College retain All-Ireland trophy

The girls sealed the trophy for the third time in four years after beating St. Andrews College 1-0.

Earlier they had beaten Salerno 4-0 to go into the final match knowing they only needed a draw to be crowned champions once again.

On Thursday the girls opened the tournament by beating Crescent 3-2 followed by a 4-0 win over Kilkenny College.

In the deciding game against St Andrews they survived a second half onslaught to win 1-0 knowing that if they conceded two goals then Munster team Crescent College would pip them to the post.

Jenny Morrow brilliantly cracked home a reverse stick shot in the 15th minute for the winner after her sister Julie and Jenny Edgar had combined to set up the chance.

In the morning against Salerno, Kathryn Edgar, Samantha Bann, Jill Costley and Jenny Morrow got the goals to set up the title decider.

But it was Kilkenny who were the main threat as only a win by a six-goal margin would have enabled St Andrew’s to lift the title.

Lurgan coach Julie Hinds said team work was the secret of the Ulster champions’ success.

“It was a great effort from all 16 players and we only had the minimum break between games whereas St Andrew’s had more time to recharge their batteries.” she explained.

“If I had to pick someone out it would be our captain Hannah Grieve who led by example throughout and her decision making was first class.

“The girls had very little left in the tank in the second half of the final game and they really threw everything at us but thankfully we held on for the win.”

It caps of another brilliant year for Lurgan College hockey team having recently retained the Schools’ Senior Cup.

Full report and pictures in this week’s Lurgan Mail.