Two late goals from Rathgar secured a 4-2 win and handed Dublin University Hockey Club (DUHC) an opening-day defeat in the Leinster League Division 1 yesterday.
If it seemed likely that the opening stages would be slow in a game that marked the first league outing for both sides, things were unexpectedly tetchy in Santry Avenue, with possession swapping hands rapidly. Rathgar carved out the first chance of the game: Declan Ashely’s shot skimmed wide of the goal eight minutes in.
Emboldened by Ashley’s effort, Rathgar grew into the game, beginning to control possession inside the DUHC half, and it wasn’t long before they made their possession count. In the 15th minute, David Meade, one on one with DUHC goalkeeper William Curran, found the back of the net.
Falling behind lit a fire under the DUHC players, who muscled their way back into the game. They were awarded their first short corner of the game after 20 minutes but could not convert.
But DUHC’s doggedness paid off on the stroke of half-time, when Alex Wall slipped the ball past the keeper from the back post to draw level.
The second half began much like the first: Rathgar dominated possession, and both teams struggled to make changes. Rathgar’s Guy Prendergast came close to breaking the stalemate in the 49th minute, forcing a great save from Curran.
Rathgar was not deterred by Curran’s heroics, however. A minute later they were back in the lead. Mark Collins slammed the ball home, set up by a superb pass from Stuart Cinnamond.
Indiscipline crept into DUHC’s play. They conceded two short corners near the end of the quarter, both of which Rathgar failed to convert, and in the fourth quarter DUHC’s Tom Stroh was shown a green card.
DUHC rallied after the green card, and equalised on the 57-minute mark. Harry Kelly picked up a Rathgar clearance following a Trinity short corner, and duly slotted the ball home, levelling the game for the second time.
DUHC’s indiscipline cost them again in the 62nd minute, when Daniel O’Donovan was shown green, but still they looked like they could nab a winner.
But disaster struck for Trinity after one of their short corners went awry. Rathgar launched a counter-attack, and Tom Kemsley was well placed to slot home from close range, nudging the away side ahead once again.
A superb run from Rathgar’s Alan White soon after opened up space for Andrew Malcom, who swept the ball home into the bottom corner to leave the score 4-2 and secure the points for the away side.
While the defeat will disappoint DUHC, the scoreline did not reflect what was a close match, and with five first-team players missing from the squad, this Trinity squad will only get stronger.
DUHC will travel to Blackrock next weekend, where they will face Avoca Hockey Club – a prime opportunity to get their season up and running, following a 2-1 victory in the same fixture last season.
