Railway girls were the u18 holders after winning the tournament last year but their defence of the title was dealt a cruel blow as their captain and star indoor player Jessica Carroll was injured early in the first match. The girls were already under resourced with re-arranged Irish Junior cup match and injuries but despite that they had a squad capable of competing and winning the tournament. An opening match draw with the impressive Skerries was followed up with victories against Bray and Muckross and a comfortable win against Pembroke.

Finishing top of their group a quarter final against Monkstown looked a bridge too far for the depleted squad and at 3-1 down with a few minutes to go all look dead and buried but a moment of brilliance from Railway's goalkeeper Chloe Hiles who produced a double save from a Monkstown penalty corner and from the free hit out that she took herself with a precision pass to the impressive Isabella Willis in the Monkstown circle who rounded the keeper and reduced arrears to 3-2, as with indoor things change quickly and Nicole Barry create a great opportunity for 3-3 and it was into penalty shuttles which Railway's experienced showed and they won comfortably.

Unfortunately, energy levels were maxed out and the semi-final against Old Alex was a bridge too far, the girls rallied from 4-0 to 4-2 but OA deservedly won out and then comfortably won the final against Portrane, with the Railway girls sharing 3rd place in the main tournament.

Railway's 2nd team was their u16 team and they had a tough group but performed really well, a good win against Boyne 2 was followed up with a tough draw against Weston 1s and then a heavy 5-1 defeat to Portrane 1sts where the scoreline did not reflect the disciplined Railway performance. The final group match against Loreto 1sts saw the Railway underdogs withhold significant pressure and despite going one down recovered and equalised and then with several dead time short corners could have scored and proceed to the quarter finals. The girls were fantastic throughout and showed their Railway Indoor IQ against superior oppositions.

The Railway boys had a youthful development squad entered in the u18 tournament but with Head Coach Kenny C the lads were well prepared for the challenges ahead. Group wins v Portrane 2nds and Corinthians with a loss to Avoca saw the lads qualify through as runners up.

The semi-final against tournament favourites Portrane 1 was a close encounter and a great advertisement with the two top junior indoor clubs going head to head, late into the match with Railway 2-1 up an injury to talisman Charlie Trotter with a head injury turned the match and 2-1 turned into 2-3 for Portrane to advance with a dead time PC. The boys then needed shuttles and a further golden goal period to defeat Bray in the bronze medal play off with Feilim Bourke scoring both in open play and the important golden goal to win the tie, with the impressive Portrane defeating Avoca in the boys final.

Indoor hockey is such an important part of our DNA and something we are so proud of from our Womens & Mens 1s competing successfully at the top of Irish and Leinster club hockey down through our underage teams who are a very successful junior programme so we have a great pathway through to senior hockey.

Railway did deservedly with both the girls and boys player of the tournament with Railway & Muckross Park's Isabella Willis voted Leinster u18 player of the tournament and in the boys Charlie Trotter of Railway Union / St Andrew's College and not to forget his primary school where his hockey journey started Booterstown National School !

Finally, the most important mention is to Boyne Hockey and Ian Casey, he is the central organiser and with a great team of volunteers have made Boyne HC and Gormanstown the centre of junior indoor hockey in Leinster.