Garrett’s double magic in Connacht Senior league
Sunday saw the meeting of age old rivals GreenfieldsHockey Club and Galway Hockey Club in the Top Division of the Connacht SeniorLeague. The game started at a high tempo despite the atrocious conditions withheavy downpours of rain. The return of ClodaghGrealy and Neasa McGettigan toleague action was a welcome sight for all involved in Greenfields.
Greenfields started the gamepositively with Elaine Hall causingproblems for the Galway defence with her meandering runs and near perfectdistribution throughout the pitch. As a result of Hall’s work, Greenfields hadsome chances to open the scoring but they were unable to convert, with the poorweather conditions making ball control difficult for both teams. Greenfieldswent ahead after 15 minutes, great work by LizTighe and Clodagh Grealy finding TrishGarrett in the circle. Garrett took a shot that was duly saved by GalwayKeeper Tara Browne, but the ball broke to Garrett who raised it over Browneinto the roof of the net.
Neasa McGettigan had a chance toput Greenfields two-up a few minutes later, again great work from Hall but hershot flew high and wide of the goal. The remainder of the first half sawGreenfields push for their second goal with great work from Ellie Noone, McGettigan and Tighe inmidfield but the Galway defence of Emma Glanville, Hannah Gormely and SadhbhGavin dealt with the threats. Galway too had their chances with Aoife Codyrehaving the pick of them. The rain continued to pour down for the remainder ofthe first half and much credit has to go to the loyal supporters who turned outin such miserable conditions to support the teams.
Galway commenced the second half at a blistering pace,right from the tip off they worked their way up the field forcing Keeper Sinead Collins to make some fine saves.Galway played a far more attacking game in the second half and pushed hard forthe equaliser but the Greenfields back line of Sarah McDonald, Clodagh Grealy, Kelly Dunleavy and AineCollins dealt with everything that came their way. Credit must go to KellyDunleavy who looked every bit as assured as her more experienced back linemembers. Greenfields again strived to extend their lead with Mary McDonald, Rebecca Gilligan and ClodaghKennedy all looking dangerous. Greenfield’s second goal came with tenminutes remaining, following great workby Noone on the left who threaded a wonderful ball through to Captain Alma Whelan. Whelan laid it off forGarrett who brought the ball into the top of the circle and struck a shot thatdipped into the back of the goal. Despite this Galway pushed on to create moreopportunities with Emma Glanville coming close, however imaginative goalkeepingby Collins kept Galway at bay. Indeed Collins proved masterful with a backheel toclear the ball away from danger. Greenfields made it 9 wins from 9 in theConnacht Senior League; with just three games remaining it looks like theLeague title is well within their reach!
Meanwhile Greenfields 2nds continued their decent form in theConnacht Senior league. They went into the Christmas break with a 1-1 drawagainst Galway 1sts with Siobhan Divilly on the mark, and continued this fineform with a 4-1 victory over Renmore 1sts on Sunday. Although Greenfields 2nds started thestronger of the sides Renmore’s defence including Olivia Owens, Siobhan Glynnand Yvette Quinn dealt with the pressure well. It was a break from Anna Boyce in right back that providedthe first goal for Greenfields with AilishWalsh’s reverse stick shot finding the net. Renmore came close soon afterbut keeper Laoise Fegan dealt wellwith anything that came her way.
This was all that separated the sides at the break and Renmorekept the pressure on at the restart with good work in midfield by NicolaCorcoran. Their efforts finally paid off with Maria Corcoran’s fine strikeleveling the sides. The Greenfields midfield of Clodagh Kennedy, SiobhanDivilly and Kate Mulgannonworked hard and fed some fine balls through to the forwards. It was Kate Langan who put the Greenfieldsgirls 3-1 ahead getting her name twice on the scoreboard with Ciara Redden scoring the fourth goal. Agood start to the New Year for this young Seconds team.
