Greenfields Hockey Club has succeeded in winning the Irish Ladies’ Trophy for a second successive year after overcoming Ulster outfit Lisnagarvey on Sunday.
It took a penalty shoot-out to determine this year’s winners, and in a nail-biting final Greenfields’ keeper Sinead Collins stepped up to become the heroine and match winner, bringing the trophy back to Galway for the second year in a row.
Having accounted for two other Northern sides on the way, Greenfields travelled to Belfield with some confidence, but it was always going to be a big ask to reproduce the stunning display against Belfast Harlequins.
Greenfields made a nervous start against a side that managed to stifle Greenfields’ style, closing down the defence quickly to prevent any sustained attacking movement.
With chances at a premium, the game always had the look of one which would go the distance.
However the Greenfields’ defence once again showed their mettle with 11 short corners to Lisnagarvey repelled by stubborn defending. The back four of Sarah MacDonald, Clodagh Grealy, Catherine Moore and Aine Collins were again outstanding and kept Greenfields in the game.
With no winner after extra time, it all came down to a cameo performance in a penalty shoot out from keeper Sinead Collins. Two great strokes from Sarah MacDonald and Clodagh Grealy were Greenfields’ tally in the shoot -out, but it was the four outstanding saves plus a glove on the fifth that saw the Galway ladies charge the goal and smother their heroine with deserved congratulations.
The 2 – 1 penalty scoreline was enough to return the trophy to Galway for the second year. Greenfields’ coach Deirdre McDermott said: “It wasn’t our finest display, but we won. It was a really gritty performance, but we couldn’t have done it without Sinead.”
Having already wrapped up the Connacht Senior League trophy, the Galway outfit now look for a hat-trick with the cup final in a couple of weeks.
