HOCKEY: WOMEN'S IRISH SENIOR CUP FINAL: Pegasus 3 Hermes 1: PEGASUS'S WEIGHT of experience saw the Ulster side claim their 14th Irish Senior Cup crown at Belfield yesterday, former internationals Suzanne Beaney and Arlene Boyles doing the damage.
Combined with the wily Claire McMahon and midfield machinations of Stephanie Quinn and Kirsty McCollum – all three previously capped – they were good value for the win, dominating the first two thirds before Hermes belatedly got some rhythm.
Lisa Jacob’s cool finish gave the Dublin side a lifeline but Beaney smashed home her second with two minutes remaining to put the game beyond doubt.
As a contest, it took a while to gather momentum though Eimear Horan’s battling did almost unlock the door for Emma Russell, the ball just evading her stick.
Pegasus set about squeezing the life out of Hermes with a high-pressing game, powered by Quinn from midfield, with Kate McConnell and McCollum forcing umpteen turnovers. Only for last-ditch interventions from Kerry McComish, Sarah Greene and Christine Quinlan did they not take the lead sooner.
Beaney’s reverse found goalkeeper Emma Gray at full stretch. But the long corner immediately after was worked back into the danger zone where Beaney made the vital connection in the 28th minute.
It finally awoke Hermes, Anna O’Flanagan flashing an aerial toward the top corner for Sharon Moffett to expertly touch over.
A couple of penalty corner chances came soon after the break for Audrey O’Flynn, the first needing another full length Moffett stick-save to hold it out.
But, right at the zenith of the Hermes’ flow, Pegasus countered as McCollum won a corner and Boyles battered home for 2-0.
Jacob responded with a beautiful finish, picking up Emma Russell’s redirection and flicking expertly to the top corner.
There was 18 minutes left at that stage, plenty of time to get a levelling goal, but a flurry of corners for both sides produced no further change.
Vanessa Surgeoner picked out Beaney once more 100 seconds from the end for a one-on-one shot which Gray smothered. But again the follow-up was swift and McCollum drove past two tackles and Beaney unceremoniously smashed through two back-pedalling defenders to round off the win.
HERMES: E Gray, L Jacob (capt), S McCarthy, K McComish, A OFlynn, J Burke, E Horan, S Connery, C Quinlan, E Russell. Subs: G Pinder, D Duke, A OFlanagan.
PEGASUS:S Moffett, K McCollum, N Graham, C McMahon, S Beaney, K McConnell, A Boyles (capt), M Harvey, P Glass, S Quinn, V Surgeoner. Subs: A Cooke, K Harvey, G Irwin.
