Thursday, February 26, 2009

Women's Leinster weekend preview

Railway Union have a chance to progress both their league and cup ambitions with a double weekend, a trip to Corinthian on Saturday followed by a home cup tie with UCD.


Their game with Corinthian will be their first away league match since November, though in the early stages of the season away trips proved their forte with four wins from four and all with clean-sheets.

They have started playing a more expansive game in more recent times but with the same net affect and are one of the country's form sides with Jean McDonnell slamming in five goals in her last two games while the quiet centre-midfield work of Sinead Walsh perfectly offsets the attacking verve of Emma Smyth.

Their Sunday cup game gets underway at 4.45pm due to the involvement of UCD duo Lisa Jacob and Roisin Flinn in the Irish training camp - the same reason which saw Loreto's fixture with Old Alex brought forward to Wednesday night. The Belfielders are hopeful of having Megan Tenant-Humphreys back in their line-up for the game.

The other cup semi-final sees surprise package Bray hoping to get into a first-ever Jacqui Potter Cup final against Hermes. Their stunning penalty win over Loreto in the quarter-finals will obviously provide belief while Mary Goode will hope to repeat some of her fine work from last week's game against Hermes.

The Booterstown raced into a 4-0 half-time lead that day but Cheryl O'Toole's effort mean the Wicklow-side won the second half and will hope to reproduce that form.

Trinity, meanwhile, will hope to wake up the fresher for their 11am tip-off in Santry against Pembroke. The students drew plenty of positives from their 2-2 draw at Serpentine Avenue earlier in the season with Rachel Scott starring against her former club.

The early start was arranged to make sure David Bane could double-up his coaching responsiblities with playing for Fingal's men. His side are at full strength bar former High School student Christine Boyle whose ankle injury keeps her out.

Division One (Saturday): Corinthian v Railway Union, 2.30pm, Whitechurch; Trinity v Pembroke, 11am, Santry

Jacqui Potter Cup (Sunday) - semi-finals: Railway Union v UCD, 4.45pm, Park Ave; Bray v Hermes, 4pm, Bray

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

railways vs hermes final.....best final to put leinster hockey talent on view for spectators

Anonymous said...

I disagree. UCD have some of the best young players around and would be worhty finalists!

Anonymous said...

11am is that allowed? Bit ridiculous

Anonymous said...

what is 11am??

Anonymous said...

trinity v pembroke match - trinity always play early for home matches because there coach play senior hockey and they really need him, maybe they should put a skirt on him!!! the early start is really not a great idea for spectators or if your team that is playing against trinity has any schoolgirls, usually they are not free till 1pm

Anonymous said...

Senior matches are allowed to be played between 10am and 3pm.

Anonymous said...

it starts at 10 in santry......

Anonymous said...

Will be a v.interesting battle between railway & UCD on sunday, in particular between the league's top scorer, Jeanie McDonnell, and UCDs top defender Holly Jenkenson

Anonymous said...

Can anybody tell me why Mary Goode and Emma Gray were allowed to play in their Leinster cup semifinal and Roisin Flinn and Lisa Jacob were not allowed to play in their game against Railway?

Great game at Park Avenue, UCD having the better of it and unlucky not to win, even without their internationals. This team is the most mature looking college side I have seen for many years, no doubt aided hugely by the experienced campaigners Mary Logue and Nicky King. I suspect Railway will be fearful of their upcoming league encounter with the college side, which should be an enthralling battle.

Railway's strokes were impressive and the cup final against Hermes should be an interesting battle on Paddy's Day. Well done to Hermes too in their semi, winning without injured international Emma Gray.

Neutral and hockey enthusiast at Park Avenue

Anonymous said...

After 3 days international training not really fair to ask players to play a cup match no matter how important. Lots of hockey still to be played. The branch should revert to a neutral venue for a doubleheader semi-finals day.

Anonymous said...

surely it's up to the players if they wish to take part in the game, especially cup games. rather than being told they are not allowed to play.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I completely agree players should be given the choice. Knowing Lisa Jacob (UCDs captain this season) and Roisin Flinn, Im sure they would have opted to play if they were allowed.