The site has come a long way since its early beginnings. In the past year, the switch to a website format and the development of the site’s excellent photographic arm, culminating in the Irish Hockey Photographers’ dedicated website, were among the projects undertaken.

During the season, the addition of more video elements and our first ever ‘livestream’ – the vast majority with thanks to Tristan Seaton-Stedham – has been a huge advance.

The first Hook Awards’ night – primarily a fundraiser for Glenanne’s EHL trip at Easter – will hopefully become a regular fixture in the local hockey calendar.

Full league tables, updated on Sunday morning’s based on club submissions were integrated mid-season and the Stats Centre will hopefully be tidied up and improved in the coming months.

For the 2011/12 season, using The Hook’s twitter page, the intention is to be ramp up this service and be able to collate virtually all of the divisional results in a simple, free fashion within minutes of game’s completion and, thus provide the earliest possible league table updates.

During the season, the Hook has endeavoured to travel to as many games as possible, taking in trips to Munster, Ulster, the Netherlands and France to cover as many aspects of our sport to the highest standard.

More details will follow on this in due course but to develop these elements and maintain standards, the site does require a personal financial outlay which is primarily attempted to be covered from those who have donated to the site; 100pc of these funds go back into the Hook’s development.

Should you wish to help the coverage and promotion of Leinster and Irish hockey, feel free to contribute to the site via the ‘Donation’ button on the left-hand side of this page (or follow this link).

Finally, thank you all for taking the time to read, contribute and comment to The Hook. Website hits have increased more close to three-fold this season, an indicator that the Hook’s efforts are being appreciated in some form.

Such indicators, along with the feedback received around the grounds week-in, week-out, make the efforts which go into the site much easier to manage.

All the best for the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing some of you pitch-side as the Irish men and women pursue their Olympic dream, building toward the European Championships in August.

Stephen Findlater

The fixtures for September and October have been initially been released as per usual with the remainder to follow in due course. The IHA timetable – including the Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey League – however will not be finalised fully until November when it will be known which Olympic qualifier, if any, Ireland will be heading to.

Belgium, Japan and India in the spring are the current options subject to continental qualifiers which could see some re-jigging to the national calendar but the first round of the Senior Cup will go ahead in the first week of October with IHL round one following a week later.

Glenanne begin their title defence against Clontarf on their return to division one while the Marlay derby between Corinthian and Three Rock looks an initial highlight on day one.

The Neville Cup is down to be played on the Sunday of week one with three all division one ties opening the competition, notably holders Monkstown against Pembroke.

Mullingar and Portrane are two notable inclusions in this competition having stepped up from division 4 to 2. The second tier gets underway a week later on September 24 with the Westmeath side playing their very first fixture at this level in a league which has been bolstered up to eight teams for 2011/12.

Going down the leagues, division 3 remains as per last term but division 4 welcomes back Corinthian III, Suttonians II and Weston II while St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park drop down.

Div 5 sees Skerries continue their rise back up through the leagues having bossed the sixth tier last time round while Rathgar II come up from division 8, a relocation based on their impressive if ultimately registration-scuppered run in that league.

Twelve teams will contest division six, Kilkenny II, Mullingar II and Athy’s second successive promotion adding to the table.
Division 7 sees the introduction of Portrane II; Bray’s first team will play in this league after their mid-season withdrawal in 2010/11 while Wicklow and Smithfield have stepped up as the promoted sides from division 8.

Men’s League structure:
Division 1: Monkstown, Railway Union, YMCA, UCD, Corinthian, Three Rock Rovers, Clontarf, Glenanne, Fingal, Pembroke Wanderers
Division 2: Portrane, Weston, Navan, Avoca, Rathgar, Suttonians, Dublin University, Mullingar
Division 3: Monkstown II, Railway Union II, YMCA II, UCD II, Corinthian II, Three Rock Rovers II, Dublin University II, Glenanne II, Fingal II, Pembroke Wanderers II
Division 4: Clontarf II, Pembroke Wanderers III, Suttonians II, Kilkenny, Railway Union III, Naas, Glenanne III, Corinthian III, Monkstown III, Weston II
Division 5: Pembroke Wanderers IV, YMCA III, Avoca II, Skerries, St James Gate, Monkstown IV, Rathgar II, St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park, North Kildare, Three Rock Rovers III
Division 6: Glenanne IV, Corinthian IV, Dublin University III, Navan II, Three Rock Rovers IV, Mullingar II, Athy, YMCA IV, Kilkenny II, Fingal III, Pembroke Wanderers V, Monkstown V
Division 7: Bray, Portrane II, Wicklow, Weston III, Railway Union IV, Avoca III, St Brendans/Phoenix Park II, Smithfield, UCD III, Corinthian V
Division 8: Bray II, Three Rock Rovers V, Pembroke Wanderers VII, Pembroke Wanderers VI, Fingal IV, St James Gate II, Clontarf III, Dublin University IV

