RAILWAY UNION 1 CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 0
Railway Union won their first Women's Irish Senior Cup title since 2013 by beating Catholic Institute 1-0 at Belfield on Saturday. The two sides had met seven days ago in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Havelock Park, Banbridge, and that too was a one goal game in favour of the Dublin side.
International commitments meant that Railway Union had to do without the services of Sarah Hawkshaw, Michelle and Niamh Carey, Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan. Catholic Institute were missing their forward Naomi Carroll. But these forced omissions didn't seem to affect either side that significantly.
This game, while equally tight, was a little more open and had better moments than last week's semi-final. Railway Union dominated possession in the opening quarter and had the lion's share of what chances there were. They did hit the backboard but their "goal" was ruled out for an infringement. It was 0-0 at the end of quarter one and also 0-0 at half-time.
Catholic Institute, having survived a handful of goalmouth scrambles, enjoyed more possession in quarter three and carved out a number of half chances none of which were converted. The final quarter was even enough, but Railway Union were beginning to reassert their dominance in the closing minute. In the 67th minute the final breakthrough came: Railway Union had possession inside the Catholic Institute circle and the ball ricocheted around the goalmouth before Katie Fearon managed to poke it home in what proved to be the only goal of the game.
It was a particularly special occasion for Holly Jenkinson, one of four survivors of the 2013 Cup win who was playing in her final match for the Railway Union first team, as she intends to hang up her stick from first team hockey at the end of the season. Holly Jenkinson had won her very first Senior Cup medal as far back as 2009 when she helped UCD end a 58-year wait for another Irish Senior Cup win. UCD haven't looked back since then, adding multiple titles in the intervening 15 years. Holly won her second medal in 2013 with Railway Union and today, in her final match, she added a third. For the other three survivors of the 2013 win, Orla Fox, Emma Smyth and Kate Dillon, the decision as to whether to give it another go will be decided during the summer break. Head Coach Una McCarthy missed the game because she had booked a holiday months ago, assuming that it would not be a problem. But what a season for her and her team: 2nd place in the League title race, EY Champions Trophy and Irish Senior Cup double winners.
RAILWAY UNION:- Emma Buckley; Orla Patton; Sarah Patton; Kate Fearon; Lisa McCarthy; Aebfhinn Burke; Emma Smyth [C]; Orla Fox; Niamh Shaw; Saoirse Griffin; SUBS USED;- Kate Dillon [5 mins]; Holly Jenkinson [5mins] Ailish Long [5 mins], Clodagh Ferry [8 mins]; JL [mins]
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE:- Pamela Smithwick-Hearne; Roisín Begley; Aoife Hickey; Leah Clery; Laura Foley; Michelle Barrett; Ciara Moloney; Eimear Ryan [C]; Anna Horan; Emilie Ryan-Doyle; Jennifer Clein; SUBS USED:- Aoibheann Collins [ 7 mins]; Sarah Fitzgerald [ 8 mins]; Tory Byrne [10 mins]; Seodhna Dervan [15 mins]
