Greenfields edge closer to senior league title

Greenfields 2

Galway 0

Greenfields Hockey Club moved ever-closer to claiming the Connacht Senior League after overcoming age-old rivals Galway Hockey Club on Sunday in a game that was played at a high tempo, despite the atrocious conditions with heavy downpours of rain.

Greenfields  – who welcomed Clodagh Grealy and Neasa McGettigan back to their side – started the game positively with Elaine Hall causing problems for the Galway defence with her meandering runs and near perfect distribution throughout the pitch.

Greenfields took the lead after 15 minutes after great work by Liz Tighe and Grealy found Trish Garrett in the circle. Garrett took a shot that was saved by Galway Keeper Tara Browne, but the ball broke to Garrett who raised it over Browne into the roof of the net.

McGettigan had a chance to double the Greenfields’ lead a few minutes later after great work from Hall, but her shot flew high and wide of the goal. The remainder of the first half saw Greenfields push for their second goal with great work from Ellie Noone, McGettigan and Tighe in midfield but the Galway defence of Emma Glanville, Hannah Gormely and Sadhbh Gavin dealt with the threats.

Galway too had their chances, the best of which fell to Aoife Codyre, but she was unable to find a way past Sinead Collins in the Greenfields’ goal as the rain continued to pour down.

Galway commenced the second half at a blistering pace, right from the tip off they worked their way up the field, forcing Collins to make some fine saves. Galway played a far more attacking game in the second half and pushed hard for the equaliser but the Greenfields back line of Grealy, Sarah McDonald, Kelly Dunleavy and Aine Collins dealt with everything that came their way.

Greenfields continued to push for a second goal, with Mary McDonald, Rebecca Gilligan and Clodagh Kennedy all looking dangerous, and they eventually doubled their lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Noone worked hard on the left before threading a wonderful ball through to Alma Whelan. She laid it off for Garrett who brought the ball into the top of the circle and struck a shot that dipped into the back of the goal.

Despite this Galway pushed on to create more opportunities with Glanville coming close, but Collins was in superb form to keep them at bay as Greenfields made it nine wins form nine and, with just three games remaining, have almost certainly secured the league title.