News Archive

Connacht in the driving seat after day one

22 November 2008

Connacht have put themselves in a great position after day one of the ESB Under 18 Girls interprovincial tournament in Garrydaff, Cork. Galway Hockey club's excellent youth development is in evidence this year, with 12 of the 18-strong Connacht squad playing their club hockey with Galway. The Connacht sqaud has many of last years victorious under 16's and also boasts 10 Irish internationals capped at both under 16 and under 18 level. A comprehensive 3-0 rout of Ulster was followed up by a slightly less convincing 3-2 defeat of South East, ensured that the westerners were the only side to take maximum points from their opening encounters.

It’s not often an Ulster U18 side gets so comprehensibly beaten in any competition, but Connacht’s 3-0 defeat of them in their opening encounter oozed class. The centre-back partnership of Galway's Freddie Timmins and Sarah Melvin were equally impressive in their ability to break up play and distribute the ball intelligently, but it was Deirdre Hatton who struck early on to put them in front. With Brenda Flannery controlling midfield and Jessica McNickan and Katie Codyre making nuisances of themselves up front, Connacht eventually made the game safe with two goals in as many minutes after half-time. First, Orla Callanan’s run up the right and some quickfire passing from Flannery and Timmins set up Lynsey Trainor, who wrong-footed Sammy Jo Greer and found the bottom corner from six yards on 38 minutes. They made sure of the result two minutes later, Hatton latching on to a through ball and rounding Greer before squaring for Codyre to finish. Despite forcing a slew of short corners late on, Ulster couldn’t find a way through.

Connacht did make heavy work of their next outing against the South East, however; goals from Codyre and Brenda Flannery had them two up and cruising inside eight minutes, with Hatton adding a third later on, but Jean Devoy and Zoe Codd ensured a nervy finale as it finished 3-2.

The big test will come tommorrow when Connacht play Leinster at 09.00am, if Connacht win of this game they will have one hand on the trophy going into the afternoon clash with Munster. The Leinster squad, who boast some of their own Internationals and players who are regular starters in Leinster Division 1, will certainly provide a stern test for Connacht. By tomorrow afternoon we'll know if this Connacht squad will have created their own piece of history by claiming the Under 18 title.

Today's Results:

12.30: Connacht (3) - (0) Ulster

Scorers: Lynsey Trainer (GHC), Katie Codyre and Deirdre Hatton (GHC)

15.30:  Connacht (3) - (2) South-East

Scorers: Katie Codyre, Brenda Flannery and Deirdre Hatton (GHC)

Tommorrow's Schedule:

09.00: Connacht - Leinster

12.00:  Connacht - Munster

*Picture: Rachel McSharry

Reults and Tables from the IHA: www.hockey.ie/competitions/u18_girls.cfm

Pictures from the tournament: www.flickr.com/photos/irishhockeyphotographers/

Parts of this article are taken from Alan Good's Munster Hockey Blog: www.munsterhockey.wordpress.com