Railway on track to fulfil EHL dream in Den Bosch

When Niamh Shaw hits the turf next Wednesday at the EHL, it will be a full-circle moment for the Railway Union player at Den Bosch from young supporter to playing in the main event.

In 2014, she was part of an Under-16 touring side from the Dublin club, cheering on their senior side at the Brabant venue as they took on host club HC ’s-hertogenbosch in the EuroHockey Club Cup, the forerunner to the EHL.

As such, being on this stage fulfils a long-held dream for Shaw who has grown through the club to be part of the first team’s leadership group.

“I remember watching the hockey and thinking you’d love to be there and playing at that kind of level. I think it’s great for the club that we’re heading over,” she said. “It’s surreal to now be going back to play in the actual EHL.”

Their side qualified for the competition with one of the very last plays of the 2024/25 season when Róisín Upton scored a last minute penalty stroke against Loreto in the EY Champions Trophy final.

Two weekends ago, they beat arch rivals Loreto in a breathtaking 4-0 performance but the result was ultimately not enough to deny their fellow Dublin the regular season title.

Despite that, Shaw is confident her side is growing as time goes on. Their panel has absorbed a number of international absences for the likes of World Cup silver medalists Upton and Katie Mullan along with Irish captain Sarah Hawkshaw.

It has helped create a wider squad with a wealth of youngsters pushing for inclusion.

“We’ve kind of just been taking it game by game,” Shaw says. “We seem to be improving each week, and playing UCD just before heading to Den Bosch will hopefully help us fine-tune things.

“We wouldn’t really have the same squad week in and week out but since the internationals came back, that pushes us to train harder and harder. Nobody wants to get dropped so, if anything, it’s been a good thing.

“Of course, it’s been great having the girls back in the squad with their experience, like all their experience.

“We have such a big squad and competition for places is fierce. When the internationals come back, it pushes everyone. It’s actually a great motivator.”

Railway’s opening challenge? Dutch powerhouse SCHC. “We’re actually really excited about that,” Shaw says. “It’s an opportunity to test ourselves against a faster, more skillful style of hockey. We just want to learn and grow from it ahead of the EY Champions Trophy weekend in Ireland.”

One of the team’s most compelling stories is the return of Emma Lee (née Smyth), a stalwart who continues to defy expectations and provides a direct link to the 2014 vintage.

“She’s just unbelievable. She’s had two kids and was still the player of the tournament last year on finals weekend,” Shaw says with admiration.

“She’s nearly 40 and just keeps getting better. It’s unreal to have her in the squad. When we won last year, we found out that we were obviously going to Europe, I think she decided she might have another year in her!”

Her side will also be keenly looking out for the Braxgata results over the EHL weekend; two Railway kids from the club, twins Niamh and Michelle Carey, are now with the Belgian club this season.

The connection goes deeper still – their mother Una McCarthy is the Railway coach. It provides an extra source of pride for Shaw – whose mother Margaret is the team manager – about what the club has put together.

“We’ll miss them for sure, but we’re all planning to stay on and support Braxgata as well. It’s just great to see so many connections at this level.

“We’re just proud to represent Railway. It’s a huge moment for all of us.”

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