As the largest women’s sporting club on campus and only growing, Trinity Ladies Hockey Club is a club with a notable presence on campus. If you have had the pleasure of seeing their first-years running around campus completing various challenges on a Thursday evening, you can finally have some context.
With over 145 members, from first-years to postgrads, the club has an appeal for all stages of a college career. Based out in Santry, each team is afforded two training sessions per week. However, new this season is an exciting partnership with Railway Union HC, which allows each team to train once a week in Sandymount, reducing the travel time greatly. In previous years, the prospect of spending two evenings a week travelling to and from Santry deterred players, yet this year the move Southside has stimulated a rise in interest due to the accessibility of sessions in Railway.
The hockey club social calendar is not one that is shy of events. The club started this year with a tour to Loughborough and Nottingham in the UK, a venture across the channel for all teams in collaboration with the men’s hockey club that brought fun, chaos and competitive games against local clubs. On the return to Dublin, popular events occur on an annual basis, including Christmas dinner, a jersey night raising money for Women’s Aid, and the Colours event in collaboration with UCD. The year ends with the Wheeler Plate match versus alumni in front of the Pav, which always promises to be good entertainment. Outside of this, the club has a camaraderie that is hard to find; you will often see members sat studying in the Ussher, taking coffee breaks together or enjoying team dinners. It is truly a club that creates long-lasting friendships, fostering a supportive college community for its members.
Following their success finishing second in Division 1 last season, the 1st XI are in search of promotion. Under Simon Pearson the team managed to bring some silverware home, winning the Jacqui Potter Shield in a thrilling game on St. Patrick’s Day. Pearson departed the club at the end of the year, and since the team has welcomed Rory Treacy, a young, experienced and enthusiastic coach, who has already begun to have an impact. Outside of the EY2 Qualifier, the team are also competing in the Irish Hockey Trophy, a national cup in which they have progressed to the second round, following a convincing win against Ashton. With one match remaining in the EY2 Qualifier, a win would put the team into a strong position to be promoted after Christmas, a testament to the hard work and talent that has been displayed thus far.
The 2nd XI had mixed fortunes last year, with a young group having to compete in a challenging league. Thomas Bean ended his tenure as coach, making way for Fiona Harrison to join the group this season. The group has displayed grit and determination in some challenging contests, with a notable highlight being their recent trip to Belfast, where they lost narrowly 3-2 to Lisnagarvey. With plenty of time left in the season, the team will look to continue their strong start to the year, and under experienced captains Melanie Bryce and Michelle Cashman, their season is set to be an exciting one to follow.
A successful end to last season, saw the 3rd XI finish 4th in Division 5. The only returning coach this season in Margie Loughran will be looking to build on this success with a new group of players, captained by Cara Quin and Ella Whelan. Season highlights so far include a decisive 5-0 win over Muckross and a 7-1 win versus Monkstown, displaying the team’s attacking prowess. The group is experienced, full of senior talent promising similar impressive results as last year.
Affectionately nicknamed “Foxy Fours”, the 4th XI also welcomes a new coach, in Alex Murphy who has joined the club following the long stewardship of Charlie Howard. Last season, they were victorious in the Division 9/10 Cup, adding some well-deserved silverware to the club’s collection. With a large influx of players at the start of the year, Murphy has a young and committed team who have already begun to deliver promising results, currently sitting in second place in Division 10. It is a team well-able of bringing home silverware for another year, as they strive for promotion to Division 9.
New this season, thanks to the surge in membership, the club has added a fifth team to its ranks. Having begun training already, this exciting addition to DULHC highlights the excellent reputation that the club enjoys and is a credit to the committee who have worked hard to provide training opportunities for all members. Additionally, social hockey in run once a week, conveniently on campus for those looking to pick up a stick without the commitment of matches, while also providing a playing opportunity to those new to the sport.
Under Club Captain Lilly Bean, the club contributes much more than sporting performances to Trinity. Building on the legacy of her predecessor, Beatrice Wharton-Hood, Bean has built a committee that is devoted both on the pitch and off it. This includes the club’s charity work for Women’s Aid, which includes jersey night, a sea swim (for the bravest of members), and bake sales on “Super Saturday”, which sees the whole club in matches at home, proudly decked out in face-paint and serving cakes and coffee to raise money. In the past two years, over €3,000 has been raised for Women’s Aid, helping the charity to provide essential support services to women in crisis. Furthermore, the club volunteers with local Hockey ID groups, helping to run sessions and matches, so that hockey is a sport everyone can get involved with
It is a club that is moving from strength to strength, demonstrated by its impressive run of results across all four teams and the dramatic growth in membership. An eagle eye should be kept on the club’s performances and events for the rest of the year, as it promises to be one with plenty to celebrate.
