Sunday, February 22, 2009

Galway finish respectable fourth

Given the paucity of women's indoor hockey in Ireland, Galway's fourth place finish in the Euro Hockey Indoor Club Champion's Challenge can be viewed as a success of sorts, recovering from two opening day defeats to pick up a win and a draw.


Moreover, the tournament gave Richie Malone's young charges a first taste of European competition and an experience they can use as the club seeks to progress further.

They bounced back from losses to Danish favourites - and eventual winners - Slagelse and Serbia's HK Bask on Friday to beat Welsh outfit, Howardian LHC 3-1. Eavan Murphy opened the scoring in the third minute with Lynsey Trainor adding the second on the stroke of half-time.

The Welsh side fought back, making it 2-1 through Michelle Daltry but former Pembroke player Emma Glanville whipped in a corner with 12 minutes to go, giving Galway a first ever European win.

They followed that with a 3-1 defeat to the Portuguese host side AD Lousada, Murphy getting the only Galway goal before rounding out the tournament on Sunday morning with a 1-1 draw with Cankaya Bld SC from Turkey. Elaine Newell scored the equaliser seven minutes from time from a corner to end the tournament on a high.

Final standings (points/goal difference):
1. Slagelse 15pts (+23), 2. AD Lousada 12pts (+7), 3. Cankaya Bld SC 5pts (-6), 4. Galway 4pts (-5) 5. Howardian LHC 4pts (-7) 6. HK Bask 3pts (-15)

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