After a five team round-robin tournament over two days in Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club, Dublin University Ladies Hockey Club (DULHC) have, for the first time in its history, achieved promotion to the EYHL, Ireland’s top hockey league.
Spirits were low after a 3-2 defeat to Ulster champions Lurgan Hockey Club on Saturday evening, but after beating Old Alex 2-0 on Sunday evening, Trinity ensured that the 2016/17 season will be remembered as one of the very best in the club’s 124 year history.
Two Ellie Noone goals either side of half-time against Old Alex were enough for Trinity to secure the promotion they so desired, and topped off the nearly perfect season of promotion, an undefeated league campaign, and a league and plate double.
Lurgan, who were considered to be Trinity’s largest hurdle towards promotion, won both of their matches on Saturday leading Trinity to feel their chance of promotion this side of exams may have come and gone. But after drawing both of their matches on Sunday, Lurgan could only watch on as Trinity needed a win against Old Alex in the tournament’s penultimate game to snatch the sole promotion place up for grabs.
Anything less than a win against Alex and Trinity would have to play another play-off match next weekend with Lurgan being promoted this weekend.
Trinity started the brighter of the two sides and had the first real chance of the game when Niamh Sweeney deflected a Jenny Long shot towards the back post, the bouncing ball however, proved difficult to control for Ailish Long, who failed in her attempt to connect cleanly with the ball.
Trinity ultimately dominated the majority of the first half with a rigid press and good organisation proving very effective in pinning Old Alex to within their own half for most of the game’s early stages.
Seven minutes before half-time Trinity won their first short corner, and from that arrived their first goal. After a messy control and a scrappy hack at the ball, the ball fell to Noone in a pocket of space in the right hand side of the ‘D’, and she coolly elevated the ball past the Old Alex goalkeeper into the far left corner to give Trinity a 1-0 lead at half-time.
The second half started quite a different game with Alex dominating possession for a change, but they remained incapable of creating any significant chances to trouble Trinity’s defensive line. As the second half wore on, Old Alex began to look increasingly tired with the weekend’s tough schedule seemingly beginning to show its effect. Trinity on the other hand regained their control over the game and showed little signs of fatigue, much to the delight of Trinity strength and conditioning coach Ross Hamilton who watched on from the sidelines.
Ten minutes from the end of time, a Trinity shot in the “D” deflected into space off a standing Alex defender, and it was Noone who once again found herself in the right place at the right time, comfortably slotting the ball past the goalkeeper. There was to be no late revival for Old Alex, who even subbed off their goalkeeper for an outfield player in a bid to give them an advantage higher up the pitch. In reality, it was Trinity who continued to look the most likely to score with Louise McCollum and Ailish Long coming close on several occasions in the closing minutes.
Ultimately, it was as comfortable a match as Trinity could have hoped for, but that did not mean their celebrations would be in any way muted. The final whistle was greeted with great hysteria as the Trinity bench, and members of the press, ran on to celebrate amid jubilant hugs and screams after a long season.
Having gone unbeaten in the league, Trinity can go into the EYHL next season with little to fear and players can now spend their summer months reflecting on their part in a season that will live long in the memory of all those attached to DULHC.
