Dublin University Ladies Hockey Club (DULHC) first team continued their unbeaten streak in the league by defeating Avoca 2-1 on Saturday. After suffering their first defeat of the season to top-division Loreto in the Senior Cup second round last week, DULHC were successful in bouncing back and maintaining their position at the top of the Leinster Division 1 League after eight games.
Winning six and drawing one of their previous seven league games, DULHC took control of the game from the first whistle and were unlucky not to go in front within the first five minutes when the Avoca goalkeeper did well to keep out Ailish Long’s best efforts to score. Trinity eventually got the breakthrough when a strong drive into the D was put away low in the corner by Co-Captain Jenny Long, who skilfully used the reverse side of her stick to get the better of the Avoca goalkeeper. Avoca, however, levelled the score just before half-time through a well-converted short corner, which arose from a lapse in concentration by the Trinity defence.
Frustrated to have conceded so close to the break, the team went in at halftime knowing they had a fight on their hands. The second half was an all-round more tense affair as both sides sought out a much-desired winner. Despite tireless pressing from Louise McCollum and Susie Osborne high up the pitch, DULHC were still struggling to convert their chances. The strength and conditioning courses the team have been taking were put to good effect this during this physical phase of the game, as tackles flew in thick and fast. With both sides going increasingly close to scoring, it was again Long to the rescue, to the delight of her teammates.
She took control of the ball from a short corner before sweeping it towards the back post. In a moment of high drama, it struck three defenders before finally squeezing into the net to give Trinity the advantage with just 10 minutes to go. After the jubilant celebrations died down, the team faced a fraught period of defending.
Closing out the result of a closely contested match with 10 minutes to go is a hard thing to do in sport at any level, but it is becoming increasingly routine for DULHC as they tighten their grip on first place in Division 1. DULHC now sit three points clear at the top of the league, while also having a game in hand means they will have the opportunity to extend their lead to six before the Christmas break. Meanwhile Avoca’s loss means they sit second bottom of the table.
If DULHC can maintain this form they are in with a serious chance of making the Irish Hockey League (IHL) playoffs. A win against North Kildare on Wednesday would not only extend their remarkable winning streak to nine games, it would bring the club to within touching distance of the IHL.