Early season Leinster Men’s Division One/Two fixtures:
September 17 (Week One)
Division 1: Monkstown vs Railway Union; YMCA vs UCD; Corinthian vs Three Rock Rovers; Clontarf vs Glenanne; Fingal vs Pembroke Wanderers

September 18
Neville Cup Round 1: Mullingar v Weston; Monkstown v Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne v Corinthian; Avoca v Railway Union; Fingal v YMCA; Portrane v Clontarf

September 24 (Week Two)
Division 1: Railway Union vs YMCA; UCD vs Clontarf; Three Rock Rovers vs Monkstown; Glenanne vs Fingal; Pembroke Wanderers vs Corinthian
Division 2: Portrane vs Weston; Navan vs Avoca; Rathgar vs Suttonians; Dublin University vs Mullingar

Sunday, September 25
Division 1: Glenanne vs Corinthian; Clontarf vs Fingal; Pembroke Wanderers vs Monkstown; Railway Union vs UCD; Three Rock Rovers vs YMCA

October 1 (Week Three)
Division 1: UCD vs Monkstown; YMCA vs Clontarf; Railway Union vs Corinthian; Pembroke Wanderers vs Glenanne; Three Rock Rovers vs Fingal
Division 2: Weston vs Navan; Avoca vs Rathgar; Suttonians vs Dublin University; Mullingar vs Portrane

October 8 (Week four)
Irish Senior Cup – round one
Division 2: Avoca vs Weston; Suttonians vs Navan; Mullingar vs Rathgar; Dublin University vs Portrane

October 15 (Week five)
Irish Hockey League – round one
Division 2: Portrane vs Avoca; Weston vs Suttonians; Navan vs Mullingar; Rathgar vs Dublin University

October 22 (Week six)
Division 1: Corinthian vs UCD; Monkstown vs YMCA; Fingal vs Railway Union; Clontarf vs Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne vs Three Rock Rovers
Division 2: Suttonians vs Avoca; Mullingar vs Weston; Dublin University vs Navan; Rathgar vs Portrane

Sunday, October 23
Neville Cup Round 2

October 29 (Week seven)
Irish Hockey League – round two

It was the biggest day in over half a century, ending a 79-year wait for a national title when they stormed to the Irish Hockey Challenge title last Saturday in Belfield.

The purples reigned supreme in the stands as their growing youth contingent transferred over from a training session in Milltown with heavily-capped Irish internationals Graham Shaw and Shirley McCay to make plenty of noise in the weekend’s opening final.

They say Nasir Munir repeat his heroics from the 2007 Irish Senior Cup, scoring twice in a 6-2, showing his quick hands and trickery have scarcely abated despite tipping the 40-mark.

His influence on the club has also manifested itself in bringing a contingent of his protégées from his coaching in Sandford Park to the north Dublin club.

One such player, Emmett Lawlor-McHugh also weighed in with a pair while Mukhtar Ahmed and Ralph Billings also weighed in with a goal each. Kilkenny’s goals were recorded by schoolboy Eamon Walsh and former UCD club captain Tristan Lynas.

UCC’s wait for a national title continues as they were undone by South Antrim 2-1 in the Irish Hockey Trophy final at Belfield on Sunday.

Roger Gray’s drag-flick had them level but Ian Harbinson flicked high off a rebound to score what proved the winner before half-time.

UCC – for whom sweeper Andrew Gray gave a stunning defensive performance – had their chances to draw level in the second half, Roger Gray’s trickery creating shooting opportunities but Peter Catchpole and Fionn O’Leary were both nudged out when well-placed.

On the women’s side, Katie McQuillan and Katie Morris’ all-round excellence up top for Lisnagarvey were the spurs in a 2-0 victory over Ulster rivals Portadown.

