HOCKEY/Railway Union 1 Loreto 0:JULIA O'HALLORAN'S 52nd minute smash earned Railway Union their second national title but the last-minute chaos that denied Nicci Daly an equaliser will be the indelible memory of yesterday's final.
A truly sublime effort, she roofed from the edge of the circle with 13 seconds to go, offering Loreto what looked a beautiful reprieve.
But just prior to the celebrations, umpire Aisling Keogh’s whistle had peeped, citing the shot to be dangerous, though few others in the ground saw it that way. The vehemence of Loreto’s complaints led to debate first with fellow umpire Liz Clifford and then with the technical bench, adding to the confusion.
Railway coach Mick McKinnon felt of for Loreto’s plight but added: “I’m so proud of our girls so I’d rather talk about them and I hope it doesn’t take the tarnish off what is a victory.”
RAILWAY UNION: G O’Flanagan, I Joyce, S Walsh, J McDonnell, E Smyth, E Lucey, E Dolan, S Dooley, O Fox, A Speers, J O’Halloran. Subs: K Dillon, H Jenkinson, K McKenna, C Joyce, Z Delany.
LORETO: L Healy, A Meeke, N Daly, S McGirr, N Symmons, N Keegan, R Keegan, L Colvin, N Small, S Clarke, H Matthews. Subs: C McKean, O O’Shea, H Mulcahy, S Evans, J McGirr.
