Greendfields 1sts were the deserving 5-0 winners after a tough challenge away to Yeats Hockey Club on Sunday.
Although both sides created chances in the first half, the Galway side grabbed a 2-0 lead before the interval and then hammered home their superiority for a comfortable win.
In the opening 20 minutes Mary Healy, Neasa McGettigan and Sorcha Minihan all tested the Yeats’ keeper Jean O’Connell who made several fine saves to deny the visitors. O’Connell was also called on later in the half when she superbly saved McGettigan’s penalty stroke.
At the other end Greenfields’ keeper Sarah McDonald was also on her guard, stopping a penalty corner to leave both sides scoreless.
Greenfields, however, upped the intensity for the remaining eight minutes of the first half and finally broke the deadlock when McGettigan converted a short corner. And just before the break, Greenfields forced a turnover and Minihan, on the edge of the circle, fired a reverse stick shot low into the far corner, giving the Yeats keeper no chance.
Greenfields took complete control of the game in the second half but were denied for long periods by stout defending from Emer Concannon, Cara Osbourne, Deirdre Heaslip and McConnell in goal.
In the end, however, they added three more goals, two from Healy, and a final goal from Sarah McDonald who deflected Rachel Wyer’s short corner high into the net.
