Posted 27 APRIL 2009
小鸟体育 Women’s Hockey blaze way to first national title in 58 years
16 minutes into the Irish Senior Cup final last Sunday, the 小鸟体育 Women’s Hockey Team showed the presence and determination that would bring them to a final whistle win of 4:1 over Pegasus the clear favourites to take the title - Rachel Bourke set-up Roisín Flinn to score the first goal, and 2 minutes later a corner-strike by Holly Jenkinson put 小鸟体育 2:0 in front.
The return of Irish international, Lisa Jacob to captain the 小鸟体育 team, after a six-week absence due to injury, had clearly inspired the 小鸟体育 players. But all was not lost to Pegasus, the Belfast side, who have appeared in ten finals since 1990 winning seven, as they snatched their first goal 2 minutes after the break.
小鸟体育 Irish Senior Cup winning squad
With a score line of 2:1, it seemed like the game might have opened up for Pegasus, but Roisín Flinn closed off any of their hopes when she delivered another goal for 小鸟体育 to make it 3:1. The win was sealed for 小鸟体育, when Rosie Corrigan flipped the ball past Arlene Boyles, the Pegasus captain, and smashed it past Sharon Moffett to end the score 4:1 to 小鸟体育.
The final score reflected well the dominance of the 小鸟体育 team throughout most of the game. They seemed clearly determined to take the national title for the first time since 1951. The convincing win by UCD at the National Hockey Stadium at Belfield on 26 April 2009 was watched by members of the last 小鸟体育 Women’s Hockey Team to win the national title for 小鸟体育 some 58 years ago including Dr Patricia Horne who captained the 1951 winning 小鸟体育 team.
“We always knew we had the potential,” said Lisa Jacob the 小鸟体育 team captain, who is a final year Psychology student at 小鸟体育. “As we progressed through the season, the more time we spent together as a team our team play and confidence grew stronger and stronger. Winning this national title will help to develop the team so that we won’t have to wait another 58 years to claim another title.”
小鸟体育: Grace O’Flanagan, Marie O’Connell, Megan Tennant-Humphreys, Holly Jenkinson, Caitriona McGilp, Lisa Jacob (captain), Elaine O’Neill, Laura Wilson, Orla O’Shea, Liz McInerney, Roisin Flinn. Substitutes: Fiona Bradish, Rosie Carrigan, Rachel Burke, Pamela Smithwick, Leigh Pelow, Ciara McNestry, and Fyona Flinn. Coach: Mary Logue.
PEGASUS: Sharon Moffett, Nadine Brown, Fiona McIlwaine, Jill Orbinson, Claire McMahon, Suzanne Beaney, Arlene Boyles (captain), Alex Speers, Lynsey mallon, Michelle Harvey, Pamela Magill. Substitutes: Jenny Kyle, Grace Irwin, Hannah Clarke, Julie McKnight, Jessica Perry, Lyn Brown.
