HOCKEY / Leinster Schoolgirls' Premier League final / Our Lady's, Terenure 2 High School 0: Our Lady's, Terenure, ended a 26-year wait for success in Leinster schools' senior league hockey at Grange Road yesterday when first-half goals from Nicola McAllister and Carla Crerar gave them a victory over High School in the Premier League final.
A richly-deserved triumph it was too for the team coached by Viv Doran, who, once they overcame a nervy opening few minutes, took control of the game and never relinquished it.
Having played for Ireland in the under-18 European Youth Championships in the summer, before helping Dublin to the junior All-Ireland camogie title in October, Terenure captain Emer Lucey completed an exceptional sporting year by producing yet another superb display for her team.
Lucey, in midfield, was at the heart of much of Terenure's best work but she was ably supported by her team-mates, notably Eimer Dolan and Shauna McPhillips at the back and Valerie Saunder on the right wing.
Maedhbh Langton on the left and Susan Kelly, at right back, worked tirelessly too, Kelly, in tandem with Lucey and Saunder, helping to make Terenure's right flank the team's most productive throughout.
It was from Terenure's fourth short corner of the game, in the 25th minute, that they opened the scoring, McAllister forcing the ball past High School goalkeeper Tessa Meade after she had made a fine initial save from Dolan's strike.
Just a minute before half-time Crerar produced a goal out of nothing, firing home a sweetly-struck reverse stick shot from the edge of the circle on the left.
High School, then, had a mountain to climb after the break but they fought back valiantly, forcing five short corners, having won none in the first half, with captain Nikki Daly spurring them on from midfield.
They came close to pulling a goal back midway through the half when Terenure goalkeeper Niamh Scallan blocked Holly Warren's effort at the end of a dazzling run but, despite High School's pressure, Terenure held firm, with Danielle Byrne and Katie Grehan, at the centre in defence in midfield, giving the team a resilient spine.
OUR LADY'S, TERENURE: N Scallan, Susan Kelly, E Dolan, D Byrne, S McPhillips, E Lucey (capt), K Grehan, M Langton, V Saunder, N McAllister, C Crerar. Subs: C O'Sullivan, E Duke, Sinead Kelly, Z McAllister.
HIGH SCHOOL: T Meade, C Boyle, G Nugent, H Warren, D Blaire, C Alexander, N Daly (capt), A Meeke, R Jones, E O'Cleirigh, V Sexton. Subs: K Smith, G McRann, S Ladola, J Elliot, M Kane.
Umpires: C Metchette and P Hale.
