Laois 4 Genesis 1
Leinster Women’s Division 5/6 Shield Final
Laois Hockey Club travelled to Rathfarnham on Saturday to compete in the final of the Leinster Women’s Division 5/6 Shield against Dublin side Genesis.
Goals from Emma Brophy, Rachel Igoe, Yvonne Hargroves and Ania O’Sullivan helped Laois on their way to a marvellous victory.
Laois hit the ground running with some excellent defending from the experienced back line of Liz Poustie, Claire Igoe and Susan and Karen Fingleton, which kept the sides scoreless during the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Laois scored straight from the whistle, with Rachel Igoe advancing up the left-hand side pitch before playing a beautiful pass to Brophy who successfully found the backboard.
Igoe then followed her assist with a splendid finish to make it 2-0 at half time.
It was almost three, but the Genesis goalkeeper pulled out an incredible save to deny Gloria Lewis.
Genesis fought back bravely in the second half with the Stillorgan club pulling a goal back at the start of the third quarter.
The tempo of the match increased after that, seriously testing the nerves of both sets of players and supporters.
Laois goalkeeper Marina Packer made a remarkable goal-line clearance at the end of the quarter to maintain the lead, before captain Aisling Byrne took over the tending duties for the closing stretch.
Laois added fresh legs in the final quarter, with Yvonne Hargroves coming into the forwards and Eimear O’Sullivan stepping into the backs.
Midfield players Eleanor Bagnall and Ania O’Sullivan then combined to play in Hargroves, who capitalised on a break in defence allowing her to convert Laois’s third goal of the game.
Laois put the game to bed in the closing moments when O’Sullivan added a fourth goal to ensure Laois were crowned champions.
LAOIS: Aisling Byrne (captain), Karen Fingleton (vice captain), Marina Packer, Liz Poustie, Susan Fingleton, Claire Igoe, Ruth Wilkinson, Eleanor Bagnall, Emma Brophy, Abigail Clarke, Gloria Lewis, Yvonne Hargroves, Rachel Igoe, Esmee Van Den Bergh, Ania O’Sullivan, Eimear O’Sullivan.
SEE ALSO – Leinster Ladies MFC: Eight goal Laois blitz Louth to set up Longford semi final
