Ladies 1sts

Galway through to quarter finals of Irish hockey Trophy and confirm hold at top of the Connacht Senior League

Galway 1st team cruised their way in the quarter finals of the Irish Hockey Trophy at the weekend when they beat Victorians Hockey Club from Ulster by 3 goals to 1 at home in Dangan.  It was the travelling team that started the strongest putting the Galway defence under constant pressure.  Galway defenders struggled to get control and lived dangerously for at least 20 minutes.  It seemed inevitable that Victorians would go ahead as they continued to pound the Galway goal.  Louise Fahy twice saved the ball twice on the line and Natasha Cooke in goals for Galway got plenty of chances to impress.  But Victorians eventually scored from a shot from the top of the circle and looked confident that they would add to the scoring.

However, this seemed to wake up the Galway side who slowly started to claw their way back into the game.  Within 5 minutes Galway had equalised when Louise Conlon scored from a well worked cross from Tara Melvin.  From then on Galway were in control and always looked dangerous up front.  Lynsey Trainer's constant pressure up front eventually paid off when she stole the ball from the defenders and scored a reverse shot from the edge of the circle.  

The second half continued as the first had ended with Galway in control.  Victorians were not out of the game though and their pace up front always looked like it could problems.  However, Freddie Timmins in defence was in control and between herself and Natasha Cooke - they dealt well with what came their way.  Mid way through the second half, Tara Melvin finally added a third and this finished off the Ulster side and Galway finished the game worthy winners.  

Galway followed their win in the Irish Hockey Trophy with a league win over local rivals NUIG in the COnnacht Senior League.  Galway followed up where they left off the day before against Victorians and dominated the game from the outset.  NUIG had no answer to Galway's quick passing and speed.  A five nil scoreline tells it's own story with goals from Tara Melvin, Emma Johnson, Ruth O'Sullivan and two from Louise Conlon.  Galway are now firmly on the top of the Connacht Senior League table and with 4 games left to play, it would be very hard to bet against them not winning the league title this season.