They grabbed a goal each in an impressive success, the latter sealing the win in the closing stages after the former had broken the deadlock.

Limerick claimed the ESB Electric Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge on Saturday when they had far too much in the tank for Dungarvan, Fenagh Smith firing a hat-trick in a 7-0 win.

On the domestic front, Corinthian II claimed the Railway Cup title with a 4-2 victory at St Columba’s, emerging from a minefield of a top half of the draw which featured most of the big-hitters at this level – the likes of Pembroke, Glenanne, Monkstown and YMCA.

Youth and experience was the key with players like Neil Pelow and Ian Stuart being guided by skipper Adrian Missen, Miles Warren and Colm Blennerhassett. Gareth Davis netted twice.

The Rathgar Chiefs seconds picked up their first ever piece of silverware in their inaugural year with Brian Cleere – one of the major organisers in the new club – fittingly scoring the winning goal.

Another of the former Trinity crew, Cian Denham, bagged his side’s first two but Glenanne’s fifth team were not going to give up their Minor Cup up without a battle and pushed the Chiefs to a 3-2 scoreline.

On the women’s side, Corinthian V made it a trophy bonanza for the Whitechurch club as they denied Avoca II a second successive league and cup double with a dramatic 4-3 win for the Division 9/10 Cup title

Skerries IV did, however, get the coveted double in equally exciting fashion, needing penalty strokes to claim the Division 13/14 Cup.

Naas won their tussle with Swords in yet another cracker, this time annexing the Division ¾ Cup with a 4-2 victory, on a brilliant day of finals action at Grange Road.

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy final: South Antrim 2 (Ricky O’Neill, Ian Harbinson) UCC 1 (Roger Gray)
Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge Final: Kilkenny 2 (Tristan Lynas, Eamon Walsh) Portrane 6 (Nasir Munir 2, Emmett Lawlor-McHugh 2, Mukhtar Ahmad, Ralph Billings)

Railway Cup Final Corinthian II 4 (Gareth Davis 2, Colm Blennerhassett, Adrian Missen) Railway Union II 2
Minor Cup final: Rathgar Chiefs 3 (Cian Denham 2, Brian Cleere) Glenanne 2

Women’s cup results:
ESB Electric Ireland Irish Senior Cup, quarter-finals: Ulster Elks 1 (N Wise) Hermes 2 (L Jacob, J Burke); Pegasus 4 (C McMahon, N Graham, V Surgeoner, M Harvey) Lurgan 1 (C McClure)

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Trophy: Portadown 0 Lisnagarvey 2 (Katie McQuillan, Katie Morris)
ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Challenge Final: Dungarvan 0 Limerick 7 (Fenagh Smith 3, Lorraine McGowan, Ciara Hayes, Karen O’Flynn, Jenni Lyttle)

Leinster Division 3/4 Cup final: Naas 4 Swords 2
Division 9/10 Cup final: Avoca II 3 Corinthian V 4
Division 13/14 Cup final: Skerries IV 1 Dalkey II 1, Skerries won on penalty strokes

Carlsberg, Ed Sports and Gilmour Sports also came on board to support the event with proceeds from the event going to support Glenanne’s EHL bid over the Easter weekend.

The awards themselves took on a two-part process with clubs asked to nominate players, coaches and umpires from within their own club and from others to produce the main shortlist.

From those shortlists, the public vote drew well over 4,000 responses and was the most viewed story on the site since moving to the new format at the start of the season. Winners were determined solely on this basis.

Adrian Boehm received the largest percentage of the vote in any category as he took the Contributor of the Year title with a massive 41.72% of the vote for his sterling photographic work that he provides each week.

Indeed, his volume and quality of photos over the last weekend can be seen on the Irish Hockey Photographers website, covering all four of the national finals in Belfield to the highest standard.

Gillian McAuliffe, the woman responsible for the site’s overhaul last summer, took second place in this category just ahead of photographer Deryck Vincent.

The umpire of the year award was the closest category but was eventually taken down by Olympic whistle-blower Carol Metchette (left), coming in just ahead of Fiona Davitt and Kieran Bolger.

Metchette continues to impress in both the men’s and women’s division one games while also showing the tenacity in the past week in the line of duty, umpiring in key games this week despite picking up a shiner sustained in the first meeting of Loreto and Old Alex.

A feature of the umpire’s vote was the spread of nominations in the “Other” option with UDP umpires Karl Chapple and Ali Keogh along with Kris Cholewa picking up a number of votes.

