Salerno pipped in hockey final, but Connacht Hockey still celebrates

The Connacht Hockey community was celebrating on twin fronts this week.

Having worked tirelessly for more than a decade to try to gain access to a second hockey pitch in the city, Connacht Hockey received news of a sports capital grant for a regional hockey facility at Millers Lane.

It was ideal timing for the campaigners as the city hosted the famous Kate Russell tournament - the senior All Ireland school girls' competition at Dangan. And to add to the celebrations Connacht champions, Galway's Salerno finished runners up, losing to Methodist College Belfast in the final game of the competition.

Salerno needed a win to claim the tournament honours and bring the title back to Connacht for only the third time in 42 years but Methody, needing only a draw, had other ideas.

Twice the Galway hosts put it up to their Belfast opponents going ahead through Grace Walsh and a Anna Costello penalty corner. However, each time Methody came back through Ruby Tindall and Jiwon Hong to deny Salerno.

Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships results: Crescent Comp 2 (H Doupe, S Fitzgerald ) Kilkenny College 0; Salerno 2 (R Heaney, A Folan ) Holy Child Killiney 2 (O Napier, A Purcell ); Kilkenny College 0 Methodist College Belfast 2 (J Lamont, S Moffett ); Crescent Comp 1 (C Horan ) Holy Child Killiney 0; Salerno 2 (G Walsh, A Costello ) Methodist College Belfast 2 (J Hong, R Tindall ) Final Standings: 1. Methodist College Belfast 8pts (+3 ) 2. Salerno 6pts (+2 ) 3. Crescent Comp 6pts (0 ) 4. Holy Child Killiney 5pts (0 ) 5. Kilkenny College 1pt (-5 ).

Squad: Grace Kavanagh (GK ), Ava McGauran, Ailbhe Folan (vice captain ), Joanne O’Flaherty, Anna Costello, Emma Dillon, ilis McDonnell, Leah Ruane (captain ), Sinead Burke, Ciara Dunne, Amy Keenan, Isabelle Howard, Sophie Beatty, Laoise Medley, Roisin Heaney, Grace Walsh, Lauren O’Flaherty, Ella Harte (GK ) Reserves: Aoife Summerville, Maeve Moran, Aoibhin Deasy, Anna Harty (injured ); Coach: Gerry Heaney Assistant coach/team manager: Katie Osborne.

 

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