Greenfields Hockey club recorded a memorable first win in the Electric Ireland Irish Hockey League on Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 away victory over Lurgan Hockey Club.
Lurgan’s experience in the Ulster league was evident in the opening 10 minutes when they took a stranglehold on possession. However Greefields’ experienced back line of Sarah McDonald, Catherine Moore, Clodagh Grealy and Aine Collins remained solid, while Sinead Collins, called upon early in the game, produced a diving save to deny Lurgan an opening goal.
As Greenfields began to settle into the game and adapt to the pace, they showed how much of an attacking threat they can be. The game’s only goal came from Greenfields’ first real attacking opportunity. Great work from Liz Tighe down the right channel resulted in a free which she took quickly, feeding Trish Garrett who showed great skill and determination to carry the ball into the circle. Beating the defenders and drawing in the goal keeper, she supplied Mary Healy who, waiting at the back post, coolly tapped the ball into the goal to give Greenfields the lead.
Although Lurgan dominated possession for the majority of the match, they were unable to convert it into goals. Clodagh Grealy marshalled the defence expertly and proved a constant thorn in the Lurgan's side, while the midfield of Liz Tighe, Pam McCann and Ellie Noone worked tirelessly, particularly in a frantic final quarter when Lurgan went in desperate search of an equaliser. However the first-time Connacht representatives in the league held out to record an historic victory in only their second match.
They now face a huge challenge on Saturday when they face an away game to the current Irish Senior Cup holders and Leinster League winners UCD at Belfield (2pm ).
