Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Hooks: Women's Club of the Year

Looking at the league table in November, Hermes looked a team in trouble. Though unbeaten, five draws saw the side languishing in mid-table as the side struggled to cope with the changing of the guard.

Coach Colin Stewart was getting used to describing his side as being in transition and was using the season to bed in a whole host of burgeoning young talent with the recently retired experience of Linda Caulfield, Fiona Connery and Jenny Burke.

A switch to a more defensive set-up – just one league goal conceded from November onwards – and Hermes claimed the most exciting league run-in in years, even without Burke, with four sides vying for the title in the last week. Again, they found themselves in trouble in the Club Champs with an early loss to Loreto but the ability of youngsters Anna O’Flanagan, Nicola Evans and Chloe Watkins was to the fore, as the side had to make do without Burke due to pregnancy and then Connery for her wedding plans.

Even without all that experience, they still prevailed thanks to Aoife Harte’s pile-driver. Throw in a Leinster Senior Cup win and it was not a bad season for a side in transition.

Winner: Hermes

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I think Baachus has done a fantastic job with this team thats in 'transition'!