Posted 27 APRIL 2009
UCD Women’s Hockey blaze way to first national title in 58 years
16 minutes into the Irish Senior Cup final last Sunday, the UCD Women’s Hockey Team showed the presence and determination that would bring them to a final whistle win of 4:1 over Pegasus the clear favourites to take the title - Rachel Bourke set-up Roisín Flinn to score the first goal, and 2 minutes later a corner-strike by Holly Jenkinson put UCD 2:0 in front.
The return of Irish international, Lisa Jacob to captain the UCD team, after a six-week absence due to injury, had clearly inspired the UCD players. But all was not lost to Pegasus, the Belfast side, who have appeared in ten finals since 1990 winning seven, as they snatched their first goal 2 minutes after the break.
UCD Irish Senior Cup winning squad
With a score line of 2:1, it seemed like the game might have opened up for Pegasus, but Roisín Flinn closed off any of their hopes when she delivered another goal for UCD to make it 3:1. The win was sealed for UCD, when Rosie Corrigan flipped the ball past Arlene Boyles, the Pegasus captain, and smashed it past Sharon Moffett to end the score 4:1 to UCD.
The final score reflected well the dominance of the UCD team throughout most of the game. They seemed clearly determined to take the national title for the first time since 1951. The convincing win by UCD at the National Hockey Stadium at Belfield on 26 April 2009 was watched by members of the last UCD Women’s Hockey Team to win the national title for UCD some 58 years ago including Dr Patricia Horne who captained the 1951 winning UCD team.
“We always knew we had the potential,” said Lisa Jacob the UCD team captain, who is a final year Psychology student at UCD. “As we progressed through the season, the more time we spent together as a team our team play and confidence grew stronger and stronger. Winning this national title will help to develop the team so that we won’t have to wait another 58 years to claim another title.”
UCD: Grace O’Flanagan, Marie O’Connell, Megan Tennant-Humphreys, Holly Jenkinson, Caitriona McGilp, Lisa Jacob (captain), Elaine O’Neill, Laura Wilson, Orla O’Shea, Liz McInerney, Roisin Flinn. Substitutes: Fiona Bradish, Rosie Carrigan, Rachel Burke, Pamela Smithwick, Leigh Pelow, Ciara McNestry, and Fyona Flinn. Coach: Mary Logue.
PEGASUS: Sharon Moffett, Nadine Brown, Fiona McIlwaine, Jill Orbinson, Claire McMahon, Suzanne Beaney, Arlene Boyles (captain), Alex Speers, Lynsey mallon, Michelle Harvey, Pamela Magill. Substitutes: Jenny Kyle, Grace Irwin, Hannah Clarke, Julie McKnight, Jessica Perry, Lyn Brown.
