Gill serves up final decision for Sutts

Aaron Gill smashed home a hat-trick as Civil Service brought the Irish Hockey Trophy home in-style, as they thumped six goals past Suttonians in last Sunday’s final.

With less than a minute on the clock, Suttonians swung into attack but Service captain Jamie Anderson saved the day clearing the ball off the line.

From there Service never looked back, and on eight minutes their prolific goal scorer, Gill struck, blasting home an unstoppable penalty corner strike.

With five minutes of the half remaining Service doubled their lead, Patrick Towe followed up Gill’s initial penalty corner shot to slide the ball home. Suttonians had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit at this stage but Service held firm and pulled clear in the second half, with one a piece from Colin Irwin and Ross Anderson with Gill wrapping up the day with two more goals.

Meanwhile, Catholic Institute made up for the heartbreak of their Munster Senior Cup final defeat in midweek to claim the Irish Hockey Trophy with a 3-1 win over Greenfields.

Having lost three finals in two seasons — including the decider of this competition last year — Ger O’Carroll’s side will be delighted to finally get their hands on some silverware in their centenary year.

Goals from their first two short corners, courtesy of former Pembroke and Bray woman Elaine Bromell’s straight hit and Rebecca Barry’s deflection, had them in control, before the influential Bromell departed with a knee injury on 20 minutes.

Brenda Flannery pulled one back from the penalty spot for the Galway side just before the break, but Katie Campbell squeezed the ball home from an impossible angle for an insurance goal and an ultimately comfortable victory.

* Adrian Boehm's photos from NICS vs Suttonians can be seen here, words courtesy of Ulster Hockey Review. For Adrian's photos of Catholic Institute vs Greenfields, click here, words courtesy of Southern Fried.