Schoolgirls hockey back in action for busy New Year

Leinster Schoolgirl’s Senior Hockey
St Andrew’s took two huge steps toward a famous Premier League and Senior Cup double this week as schoolgirl hockey returned to action after a two-week delay to the resumption of the season.

Ireland A international Chloe Watkins returned to the fold after a lengthy absence due to an ankle injury to help her side complete Section A of the Premier League with a perfect record – eight wins from eight.

Her side also claimed the honours in the big tie of the first round of the Senior Cup, ousting Wesley 6-2 and now face what looks a comfortable draw in round two against the Senior B league’s St Killian’s who needed penalties to edge past Manor House in the first round.

For Andrew’s, though, their challenge could be affected by the absence of defender Niamh Atcheler. The 17 year-old’s progression had been meteoric and she has been included in the Ireland senior squad of 24 as they prepare for the World Cup Qualifiers in Chile at the end of April.

Below the Booterstown school in Section A of the inaugural Premier League, should Wesley beat Loreto, Bray this week, they will face a straight play-off for the second semi-final berth with Mount Sackville due to identical records and goal difference not being used as a tie-breaker.

The Castleknock school completed the group phase with an impressive 3-1 win over Mount Temple despite trailing 1-0 at half-time.

In Section B, Mount Anville are in pole position going into the last round of fixtures with two wins in the last week. Aisling Naughton netted three times in those fixtures, once in the 2-0 win over Loreto, Foxrock and twice in a 3-1 win over St Gerard’s.

They have dropped only two points so far, but are being chased all the way by Alexandra College and Loreto Beaufort who are both a further two points behind.

In the cup, Santa Sabina showed their continued improvement since laying an Astroturf pitch in Sutton. They produced their best performance of the year to beat Our Lady’s Grove 6-2 with Hannah Connolly and Sarah Keoghan both notching doubles as they raced into a 4-2 half-time lead.

Kate McKiernan and Beth Cassidy were also on target to set up an enticing tie against Sutton Park, neighbours of less than a kilometre away, in round two.

Senior Cup results:
Wesley College 2 St Andrew’s 6; Muckross 4 King’s Hospital 0; Santa Sabina 6 (H Connolly 2, S Keoghan 2, K McKiernan, B Cassidy) Our Lady’s Grove 2; Sutton Park 2 Notre Dame 0; Manor House 1 St Killians 1, St Killians won on penalties; John Scottus 0 Mount Temple 7; St Gerard’s 4 The Teresian School 0; The High School 0 Alexandra College 2; St Columba’s 3 (P Peters, A Traill, C v.d. Decken) Loreto, Dalkey 0; Holy Child, Killiney 2 (M Daly-Devereaux, K Ackland) Loreto, St Stephen’s Green 0

Premier League:
Section A: Mount Temple 1 (S Murray) Mount Sackville 3
Section B: Mount Anville 2 (J Maguire, A Naughton) Loreto, Foxrock 0; Mount Anville 3 (A Naughton 2, J Maguire) St Gerard’s 1

Senior Cup Second round draw:
Mount Temple v Loreto, Bray/Rathdown; St Andrew’s v St Killian’s; Muckross v St Gerard’s; Sutton Park v Santa Sabina; Loreto Foxrock v Mt Anville / St Raphaelas;Alexandra College v Loreto Beaufort; Our Ladys Terenure v St Columba’s; Mt Sackville v Holy Child Killiney
Fixture (Wednesday): Mt Anville vs St Raphaela's

Senior Plate draw – first round (for those teams beaten in Round One:
Notre Dame v Newpark; Dundalk Grammer v John Scottus; Manor House v Mt Anville/St Raphaelas; Newbridge v St Josephs of Cluny; Rathdown/Loreto Bray v Teresians; Our Ladys Grove v Wesley College; Kings Hospital v Loreto Dalkey; The High School v Loreto, St Stephens Green