Traynor's strike proves enough for Galway HC in hockey final

Galway Hockey Club 1 Greenfields 0

GALWAY Hockey Club lifted the Connacht Senior cup for the fourth year in succession in an exciting game played in perfect conditions in Dangan recently.

The game started at a fast pace with both teams moving the ball swiftly from end to end and Galway were unlucky not to take an early lead when Emma Johnson forced a fantastic save from Sinead Collins after five minutes.

Both sets of midfielders fought a battle royale with Galway’s Michelle Carey and Deirdre Hatton and Greenfields Neasa McGettigan and Dora Gorman swopping periods of dominance before Deirdre Hatton fed Lindsey Traynor on the left who passed two defenders before forcing a short corner for a foot foul in the circle.

The push out went to Lyndsey Traynor. She passed left to Freddie Timmons who unleashed a powerful shot giving Sinead Collins no chance in the Greenfields goal.

This goal spurred Greenfields into action and they dominated the remainder of the half but failed to hit the backboard. They had two golden opportunities to equalize.

Firstly, in the last ten minutes of the half, Neasa McGettigan carried the ball towards the circle and passed to Alma Whelan on the right. She switched left to Mary Healy who found herself in a one on one with Galway goalkeeper Emily Molloy. Molloy dived and smothered out the chance.

On the stroke of half-time a careless Galway back pass was intercepted by Mary Healy. She passed across the circle to the incoming Grace McCormack on the left. She might have done better with her powerful shot which hit the wrong side of the left upright. In between Galway could have extended their lead when Claire Heskin was just wide following a good cross from Lindsey Traynor.

The game failed to have the same urgency in the first period of the second half and Greenfields again had their chances to equalize, but their forwards continued to squander opportunities with Emily Molloy dealing excellently with two further one on one chances.

Both sides were temporarily reduced to ten players when Louise Fahy of Galway and then Alison Ryan of Greenfields both saw yellow for not getting back the required five metres quickly enough, the umpires having given several previous warnings to players from both sides.

Galway held onto their one goal advantage and Claire Heskin, their captain, was delighted to lift the Connacht Senior Cup again to finish their season off on a high.

Greenfields have a further opportunity to similarly finish on a positive note when they travel to Cork early next month for the play-offs for a place in the All Ireland Hockey League.