The two under 16 squads from the club took a trip to Greenfields Hockey Club in Galway on Saturday 12th April for theย weekend. A great weekend of hockey was had by all who went down. A true Galway welcome was laid on by Catherine Moore fromย Greenfields and her participating team.
From Botanic, the three under 16s junior coaches, Anne Dermody, Ronnie Stacey and Nora Lee brought the two squads down to theย west for the weekend. Parents Kathryn Deignan, Orla Kelly and Una McTiernan were on hand to help out too.
First on the pitch at the NUI complex in Galway was Nora’s squad with subs from Anne’s team. The team were outstanding andย against the run of play clocked up two goals . A stunned Greenfields threw everything at the team in the second half andย pulled back two but Botanic held on for a draw in the end.
Anne’s squad were up next and Greenfields had a super team with top class talent, quickly peppering the Botanic goal.ย Greenfields went one up but Botanic grabbed a great goal back. However, Greenfields pulled ahead and hung on to a well earnedย 2- 1 victory. After all of the matches, Greenfields HC laid on a great spread and packed up goodie bags for the girls for theย hostel.
That evening, the teams and parents went for a lovely meal out in Galway and then back to the hostel for the Easter bunnyย challenge – each of the four girls rooms set out to bedeck their group in Easter bunny costumes. The results wereย outstanding! Extraordinary creative talents exist alongside great hockey skills.
Day two of this hockey weekend saw retail therapy extreme. Followed by a windy walk in Salthill and a fine pizza lunchย sponsored by the club.
Five cars full of tired but happy people returned to Botanic on the Sunday. A first Junior overnightย trip ended where it started. MaryEsther English, the Junior Coordinator can be proud of a fantastic season and the futureย definitely looks bright for Botanic.