Scott Beattie took the Coach of the Year following a bumper debut year with Sutton Park, winning the northside school’s first Senior title when they claimed the Senior Trophy in dramatic fashion while also reaching the Minor Cup final.

Will Powderly was among the “other” nominations, receiving a high proportion of the public vote while Richard Mason and Didi Cole’s dual-work at Monkstown and Gareth Borland’s role as Leinster U-16 boss and Clontarf player-coach also drew plenty of praise beyond the initial nominees.

Onto the player awards and Dannielle Cummins, Avoca’s first team goalkeeper took the Junior Women’s title just ahead of YMCA taliswoman Tara Powderly.

And another goalkeeper took the Junior Men’s gong, Rathgar Chiefs’ Dan Gribben certainly his side’s most consistent performer until he broke his hand recently in the club’s maiden season.

Audrey McCormack tallied the most votes of any of the categories as the Glenanne woman took home the Senior Women’s Player of the Year. The midfielder continues to be a powerhouse in midfield and the engine which drives the Glens all-action approach.

Finally, Gareth Watkins (below, left) added another personal achievement to 2010 Irish Hockey Club Player of the Year crown, as he topped the Senior Men’s Player of the Year tally ahead of Glenanne’s Joe Brennan.

A big thanks again to Gary Shaw and his crew for putting together the night and to all the people who attended on the night, helped with nominations and voted for the various awards.

The Hook exists for and because of the people that take part in our game at all levels week in and week out and so, to receive the support for this venture and, indeed, the site in general is pretty overwhelming and suggests a need is being fulfilled.

These awards honour just some of the people that make the sport a source of enjoyment for people to be involved in and want to prosper, capturing some of the spirit of the game. Long may it continue.

*** The top three in each category is below with the percentage of the final vote in brackets while also mentioned are some of the people who received sizeable votes in the “other” section and are worthy of mention for their efforts in the past season.

Contributor of the Year (Total votes: 676)
1. Adrian Boehm (41.72%)
2. Gillian McAuliffe (18.64%)
3. Deryck Vincent (18.49%)
Honorable mentions outside of the nominees: Emer Keogh – photographic contributions

Umpire of the Year (615)
1. Carol Metchette (18.21%)
2. Fiona Davitt (14.47%)
3. Kieran Bolger (12.85%)
Honorable mentions: Kris Cholewa, Karl Chapple, Ali Keogh

Coach of the Year (904)
1. Scott Beattie, Sutton Park (22.57%)
2. Graham Shaw, Loreto/Glenanne (14.82%)
3. Mick McKinnon, Railway ladies (10.73%)
Honorable mentions: Will Powderly (YMCA ladies), Richard Mason/Didi Cole (Monkstown); Gareth Borland (Leinster U-16/Clontarf); Mary Logue (Hermes); Brendon Carolan (Pembroke)

Junior Women’s Player of the Year (487)
1. Danielle Cummins, Avoca (28.13%)
2. Tara Powderly, YMCA (23.82%)
3. Sarah Lovett, Monkstown (18.69%)
Honorable mentions: Emma Kilbride (Our Lady’s); Fiona Walshe (Swords); Courtney Watkins (Monkstown)

Junior Men’s Player of the Year (454)
1. Dan Gribben, Rathgar Chiefs (31.5%)
2. Martin Naughton, Avoca (21.37%)
3. Stephen Cairns, Clontarf (16.08%)
Honorable mentions: Harry Spain (Suttonians), Tom Noonan (Clontarf), Paul Kennedy (St James’ Gate)

Senior Women’s Player of the Year (977)
1. Audrey McCormack, Glenanne (22.01%)
2. Chloe Watkins, UCD (14.23%)
3. Kate Dillon, Railway Union (13.61%)
Honorable mentions: Maebh Horan (Trinity), Jeamie Deacon (Railway Union), Sinead Walsh (Railway Union), Nikki Symmons (Loreto), Sinead Dooley (Railway Union)

Senior Men’s Player of the Year (710)
1. Gareth Watkins, Monkstown (21.55%)
2. Joe Brennan, Glenanne (15.07%)
3. Alan Blennerhassett, Corinthian (12.25%)
Honorable mentions: Ali Haughton (TRR); Andrew Walker (YMCA); Brian Groves (Monkstown); Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne); Andrew Sutton (Corinthian); Fran Lee (Monkstown)

Then, on Monday, they host Railway Union at St Andrew’s where a win would rule for the Booterstown hosts would end Railway’s two-year reign as Leinster champions. It is a tough schedule, one which will test their panel to the limit.

