In what proved to be a historic moment in the history of Connacht hockey, Galway Hockey Club supplied both the finalists for this year's Ladies Top Oil Senior Connacht Cup final, as Galway 1st team took on their club mates in the form of Galway 2nds. Coach Richie Malone faced a dilema as he coached both teams to final over coming Greenfields 1st and Sligo 1st respectfully to have an all Galway final. In the end Barbara Sheehan stepped in to take over the 1st while on the other side Nora Folan took the regins of the 2nds. Both squads boasted both experience and youth but the 2nds were certainly weakened as injury to Emma Glanville ruled her out of make a full impact in any game for the 2nds. The match started at a fericous pace with Galway 1st have the better of the early exchanges with 1st team stalwart Meave Faherty managing to make the break thorough for the 1st as her reverse stick shot beat Tara Browne and gave the 1st the lead they craved. The 1st team continue to apply pressure thanks mainly to the forward play of Trainor, Conlon and Deirdre Hatton, but it was only thanks to Browne and a resolute 2nds defence composed of Siobhain Hammon, Louise Thorton, Michelle Carey and captain Grainne Murphy held firm. The midfield battle was titantic as the Tara Melvin, Grace Melvin and Jessica Mc Nickan went up against the experience of Elaine Newell, Christine Rabbitte and the young Alison Hynes. Each pair fighting hard to secure possession for their side, there certainly was no quater given or ask. It wasn't long before the 2nds managed to pull one back and so the game was finely balanced with the 1st pushing hard for a winner with the 2nds playing the more effective hockey. The 2nds forward line of Eavan Murphy, Lisa Geraghty, Niamh Walsh, Roseanne Regan, Ciara Bourke and Elaine Carey. Unfortunately the Galway defence led by Susan Joyce, Sarah Melvin, Claire Heskin and Freddie Timmins was breached again as Christine Rabbitte found a way past Emily Molloy in the Galway goal. While the 1st continue to search for an equaliser the 2nds held out to become Connacht Champions for the 2nd year in a row, but it was Captain Grainne Murphy who claimed the prize.
