Greenfields put seal on great season

Greenfields 2NUIG 1

GREENFIELDS firsts completed a magnificent season when they added the Connacht Senior Cup to the Irish Trophy after getting the better of NUIG in a hard fought second half battle in Dangan on Saturday.

The game was played in bright sunshine and the chilly north breeze was needed at times in the second half to cool things down.

Greenfields owned the first half. They took the game to College from the off and controlled proceedings, keeping possession with good passing movements and making good use of space.

The back four, Aine Collins, Clodagh Greally, Catherine Moore and Alison Ryan provided good possession to midfielders Neasa McGettigan, Gillian Heavey and Rachel Wyer who in turn fed the forwards with quick ball.

However, as often happens when a team dominates College goalkeeper Emily Molloy played the proverbial blinder and kept her team in the match with a string of top drawer saves.

Two of these were off short corners. The first half corner count was six to one in favour of the Greens. Shots by Alison Ryan to the left corner and a rocket by Neasa McGettigan were stopped by Molloy as well as several from play in between which prevented Trish Garrett, McGettigan again, and Clodagh Greally from scoring.

She could do nothing about Greenfields first goal in the 23rd minute. McGettigan took possession in midfield. Clodagh Greally made a strong run from the back and McGettigan put the ball into her path. Greally carried to the box, drew the goalkeeper and passed right to Trish Garrett who had the simplest of tasks to tap in.

College’s only short in the first half brought out the best in Sinead Collins when she dived right to deny Hannah Jenkinson’s powerful shot. College should patent whatever it is they got at half time. A different team emerged in the second half and a very tense, hard but sporting affair followed.

NUIG tore into the opposition immediately and were awarded a short corner in the first minute followed by two more in quick succession. However Greenfields never panicked. The back four stood firm and it was they who scored next 16 minutes into the half.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.