The Elks are a coming force in Ulster and while they look likely to just miss out on an IHL place this season, their ambition can be seen in the past couple of years through the players they have been able to attract.

Irish internationals Shirley McCay and Emma Clarke are recent alumni while French international Philipine Berly and Commonwealth gold medallist Suman Bala are others to grace the jersey.

Hermes travel to UUJ for that tie, competing for a semi-final date with Ballymoney, before letting their international contingent rest for the Railway tie.

It is the nature of the CPP setup that top players will miss key games but it is a strange situation to have 11 current full internationals absent for such a big tie.

Both clubs have shown the ability to roll with such blows – Railway completing the Jacqui Potter Cup win while Hermes recently stormed past Loreto. In such games, the likes of Kate Dillon and Jenny Burke become central figures. Loreto’s bid for the title is also put to the test on Monday night, facing Old Alex for the second successive week.

Caitriona Tipping’s return was a vital component in that success but Alex, in their final game of the season, may well have plenty of motivation as three points should be needed to keep an automatic IHL place alive.

Before that, Loreto face UCD on Saturday afternoon with their internationals available and are the only side in the top three for whom this event is priority number one.

Again, it is a tester against a student side bidding for fourth; they will have half an eye on the Senior Cup as they find out whether they will travel to either Lurgan or Pegasus. Glenanne face Trinity in a straight contest for seventh place.

The first three Leinster ladies divisional finals take place on Sunday in Grange Road. Swords contest the division ¾ cup and are one of the stories of the season in these competitions. Coached by Ciaran McNamara, the ALSAA-side initially struggled following promotion to division four, waiting until their tenth league game – in February – before recording their first win of the campaign.

But five league wins saw them rise to sixth in the division and produce fireworks in the cup, beating UCD II, runaway leaders of the division above, on penalty strokes.

Naas, too, are an unlikely finalist with division three form disparate compared to their cup form, making for an intriguing final.

In the division 9/10 contest, Avoca II are going for a double when they face Corinthian V as are Skerris IV in the division 13/14 contest.

On a busy weekend of finals, Limerick play Dungarvan in the Irish Hockey Challenge final at Belfield while a day later Portadown play Lisnagarvey in the Irish Hockey Trophy final.

ESB Electric Women’s Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals, Saturday:

Women’s Leinster Division One, Saturday: Trinity vs Glenanne, 11am, Santry; Old Alexandra vs Bray,1.15pm, Milltown; Loreto vs UCD, 1.45pm, Beaufort
Monday: Hermes vs Railway Union, TBC, St Andrews; Old Alex vs Loreto, 8.15pm, Milltown

Division Two, Saturday: Three Rock Ladies vs Old Alex, 11am, Grange Road; Pembroke vs Railway Union, 12.30pm; Loreto vs Muckross, 3.15pm, Beaufort; Our Lady’s vs North Kildare, 3.30pm, Templeogue

ESB Electric Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge final, Saturday: Limerick vs Dungarvan, 3.30pm, Belfield
ESB Electric Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy final, Sunday: Portadown vs Lisnagarvey, 3.30pm, Belfield

Leinster Ladies Cup finals, Sunday (all at Grange Road):
Division 3/4: Naas vs Swords, 2pm, front pitch
Division 9/10: Corinthian V vs Avoca II, 4pm, front pitch
Division 13/14: Skerries IV vs Dalkey III, 2.30pm, back pitch

The poll is also still open for the Hook’s Contributor of the Year with the nominees for Junior Player of the Year (those operating for first teams outside of men’s and women’s division one) set to go live later today.

Nominees for these awards have come about from proposals in the various categories, seeking to honour the broad spectrum of Leinster hockey.

Voting will be open up until March 30 with the winners being announced at The Hook’s Awards Night and end of season party – held in conjunction with Glenanne SC – on April 2 in Kobra on Leeson Street.

To secure your ticket for the event, contact Gary Shaw on 087 986 1942 or email shawsie14@gmail.com. Tickets costs €10 and will also include free entry into NV nightclub while there will be finger-food and spot prizes on the night.

