4 months ago
Match report Ladies firsts 28/01/12
Saturday saw the ladies back in Cup action, taking on a tough North Kildare side in the third round of the Irish hockey trophy. The girls were going to have to perform well to compete with a side currently lying 2nd in division 2. A shaky start led to us conceding a goal within the first 5 minutes after a long ball into the circle somehow found its way, via a couple of deflections, into the back of the net. The girls responded really well. A cross-field pass from the right from Nicki McMullen found Hil who deflected it to Jen Keating on the far post to slot it passed the Kildare keeper. We went into the break 1-1. There were a couple of hairy moments in the second half including a super save on the line from Anna, but the girls kept pushing for a second goal and some great defending from short corners meant that the score stayed at 1-1 at full-time. It was end to end stuff in extra time with the possibility of golden goal but finished 1-1 aet. We were confident going into strokes having a super keeper and a number of people willing to step up to the mark to take a stroke. After the first round of 5 the score lay at 3-3 with successful strokes from Amy, Jen K and Jen H. Into ‘sudden death’ and Jen H was nominated to step up to take a second and she scored. A miss then from Kildare meant that we went through 4-3. (Sorcha may have been spotted repeating her now infamous goal-celebration, definitely worth a fine again at the end of the season...). A nail-biting finish to a tough game, and a few well-deserved pints were had that night in the old hockey bar. Good times! We now go on to represent Leinster in the quarter-finals in the bull-ring on the 18th February against either Omagh or Portadown.
Its back to league action again this weekend and a few crucial weeks lie ahead for the ladies and our league title hopes. We play Weston this weekend in Lucan at 11.00, and Pembroke next Monday night at 18.30. All support welcome as always. Thanks to Thelma who came out on Saturday - Our most constant supporter!