Ladies 1sts v UCD 3/12/2011
Stepping out away to UCD with a near full strength team for the first time this season saw a positive approach to facing the league leaders (missing Maoliosa Nugent due to work commitments). UCD were without their 3 internationals for the first time however still boasted some super young talents. The game was fast paced from the first whistle, seeing the Glens storm out of the starting blocks, putting UCD on unfamiliar ground with some great work rate and awesome play from the front three, Fitzpatrick, Kieran and Small, resulting in serious pressure on the oppositions defence. With the welcome return of Mary Waldron into midfield and Claire Shillington into the forward line, played the best hockey seen yet from the ladies in green in the first half of this tie. Against the run of play UCD earned a soft corner and put in a strong strike which took a deflection off the logging Sue Byrnes stick scoring the first goal of this game. Glenanne gave away another short corner which was well defended resulting in a super counter attack, quick thinking from Kitty Murray and Jen Rynne saw the ball crashed up to the waiting Rachel Maunsel who calmly carried it into the UCD circle taking a strike from the circles edge finding the ever present Claire Shillington storming in on the back post to tap home for a great team goal. The game remained at 1 a piece going into half time.
The Glens started the second half down to ten players with a sin binning late in the first half, which seemed to disrupt the cohesion they enjoyed up to this point. With some scattered defending all over the pitch UCD managed to edge ahead in the second half scoring a field goal ten minutes form time. The glens earned one short corner towards the end of the game and the pressure was palpable as a draw would have been a fair result, however it was once again not to be as the routine failed to be clinical. Audrey McCormack returning to the more attacking role of right midfield was a constant threat for the UCD defence however the glens failed to convert the pressure into points. The performance from the ladies in green suggests that the second half of the season might see a change in their run of luck. Thank you to the awesome Ronan Walsh who filled in for Dean. End Score 2-1 loss to UCD.
Man of the Match: Mary Waldron
