YMCA 4 (Emma Reardon 2, Dawn Allison, Helen Keane) Clontarf 1
YMCA ladies completed their second successive double as their customary, direct style was too much Clontarf II at Grange Road on Saturday afternoon.
After plenty of early pressure, Emma Reardon deflected her first goal of the day on ten minutes to break the deadlock after nice link-up play from Tara Powderly and Dawn Allison.
Allison went from provider to scorer, getting a clinical finish onto Emily Bradshaw's cross circle pass for 2-0 before Clontarf found their rhythm, drawing a couple of last ditch saves from keeper Anna Keoghane.
But YM got back in the groove in the second half with playmaker Helen Keane beginning to dominate proceedings.
The Clontarf keeper was again called into action after an Aimee Powderly through-ball found Allison unmarked on the top of the 'Tarf circle. She deftly rounded the keeper, drawing a stick tackle and winning a corner which Keane finished off, her 34th goal of the season.
Clontarf succeeded in breaking YM's press on several occasions forcing cool heads from Ailionra McMahon and Lynn Jenkinson in the YM defence before Reardon completed her brace with another fine poacher’s effort after Tara Powderly's solo run from deep in her own half.
The northside club did earn a stylish late consolation goal late in the day, finishing off an excellent attacking move to smash home with five minutes remaining but the day belonged to YM who added this cup to their league and Irish Hockey Challenge efforts, making it six titles in two seasons.
* For more photos from the YMCA vs Clontarf II final, click here
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