Hook Hockey

Newbridge IIs highlight famous season

A 2-0 win against Pembroke 5ths on March 19 secured the Division 6 title for Newbridge 2nds with three league games still to play. This high-paced game reflected the excellent season Newbridge have been enjoying in this division and demonstrated why this team secured year-on-year promotion for the past four seasons.

The club are expecting the move up to Division 5 next season will provide an excellent growth platform and ensure a strong support framework for the club’s 1st team who have secured promotion to Division 2.

Indeed, 2011 could prove an even more memorable year for the club who are looking forward to moving games back to their home town in September when Newbridge College completes its astro turf development, having spent the season sharing grounds with Naas.

Aside from the Division 6 trophy, Newbridge have also secured silverware through their junior members who won the U-14C title in their first year in Leinster hockey and who are competing in the final of the West Leinster U-14 cup.

Ciaran Downey, 2^nd team coach at Newbridge , is delighted with the efforts of his charges, saying: “Completing the season undefeated is certainly a huge achievement from any side and I’m particularly pleased with the commitment and determination of my team since we started back to training last August.

“The whole squad put in a great effort  and this was reflected in an excellent defence who conceded so few goals as well as our ability to put the game away at the other end of the pitch.”

** With thanks to Michelle O’Connor for the words