Here are the five votes online thus far:

A decision on all remaining matches to be played in Leinster and Munster will be made by 12 noon tomorrow Friday, December 10.

The following games have been affected on the men’s side: Lisnagarvey vs Cookstown; South Antrim vs Cork Harlequins; North Down vs Newry; Mossley vs UCC; NICS vs Antrim and Banbridge vs Belfast Harlequins.

On the women’s side, the cancelled ties are: Lisnagarvey vs Glenanne; Queens vs Portadown; Belfast Harlequins vs Greenisland; Pegasus vs Victorians; Dromore vs Corinthian and Randalstown vs Pembroke.

** Pembroke are looking for donations of clothing, bedding (not pillows or duvets), curtains, soft toys, shoes (tied together), belts and handbags as part of a collection for the developing world.

They are asking people to fill a black plastic bag full of the stuff you don’t want anymore, drop it into the club, and they will gladly take it off your hands. They are receiving donations for the next week, extending beyond the original December 12 closing date due to the big freeze. The collection doubles as a fundraiser with the club receiving 60c per kilo collected.

** Dalkey-based Albert Ladies’ hockey club are looking for potential members to take part in the Golden Oldies Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland in July 2011.

The club is an enthusiastic group of veteran players – aged between 50 and 70) – and have a couple of places available for their upcoming trip to Scotland, including a goalkeeper. The festival takes place from July 17 to 24, 2011 and welcomes teams from all over the World competing against each other.

The cost is approximately £900 per person including B&B accommodation, transfers and some social functions but not flights. Full details on the tournament are available on: www.goldenoldiessports.com. For more information, contact gdgreene@eircom.net.

They lost at the first time of asking to Railway Union but were reinstated due to a player eligibility issue and replayed against the Park Avenue outfit on Friday night, taking the laurels 3-1.

And they carried that momentum into the final with Emma Russell striking a goal in each half before the excellent Anna Roopnarinesingh pulled one back with seven minutes to go with a superb solo goal.

A few late corners almost forced extra-time but Hermes’ defence marshalled by Jane Fennelly and with midfield dynamo Laura Gray to the fore, they survived the tension to take the cup.

In the other finals on the day, Niamh Barry scored the second half winner for Botanic IV (pictured) to claim their first cup title in eight years as they withstood a late onslaught from Dalkey in front of a large, noisy crowd at Grange Road on Saturday.

Barry got the final touch after a scramble ensued at short corner time to seal the division 11/12 crown.

It proved a nice present for the absent captain Mo Smyth who was unable to play after being stranded in Amsterdam since the previous Thursday due to the fallout from the Icelandic volcano.

In the division 7/8 decider, Mini Douglas struck with virtually the last touch of the game to hand Railway Union IV the division 7/8 cup while Monkstown II won the division 13/14 cup 3-2 on penalty strokes after tying in normal time with Navan II 1-1.

U-16 Jacqui Potter Cup final:
Hermes 2 (Emma Russell 2) Old Alex 1 (Anna Roopnarinesingh)

Women’s Division 7/8 Cup final:
Railway Union IV 1 (Mini Douglas) Pembroke VI 0

Women’s Division 11/12 Cup final:
Botanic IV 1 (Niamh Barry) Dalkey 0

Women’s Division 13/14 Cup final:
Monkstown II 1 Navan II 1 Monkstown win 3-2 on penalty strokes

**********************************************

Last week at Belfield, meanwhile, Old Alex II were pipped to the Irish Junior Cup title by a formidable Randalstown II side who came from a goal behind to end the Milltown club’s double dreams.

Sylvia O’Mahony netted from the second phase of a corner after Becca Coll’s initial shot had created havoc but two goals from Pamela Muir and one from Courtney Burns swung the tie the Ulster side’s way.

* Adrian Boehm’s photos from the Old Alex II vs Randalstown II fixture can be seen here. Apologies for not posting sooner.

Kate Lloyd, Anna Roopnarinesingh, Orla Macken, Anna May Whelan and Ailish Naughton are all included for the second year running for the tournament which takes place at Grange Road on October 3 and 4 in Grange Road.

Ciara Vincent is the one player not from an established hockey school, developing her skills within the Loreto youth set-up.

