After snow and frost had initially slowed up the Leinster Schoolgirl’s Senior Cup, the competition is now racing toward its conclusion with Mount Anville, Mount Temple, Mount Sackville and Alexandra College winning through to the quarter-finals last Saturday.
On an action-packed morning, Jenny Maguire’s short corner strike was all that separated Mount Anville and Loreto, Foxrock in the South Dublin derby. She struck just 13 minutes from time to take the honours against a Foxrock side inspired by Sarah Greene with third year Molly Lamb pulling the strings in midfield.
Visitors Mount Anville had started the stronger, Aisling Naughton’s pace causing serious problems, earning a quartet of first half corners. Foxrock weathered the early storm, though, and responded with Sorcha Conway reverse-stick sweep that was well-saved by Nicola Walsh just before the break to keep the tie locked at 0-0.
And they continued to play some nice, controlled hockey though the speed of Naughton and skills of Lisa McCarthy down the left meant there was always a clear and present danger. But the hosts missed out on three corner occasions and when Mount Anville earned their fifth set-piece, Maguire made no mistake.
Petra Kealy almost tied the game up with three minutes to go from Anna O’Grady’s cross but she could not get enough on her diving effort and Mount Anville held on for a place in the last eight where they will play Muckross.
Alexandra College, meanwhile, showed the more clinical touches in front of goal to record a one-sided scoreline though it was far from easy against Loreto, Beaufort.
The Grange Road outfit dominated the early proceedings with the excellent Sinead McGirr getting two sighters on goal. But she was not able to convert and Alex got back into the game and got a chance to use the lightning corner expertise of Nicola Gray on the half-time whistle for the first time.
She struck twice in the last ten minutes, the second from a three-on-one in the last minute to see Alex through, 3-0.
Mount Sackville’s passage was a more comfortable affair as they took the lead against Holy Child, Killiney inside 50 seconds through Siun McLoughlin – celebrating her 18th birthday – and scarcely looked back. Two corners before half-time made it 3-0 and they doubled their tally from play in the second half through Rachel Hinkson’s double and one from Olivia Smartt.
It proved a welcome tonic following a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Wesley in the Premier League group play-off match after both schools ended level on points after eight games. Their reward is a home tie against Santa Sabina.
Our Lady's, Terenure were taken the distance by Senior One's St Columba's in a West Dublin derby but the Terenure girls eventually prevailed 2-1 on penalty strokes.
Mount Temple progressed to the last eight courtesy of Irish sprinter Sarah Murray and Jen Keating goals to beat Loreto, Bray. They will now face St Andrew’s who received a walkover from an over-stretched St Killians who had completed three games with a threadbare squad inside five days. That is one of two quarter-final ties to be played today with Mount Anville facing Muckross.
In the Senior Plate, Loreto Dalkey remain on track following a 3-0 second round win over Dundalk and have reached the semi-final stage of the competition.
Senior Cup, second round results: Mount Temple 2 (Sarah Murray, Jen Keating) Loreto, Bray 1; St Andrew’s w/o St Killian’s scr; Sutton Park 1 Santa Sabina 2; Loreto Foxrock 0 Mt Anville 1; Alexandra College 3 Loreto Beaufort 0; Mt Sackville 6 Holy Child Killiney 1; Our Lady's, Terenure 0 St Columba's 0, Our Lady's won 2-1 on penalty strokesSenior Cup, quarter-final draw: St Andrews vs Mount Temple; Muckross vs Mt Anville; Mt Sackville vs Santa Sabina; Alexandra College vs Our Lady’s
Premier League playoff: Wesley College 2 Mount Sackville 1 aet
Senior Plate, second round: Loreto, Dalkey 3 Dundalk 0
27 comments:
watched the alex v beaufort game, alex were alot better and the score could have been 5 or 6 nil, beaufort onli had two shots on goal for the whole game and they were both wide. Alex to go the distance
so who's going to win the girls senior cup???
Result from tuesday
Mount temple 0
st andrews 4
i put my money on andrews. they should walk it
I think alex will win this year.
If we starting taking bets you would have to make Andrews the 1/2 on favourites.
When if EVER has a school team had 1 senior international and 2 Senior 'A' team players on it.
Agree, they should walk it.
i duno alex havent been that solid lately on the pitch
any news on the junior girls cup?
Could say the same for cookstown in the boys all irelands last year
walk it? strong words, i think its anyones to win and people making comments like that are obviously bias. Andrews, credit to them always supplying quality players, but not alone; Alex and Mount Anville proving incredibly strong this year. It's anoyones cup this year for the taking and should produce some excellent hockey for the watching.
On a different note, any idea who won the match between monkstown and bray in the Mills Cup?
mounties only beat muckross on strokes
monkstown won 8-1
Muckross v Mt Anville - great match, end to end hockey, shame there had to be a loser, full time score 0-0, extra time 0-0, strokes 3-3, sudden death 0-1 to Mount Anville
cup is very different to league and it really depends who turns up to play on the day
alex only beat our lady's 1-0.
our lady's put up a great performance. wel done terenure
wesley were robbed
ye well done terenure but Alex are a class team and were much better on the day. They have exceptional players in key positions.
This team will go the distance
I think you'll all agree that a team is not made up of 3 players, so although the internationals are high quality, they will not solely determine whether andrews win or lose. The team is what matters, and although the core is undoubtedly exceptionally talented, games can be won or lost on the mistakes or brilliance of the so called 'nobodys'.
Borrrrred, need hockey news.
Borrrrred, need hockey news.
draw for the semi's..
St Andrews - Mount Anville
Alex - Mount Sacville
very true, a hockey team is composed of 11 players for a reason, so 3 internationals against 11 apparent 'nobodys' wouldn't come out with the result of 'walking it'. andrews got mount anville and alex college got mount sackville in the semis of the cup. best of luck
alex minor A won the league final today against wesley 1 nil
3.10PM - apologies, internet was down my way until now. Have a few stories to post now!
Mount Sackville have yet to beat Santa Sabina in the 1/4 Finals, being played on Friday!
3.36pm
Just to clarify, the draw should Mount Sackville/Santa Sabina. The pair play today in the quarter-finals
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