Hook Hockey

Vital victory as quality Railway beat Loreto

Women’s Division One
Railway Union 3 (Zara Delany, Jean McDonnell, Kate McKenna) Loreto 1 (Jessie McGirr)
Railway Union gave their title hopes a massive shot in the arm in a potentially vital victory at Park Avenue from a top quality encounter – one of the best match-ups of the campaign thus far. Zara Delany’s delightful first set the tone, taking in Isobel Joyce’s long corner on the left-edge of the circle before, one the run, looping a deliberate flick over the Loreto goalkeeper.

Jean McDonnell made it two with a trademark effort, twisting onto her openside and winding up a haymaker which rocketed into the corner, Louisa Healy only able to get the tip of her toe to the ball. Kate McKenna grabbed the third – her eighth of the campaign – for an imposing lead at half-time. Jessie McGirr pulled one back in a scrappier second half as Loreto forced a good turnover and the youngster dragged home with a powerful finish. Grace O’Flanagan picked off a spectacular save while three Loreto corner deviations also caused problems. Cathy McKean was denied one-on-one, too, but Kate Lloyd – at the far end – but Healy saved well. Railway now lead the table by four points though UCD can cut that lead in half on Monday evening should they get the better of Old Alex.

Old Alex 1 (Emma Russell) Hermes 0
Emma Russell’s third minute effort proved the difference as she downed her former club and gives Old Alex the edge in the battle for the fourth automatic IHL place. With Hermes shy their internationals as well as Laura Pinder and Jenny Burke, Alex took full advantage. Catriona Bailey-Price stole possession on the 25 and played in Aisling Naughton who centred for Russell to score her tenth of the season. And the Milltown side were slightly on top of a game with not many chances. Gillian Pinder was a threat throughout, twice bursting through, requiring big tackles from Megan Tenant-Humphreys and Sarah Canning. The second half was exceptionally tight with Orla Patton going close on her reverse while Russell drew a smart save from Mary Goode but no further goals accrued for a big win.

Glenanne 2 (Lucy Small, Christine Barretto) Pembroke 0
Glenanne moved up two places as Christine Barretto and Lucy Small both netted their first goals of the season, easing Glenanne’s relegation worries. It was a deserved result, bossing play as they sat deep and countered with purpose to sting Pembroke and drop them back down to ninth place. Barretto slammed home the first in the second half before Lucy Small produced a nice finish on her reverse. Lisa O’Rourke impressed between the Pembroke posts, meanwhile, but they could not salvage anything more from the game.

Three Rock Ladies 1 (Maebh Galvin) UCD 6 (Kate Collins-Smyth, Jeamie Deacon, Sarah Greene, Anna O’Flanagan, Leah Ewart, Caroline Hill)
UCD were comfortably too good for Three Rock Ladies at Grange Road to stay in the hunt at the top of division one. Brenda Flannery had served an early warning when she hit the post from close range. Anna O’Flanagan’s delightful chip over Barbara Snow created the first for Kate Collins-Smyth to tip home into an open goal. Jeamie Deacon flashed home a reverse from a corner rebound before Sarah Greene scored with a tip in for 3-0 at half-time. And UCD kept up the pressure in the second period in spite of Maeve Galvin’s goal with the score at 5-0.

Corinthian 0 Trinity 1 (Kylie Deverell)
Trinity once again asserted their place ahead of the mini-league scrapping to avoid relegation but they were endebted to Jessie Elliott’s penalty save as she denied Carol Magowan from the spot. Earlier on, Kylie Deverell had earlier put the students in front when Eanna Horan drove to the baseline and played across for the former Kilkenny College student to finish off her fifth of the campaign in the 45th minute. Aisling Burke went close on a number of occasions but the slender lead was a perilous one as the reds won the stroke as well as piling forward at the end but could not get a goal to share the spoils.

Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy
Quarter Finals: Wexford 2 (Miriam Lambers, Lisa Codd) NICS 2 (Christina Hayes, Laura Topley), NICS win 4-3 on penalties; Bandon 0 Greenfields 2 (Alma Whelan, Neasa McGettigan)
Third round: Ballymena 3 (Aimess Logan, Shannen Smyth, Rebekah Reynolds) Dromore 1; Omagh 3 (Jenny Elkin, Sara Jayne McClung, Amy Nethery) Portadown 2 (Sam Hill 2), aet
Semi-final draw: Ballymena/Galway vs Clontarf vs Omagh; Greenfields vs NICS