Saturday, 8th April saw Botanic 1sts line up against a strong Clontarf side. It was a glorious sunny day out in Three Rock Hockey club for the division 5/6 cup final game that kicked off at 11am.
It was an exciting and very competitive game with end to end play. Botanic scored first with a goal dinked in from Lorraine Killeen. But Clontarf were quick to equalise with a ball that hit off Botanic’s post that they got a touch on and into the goal.
The second half saw Clontarf take the lead with a second goal. Tense times for Botanic followedย (and all of the many supporters on the sideline) butย the teamย persevered and in the dying moments of the game were awarded a short corner. The final whistle was blown. Gillian McAuliffe pushed the ball out to Angie Boran at the top of the D, where she took a hit straight on goal. With aย bit of a deflection from a Clontarf player, the ball rose up and over all of the players and into the back of the net. It certainly was a very exciting way to finish off the game and it kept Botanic in it. It was 2-2 after the short corner.
It was onto extra time then, five minutes each way. There were no goals in this period. Then onto the dreaded penalty flicks. The first round of penalty flicks finished 4-4. Sudden death followed this and unfortunately it was here that Botanic’s luck had run out. Clontarf won the game and the cupย in sudden death. Well done to them on their win!
It was a disappointing end for Botanic who had worked so hard but the team can be so proud at how well they played throughout the game. It was a tough encounter and all of the players really dug deep and left everything out on the pitch. The huge amount of supporters on the sideline also helped spur the team on; it was great to hear so many positive cheering voices and really is a credit to the club spirit.
Onwards and upwards to division 4 now. Theย team can still be so proud of their successful season. They were runners up in the Leinster Division 5/6 Cup, got to the semi final of the Irish Hockey Challenge Cup and are the currentย division 5 league champions for 2016/2017! What a season it has been!