Leinster U-16 Girls
Suzy Kenna (GK, St Gerards), Nicola Walsh (Mt Anville/Railway Union), Jane Fennelly (Mt Anville/Hermes), Laura Gallagher (St Gerards/Pembroke), Kate Lloyd (Loreto Dalkey/Railway Union), Anna Roopnarinesingh (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Orla Macken (Rathdown/Railway Union), Anna May Whelan (Wesley College/Old Alex), Emma Russell (Holy Child Kiliney/Hermes), Hannah McDermott (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Ailish Naughton (Holy Child Kiliney/Railway Union), Laura Gray (St Andrews College/Hermes), Orla Patton (Loreto Dalkey/Hermes), Aine McCrann (Muckross Park/Loreto), Lauren Haughton (Wesley College/Three Rock Ladies), Rachel Owens (Loreto Beaufort/Loreto), Kate Lenehan (Alexandra College/Old Alex), Ciara Vincent (St Colmcilles/Loreto)

Coach: Nikki Symmons
Manager: Kate Hurley
Asst Coach: Sarah Scott
GK Coach: Ian Clarke

The Senior Girls League got underway, with teams shaking off the return to school to put in some excellent performances. The show, however, was stolen by Mount Temple – newcomers to this level – who put in a fantastic performance to gain a comfortable three points at the expense of Our Lady’s Terenure. Elsewhere, there were heavy victories for Loreto, Beaufort and St Andrews College against Sutton Park and Loreto, Dalkey respectively.

Section A

Mount Temple 4-1 Our Lady’s Terenure
Our Lady’s started brightly and dominated the early phases but couldn’t penetrate the Mount temple circle; Temple held strong and took a surprise lead when Sarah Murray pounced quickest to flick home after 20mins. A minute into the second half, a well worked short corner was converted by Nicola Taylor and then, just 90 seconds later, a flowing move from a hit out saw Megan Oliver fire home a reverse stick goal. Our Lady’s didn’t give up and Claire Walsh got a goal back. They kept coming forward but the home side always looked a threat on the attack and scored again with five minutes remaining when Nicola Taylor slotted home her second of the match.

Wesley College 4-1 Muckross Park
Wesley College got their campaign off to an excellent start, comfortably taking care of business against Muckross Park. Sarah Robinson and Hannah Honner scored in the first half to put the home side in control, with Katie Warren extending the lead in the second period. Sarah Twomey hit back for Muckross, but a fourth goal from Anna-May Whelan put the issue beyond doubt.

Mount Sackville 2-0 Rathdown
Mount Sackville got the better of their opening fixture, in a close contest. Siun McLoughlin opened the scoring in the first half, and a neat short corner from Emma Sweeney in the second secured the victory – with goalkeeper Blaithin Colgan keeping a clean sheet in her team’s first outing.

Loreto, Dalkey 0-7 St Andrews College
St Andrews proved to be far too strong for Loreto, Dalkey. A glorious hat-trick from Sarah Woodroofe provided the spark, and further goals from Harriet Kinsman, Chloe Watkins, Sophie Marshall, and Gillian Pinder cemented the scoreline.

Section B

Loreto, Beaufort 8-0 Sutton Park
Newcomers Sutton Park experienced a difficult opening fixture against one of the traditional powerhouses of the league. Hat-tricks from Sinead McGirr and Carly Baker were added to by Orla Gavin and Laura Delany, as Beaufort excelled at scoring both from play and set-pieces.

Loreto, Foxrock 0-1 St. Gerards
An entertaining, end-to-end battle, resulted in a hard fought win for St. Gerards – the only goal of the game coming from Danni Maher. Katie Burgess impressed in defence for St Gerards, who won despite an excellent performance from Foxrock’s Sarah Greene.

Remaining Week One Section B fixtures
Thursday, Septemner 17: The Kings Hospital v Mount Anville
Saturday, September 19: Holy Child, Killiney v The High School

Week 2 fixtures: To be played by 26th September
Section A: Rathdown v Loreto,Bray; St Andrews College v Mount Temple; Muckross Park v Mount Sackville; Our Lady’s Terenure v Wesley College
Section B: Sutton Park v Alexandra College; The High School v Loreto, Foxrock; Mount Anville v Loreto, Beaufort; St Gerards v The Kings Hospital

* For more of Deryck Vincent’s photos from the Mount Temple vs Our Lady’s, Terenure game, click here ]]> http://www.hookhockey.com/index.php/2009/09/mount-temple-show-premier-quality/feed/ 0