recently and active member supporting the junior internationals and Pathway programme.

Milo has been heavily involved with the national indoor setup and will be head coach for the senior ladies national indoor squad heading to Cape Town at Christmas. He’s also just finished a successful period with Muckross ladies firsts where he was very unlucky not to quality for EY2 last season finishing 4th just one spot off qualification.

“I’m always keen to learn and develop my coaching experience. The opportunity to work with Shane and the Avoca boys competing in EY1 got me excited because I feel I have a lot of offer the group. It’s a league I was keen to get involved with and this is a great role to get me started.” - Milo Fulham

Looking for a new club? Want to know why Avoca is a good choice? Meet Joe Kelly - one of our newest members, who joined Avoca last season!

Moving to a new area or looking for a fresh sporting challenge can be daunting, and while club websites list fixtures and facilities, nothing beats hearing directly from someone who has walked in those shoes. Real insight into a club’s culture, pitch competitive edge, and off-pitch community comes straight from the members themselves. Joe Kelly relocated to Ireland last year, looking to build a social network and get back on the hockey pitch. Here, he shares what made Avoca stand out from the start, how seamlessly he integrated into the team, and why it’s the perfect home for anyone thinking of picking up a stick this season 🏑

Big welcome to Sam Chapman to Avoca for the 2026/27 season!

Sam joins Avoca after recently playing a key role winning the u21 EuroHockey Championships in Poznan, Poland. The Irish u21s finished top of the tournament winning all five of their matches to claim the gold medal, secure promotion back to Europe’s top tier for the 2028 competition, and book their place at the 2027 FIH Junior World Cup.

As one of Ireland’s top young goalies Sam also played in last years u21 World Cup in India where Ireland finished 10th. Sam would be described a relaxed young man but hungry for success which very matches the Avoca character and culture.

“Delighted to be joining Avoca. I’ve always enjoyed playing against the lads so excited to be now playing with them! It’s been great to see what’s happening at the club and the progress they’re making. I spoke to Shane about the environment and what the plans where. I knew this was the best place for me and my future. Can’t wait to get going!” Sam Chapman

What a fantastic 4 weeks of Summer Hockey with our Avoca All Stars! 🏑

We welcomed 34 players from five Dublin clubs: Loreto, Monkstown, Railway Union, Three Rock Rovers and Bray, for four weeks of fun, hockey and new friendships!

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteer coaches and buddies who made it all possible👏

Interested in joining the All Stars? We’re back this September! Membership is open to players with intellectual disabilities aged 11+. Get in touch to find out more! 💫

Big welcome to Rachel Kelly “Relly” to Avoca for the 2026/27 season!

Relly joins Avoca with a wealth of experience, having played 5 seasons of EY1 and represented Ireland at underage level.

A striker with noticeable work ethic, Relly is known for her attacking instincts and quick decision making. This and her keen eye for goal will make her an exciting addition to the Women’s 1s Squad.

Having already been a part of the Avoca family through the club’s indoor programme for the last 2 years, Relly knows the culture and ambitions of the club well. Now making the move to join the outdoor team, she is eager to help drive the team forward as Avoca continues to build success.

“I’m really excited to be joining Avoca this season. Having played indoor with the girls, I’ve enjoyed the environment and getting to know everyone. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in, contributing to the team and helping the club achieve its goals this season.”

Big welcome to Hayden Jones to Avoca for the 2026/27 season!

Hayden joins Avoca as one of Ireland’s exciting young talents, having represented Ireland at U16 and U18 level. Fresh from the U18 8 Nations Tournament in Granada, Spain, where he captained the side in one match, Hayden also made his EY1 debut last season and now joins Avoca to continue his development.

An energetic striker with excellent technical ability, Hayden also represented the Irish All Stars U18 indoor team in Cape Town last Christmas. Coming from a passionate hockey family, with both parents having played senior hockey in South Africa before contributing to the growth of the game in Waterford, Hayden shares Avoca’s ambition and drive for success.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Shane and the Avoca boys. I wanted a fresh start and a new challenge, and when I considered my options, Avoca’s setup and culture felt like the best fit for me. I can’t wait to get started and meet everyone at the club.” – Hayden Jones

Congratulations to our six Avoca players who have been selected for the Hockey Ireland Pathway U16 & U18 squads this summer!

Rebecca, Jamie & Anna will be playing for the U16 Girls squad, Milo and David represent the U18 Boys, and Siobhán with the U18 Girls. An absolutely fantastic achievement, enjoy every minute! 🏑🍀