Hockey Update

Coláiste Iognáid 5 - Salerno 0

Colaiste Iognaid qualified for the Connacht Senior Schools Palmer Cup semi-final with a superb display against their arch rivals Salerno in Dangan on Wednesday.

Weather wise, it was a game of two halves, the first played in glorious winter sunshine and the second in torrential showers. However, on the pitch it was one way traffic with the Jes putting in a fine controlled performance, dominating in all sectors of the pitch.

Were it not for an outstanding performance from Salerno goalie Vickie Hynes, gallant defending by Clare Watson & Niamh O'Flaherty& some narrow misses by the Jes forwards the score could have been higher.

The Jes back four, Hannah Gormally,Clodagh Kennedy Ailbhe Finnerty & Rachel Bradley and second half replacement Grace O’Donnell, never put a foot wrong and ensured that goalie Natasha Cooke had a quiet afternoon. Sisters Elaine and Michelle Carey and Alison Ryan controlled midfield and provided a continuous supply of good ball to the inter-changing forwards, Ciara Power, Maeve Russell, Kyla Gillen, Aisling Dunne, Aoife Codyre & hat-trick hero Ingrid Murphy.

Jes took the lead on 15 minutes when Hannah Gormally opened the scoring from a short corner.Three minutes later Ingrid Murphy added a second. She picked up a through ball from Clodagh Kennedy & scored with a good shot from an acute angle on the right. Just before half time Murphy added her second. She took possession from a good pass from Michelle Carey and buried the ball in the Salerno goal, this time from the left.

Salerno started the second half well. Emma Johnson made some good runs from midfield and Rebecca Dillon put through some good ball to the forwards. However, Jes added their fourth on ten minutes. Alison Ryan fed a cross pitch pass to Elaine Carey who dribbled into the circle and scored with a shot to the right hand corner which gave Vickie Hynes no chance. They continued to pile on the pressure & soon added their fifth. Ailbhe Finnerty carried the ball up the right hand touch line & crossed to Ingrid Murphy in the centre of the circle. She made no mistake with a superb shot.

Jes now go on to meet their other great rivals Taylors Hill in the semi-final.