Junior A Girls Hockey Team Defeated in League Final
The second girls’ hockey final in a week did not disappoint although sadly it ended in a second final defeat. This time it was the turn of the Junior A Girls’ team, playing in the Leinster League 1 final against a strong Loreto Balbriggan side. The day was again bathed in Spring sunshine as over two hundred College supporters walked down through Marlay Park.
The girls advanced to this final by reversing an earlier 8-0 League defeat to the St. Teresian School, drawing 1-1 in the semifinal and winning the one-on-one eliminations.
The game opened tentatively with St. Columba’s defending hard, notably with Captain Cora Wheatley and goalkeeper Hannah Bowles to the fore. Balbriggan’s well-drilled short corner routine put them a goal ahead. St. Columba’s managed some unsuccessful goal line flurries but went 2-0 down after Balbriggan counterattacked from the top of their circle; what a goal it was with the Balbriggan forward eliminated two St. Columba’s defenders with left to right drags and rounding our goalkeeper.
On the stroke of half time, our First Form playmaker whipped in a slap hit short corner of her own, meaning we went into halftime with the game delicately balanced and all to play for.
The second half was marked by us not taking our chances and Balbriggan scored another goal to emerge worthy winners. Both teams deserve praise for their unstinting efforts to the final whistle and playing competitively but in excellent spirit.
Later today, our Senior Girls’ Hockey squad return to Three Rock Rovers for the Trophy Final, getting the opportunity to exact revenge on Newpark for last week’s League Final defeat. On Wednesday, our Form I boys play in their league final against Wesley College after an excellent semi-final defeat against High School last week. Hockey finals are like Dublin buses these days; we wait so long for one to arrive and then four arrive at the same time!
(Hannah Bowles, Daniela Casasus Benitez, Winnifred Cawley-Comerford, Suvi-Helene Cully, Sophie Dobbs, Melisa Frisenbrudere, Emily Gleeson, Anna Hart, Eleanor Hart, Naomi Larke, Hannah Moffett, Madeleine Murphy, Daisy Nowlan, Alannah Starbuck, Matilda Strack, Cora Wheatley (Captain).
