Hook Hockey

Loreto claim IJC for fifth time

Electric Ireland (Women) Irish Junior Cup final
Loreto 2 (Wendy Byrne, Stephanie Hall) Pembroke 0
Loreto claimed their fifth Irish Junior Cup – taking their first league and cup double into the bargain – as they edged out Pembroke at Belfield, beating their major rivals in a second competition at the last.

The Beaufort club, with former international Caitriona Tipping to the fore, held sway for much of the game but found the goals hard to come by as Pembroke defended well throughout. Their corner routines did not truly function while there was the odd hair-raising moment in the Pembroke defence. Indeed, Loreto claimed a go-ahead goal only for a long corner to ensue while Sarah Scott’s deflection was well saved.

After an extended half-time break due to thunder and lightning around Belfield, the breakthrough eventually came when Wendy Byrne pounced on a goal-mouth scramble to get the ball over the line.

Pembroke fought back gamely but Loreto killed off the game late on when Stephanie Hall slid in to score against her former club, making it 2-0 in the final minute.

Loreto: Mary Harkin, Saran Scott, Wendy Byrne, Carly Baker, Orla Smith, Sarah O’Meara, Ellis Smith, Hayley Mulcahy, Stephanie Doran, Catriona Tipping, Roisin Ryan
Subs: Linda Jenkinson, Stephanie Hall, Phoebe Lyons, Jessica McGirr.

Pembroke Wanderers: Anna O’Connell, Jane Brownlee, Clara Chamberlayne, Joanna McDonnell, Viv Fenton, Louise Tollerton, Anna O’Grady, Ali O’Mahony, Lorraine Horgan, Eimear McCarthy, Orla Canavan
Subs: Rachel O’Brien, Sorcha Clarke, Kate Hurley, Susan Ryan, Rachel McGrath.