Nenagh Hockey Club
Munster Under 18 Girls League: Nenagh 7-0 Cork CofI
It was back to the gorgeous pitches at Garryduff Sports Complex for Nenagh’s Under 18 team last weekend as they went to play their final game of the League against the home side, Cork CofI.
Nenagh has been top of the table throughout the season, losing only one game, narrowly to Kinsale in February. The Kinsale team has been hot on their heels all season, but the Tipp girls have a substantial goal differential setting them apart as the clear victors of the competition. With Kinsale winning their last game on Friday night, the Nenagh team headed to Cork knowing that they needed a result to keep their place. Hours before the game, news that Captain Aoibhinn Murphy would not be travelling due to injury caused concern among the coaches and management. Murphy, who plays the important position of sweeper, has been a stalwart all season, both on and off the pitch, and her absence in such a critical game was worrying. However, with several players willing to step up into her position for the encounter the Nenagh side knew that they still had the ability to put in a strong performance against the side they had beaten only the previous weekend in the Munster Cup.
The team set out their stall early in the first quarter, playing with tempo and purpose. Their distribution was sublime at times, and CofI found it difficult to contend with the width Nenagh put on their go forward ball. It wasn't long before Nenagh found themselves in the oppositions D and the ensuing goalmouth scramble ended with Grace Mulrooney tapping the ball into the goal. CofI looked to launch their own attack from the restart but were denied any real forward momentum. Tara McTiernan sent a ball to Kayla Shorten who beat several defenders and passed beautifully to Mulrooney who was loitering with intent, deflecting the ball in for Nenagh’s second score.
The second quarter saw Nenagh grow into the game as the two goal cushion buoyed them into playing with less pressure. Jane Carroll moved into sweeper and had a great game, distributing the ball well and launching several smart attacks on CofI. The Nenagh creativity and space was rewarded during this quarter with two more goals - a superb short corner shot taken by Shorten, who evaded the defensive runner to give herself a shot on goal, and another great score by Jane Carroll who worked her way into a striking position and found the back of the goal with a wonderful shot.
Nenagh were very comfortable at half time and felt confident in their ability to hold onto their lead. With that in mind, they played well defensively in the third quarter but also took their opportunities when they arose. To their credit, the CofI team kept trying to punch through the Nenagh defence but were pushed back each time and put on the back foot as they scrambled to defended Nenagh's immediate counter attacks. Once such move saw Ruby Benn send a superbly weighted pass to Shorten who took the ball, switched it to her reverse stick side and scored with a tomahawk shot into the top of the net much to the appreciation of the onlookers.
Nenagh’s seventh goal came when great running by Elizabeth Dunne who had a super game at left midfield, cut through the CofI defenders and passed cleverly to Kate O'Flaherty who took her shot masterfully and scored a beautiful goal to put the game out of reach.
“That was a controlled, team performance,” said Coach Colin Stanley.
“Without our captain it could've been a banana skin, but we have talented players on this team who are able to step up when asked and they did a great job. We have won the league on goal difference and that was one of our main aims at the beginning of this season. There is a possibility of a playoff game between the league's two top finishing teams, but the date and venue of the potential playoff is still to be decided.
Junior Boys: Nenagh’s were also in action last weekend when they travelled to UL Sports Arena to take on the cream of Munster's Boys Clubs in the End of Season Under 14 tournament.
The Nenagh side, who look likely to win the Munster League, were playing older teams in a tournament format that consisted of four x 25 minute games played at a high intensity. Unfortunately, the squad was diminished due to injury and absence, and the Nenagh coaches knew the side would struggle to put in a strong performance without the ability to make frequent substitutions. The quality of the strong hockey playing Cork clubs was evident from the get-go, with some Munster and Irish players taking part. The boys in white worked hard for each other and played some nice hockey at times. They were unlucky not to draw in their last two matches where they seemed to grow into the tournament and played with more purpose and width. Overall, the tournament was a great success, Waterford coming out on top winning all four of their games.
The team awaits confirmation of their Munster League win and will be presented with their Trophy and medals at the end of Season Gala at the end of April.