Harlequins Ladies Hockey Match Report

Harlequins 1 - Hermes 3

Irish Senior Cup

Saturday 22th January 2005

Scorers: Jane Chapple

Harlequins faced tough opposition in the opening of their Irish Senior Cup campaign in Hermes, current Irish Cup Runners Up and Irish League Champions. Harlequins however, well prepared for the match and with home advantage, opened the game the better of the two sides.

After ten minutes of strong pressure, their efforts were rewarded when a strong attack from Jan Dillon finished in Jane Chapple slotting a cross into goal. Hermes equalized eight minutes later, when Jenny Burke got on the end of a well taken free outside the circle. With the score at one a piece, the best chance for Quins was a Karen Bateman reverse strike, denied by the post. Hermes continued to pile on pressure toward the end of the first half, when Aoife Mitchell managed to pick up a cross to the left post and slotted it in.

The second half saw Quins making excellent attacks with Emer Dillon and Rachael Kohler at the centre of most of the play. Continued pressure by Quins and a goal disallowed was not enough to penetrate the Hermes goal. Hermes took their chances, when a breakaway resulted in Shirine Young being clinical in front of goal and put Hermes 3-1 ahead. Despite best efforts, Quins could not get on the scoreboard again, and Hermes were 3-1 winners. A closely contested match which Hermes won by solid defence and excellent execution in the Quins circle.