Girls crash out of Senior Cup

Foyle College crashed out of the Senior Schools’ Hockey Cup on Saturday to a very strong Ballymena Academy side at St Columb’s Park.

The visitors lived up to their favourites tag and played a very impressive style of hockey.

Foyle won the toss and opted for centre pass, however it wasn’t long before the visitors stole possession. The first five minutes of the game was played in the midfield with Foyle breaking down any Ballymena advances.

On seven minutes the visitors won a penalty corner from which a strike at goal got a deflection off a defender’s stick to put them 1-0 ahead.

The home side fought back from the restart but found it difficult to retain possession of the ball. They created an excellent opportunity to draw level when Demi Harper found herself with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Ballymena managed some last ditch defending to deny Foyle the opportunity to draw level. This was the home side’s best scoring chance in the first half and perhaps the match as Ballymena played a very composed game of hockey.

At half-time just a single goal separated the teams with the Foyle defence having had a very busy opening period. The experience of Amy Chambers at full back and Megan McClintock in goals denied Ballymena any further score and allowed Alexandra Graham and Hilary Leeson to push forward from the wide back positions.

The second half started at the same high tempo of the first period but once again the visitors showed the greater ability at retaining possession and moving the ball about the pitch to create space.

Heather Manning playing on the left side of the midfield had an excellent game for Foyle, as she worked tirelessly in slowing up Ballymena’s attacks in open play. Bronagh McKinley and Holly Rankin were equally hard working but could not break through the organised Ballymena midfield.

Ballymena claimed their second goal of the match from another set piece with a very clinical strike from the top of the circle. This gave the visitors a more comfortable lead that allowed them to press forward with even greater intensity.

With 15 minutes remaining, the visitors scored a third goal which left the Foyle girls a very tough target to chase. The home side tried a variety of formations to find a way through the formidable Ballymena midfield but to no avail.

A fourth goal in the last ten minutes underlined the quality of this Ballymena side that look like they could go a long way in the cup this season.

Foyle 1st XI will now play in the Senior Plate competition which starts after Christmas and in the meantime will turn their attention to the Derry and Antrim League. This Saturday the 2nd XI take centre stage when they host Methodist College Belfast in the third Round of the McDowell Cup.

The team would like to thank Richard Fairman for umpiring and to all the supporters who gave the team great encouragement on Saturday.

Foyle College: Bronagh McKinley, Holly Rankin, Megan McClintock, Hannah Walker, Amy Chambers, Hilary Leeson, Alexandra Graham, Heather Manning, Alison Maybin, Alisha McCandless, Jenny Wallace, Demi Harper, Tory Lapsley, Katie Christie, Rebecca Magee, Aimee Doherty.