Seconds defeated in Irish Junior Cup final

LISNAGARVEY Ladies Seconds faced Pemboke Wanderers in their second Irish Junior Cup final in three years, hoping to lift the the coveted 104 year old trophy for the first time in their history.
Lisnagarvey Second XI captain, Sara Allen, has a shot on goal during last Sunday's Irish Junior Cup final in Dublin.Lisnagarvey Second XI captain, Sara Allen, has a shot on goal during last Sunday's Irish Junior Cup final in Dublin.
Lisnagarvey Second XI captain, Sara Allen, has a shot on goal during last Sunday's Irish Junior Cup final in Dublin.

Garvey defeated Glenanne, the holders Loreto, UCD and Hermes on their way to the final held at Belfield in Dublin on Sunday.

Garvey began strongly winning the first penalty corner in the first minute after good work from Kirsty Walker down the right wing. Pembroke defended it well, blocking captain Sara Allen’s shot.

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Pembroke started to pass the ball well and attacked the Garvey goal, winning a corner of their own but a well structured Garvey defence kept Pembroke out.

Pembroke started to make life difficult for the Garvey girls and should have taken the lead but for some great defending from Hannah Coulter, Lynn Kerr, Sarah Allen, Rachael Colgan and the superb Leah Young in goals.

The young Garvey midfield of Paige Brown, Lisa McDonall, Eimar Faller, Jo Leatham and Sarah Wells began to show what they were capable of and started to take the game to Pembroke with a number of incisive runs especially from Paige Brown.

The final pass was just not getting to the forwards Annabel Hylands, Kirsty Walker, Sophie Glass and 15-year-old Anya Coffey who were getting well marshalled by a very strong and experienced Pembroke defence.

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Pembroke earned a number of corners which were dealt with by the defence but a break down the right eight minutes before half time was crossed and swept into the Garvey goal to give Pembroke a 1-0 half time advantage.

The second half saw Garvey up the tempo. Good work from Sophie McNeice and Kirsty Walker nearly created the goal Garvey deserved.

Laura Wilson was brought on again with 10 minutes to go and her strength and determination increased the tempo again with Garvey having the upper hand as Pembroke seemed to fade.

Garvey pressed hard and won another penalty corner which saw Sara Allen’s strike brilliantly taken off the line by a defender. They squandered another corner in the last minute which allowed Pembroke to run the clock down to the final whistle.

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Although the final was a bitter disappointment,it should be noted that nine of the squad are still teenagers. Congratulations to Pembroke on a hard fought victory.

Lisnagarvey Ladies are competing in another national final this Saturday at 1.15pm when their Firsts play Greenfields from Limerick in the Irish Hockey Trophy final at Belfield.