Sunday, March 21, 2010

Leinster clubs claim Challenge success

YMCA and St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park claimed a Leinster double at Belfield, taking home the respective Irish Hockey Challenge titles after hard fought wins over Fermoy and Limerick.

YM’s women continued their incredible run of success in all competitions since inaugurating four years ago, adding a second national title to the one they claimed last year, also against Fermoy in the final.

Last time out it went to penalty strokes but the Y had slightly more to spare this year. They got off to the perfect start, Tara Powderly breaking the deadlock after eight minutes, latching onto a 40 metre ball from Dawn Allison to hit home first time from a tight angle.

And Helen Keane confirmed the title’s place back in Sandymount with 20 minutes to go from the penalty spot after Fiona McCormick had been taken down in the circle.

Fermoy had their moments, pinning YM back for much of the second half, forcing some good saves from Anna Keoghane but they were unable to breach the line and so tasted Challenge final defeat for second successive year.

On the men’s side, Matt Hutton was the St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park hero as the club claimed a first national title since amalgamation following some success in the 70s in the Irish Junior Cup under the Lorraine moniker.

Hutton struck in golden goal extra-time to hand the Dubliners the title. His earlier goal looked to have handed Brendan’s the win but former international warhorse Robbie Ryan scored with an excellent upright reverse to tie the game at 1-1 with just a couple of minutes left on the clock.

ESB Irish Hockey Challenge: YMCA 2 (Tara Powderly, Helen Keane) Fermoy 0
Men's Irish Hockey Challenge: St Brendan's/Phoenix Park 2 (Matt Hutton 2) Limerick 1 (Robbie Ryan)

* For more of Deryck Vincent's photos from the St Brendan's/Phoenix Park vs Limerick final, click here while Kevin Gallagher's set can be seen here. Ondine Roche's photos from YMCA vs Fermoy can be seen here

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah ...so St Brendans can play on waterbase/astro!?

Anonymous said...

St Brendan's shouldn't have even been in the final. They won the cup by default. Did the IHL allow the game to be played on a grass pitch!

Anonymous said...

well done to both limerick & Brendans p/p -

It was a good game, old timers robbie ryan v des farrell ! -

Brendans deserved their win

Anonymous said...

Well done to St Brendens/PPand to Limerick for a very entertaining match you won the cup on good sportsmanship most of all you turned up for the game.

Anonymous said...

Great final, Brendan's had every right to be there as Campbellians withdrew - some people need their memories refreshed! Very close, well matched game, great to see a Leinster club winning it, but Limerick were good competitors.

Anonymous said...

Sorry mate how do you reckon Brendan's won by default? Cause the last I heard they beat Limerick 2-1? Campbellians didn't show up to the semi-final. No-one forced them to withdraw.