Write a commentKilkeel 5-1 Newry 1’s
Newry played their third Kirk Cup group stage match taking place in Kilkeel on their brand new surface. Newry started the brighter of the two teams pinning the home side back for the open exchanges. As the half wore on Kilkeel grew into the game and were starting to look threatening on the break using their speed to great effect. Newry failed to clear the ball from their circle and Kilkeel made them pay dearly as they took a one nil lead. Only a matter of minutes later it was two as the home side scored from their first short corner of the game as Newry failed to get to the rebound first. Before Newry knew what was happening it was three as Kilkeel were showing how clinical they could be in front of goal. Newry were still getting chances of their own and were unlucky when a Matty Russell short corner was cleared off the line. Before the half time break Kilkeel made it four and effectively finishing the game.
Newry again started the half the better of the two teams but as in the first half Kilkeel soon got into it can could have easily added to their four first half goals but were more wasteful in front of goal in the second half. However they did get their fifth when they stole the ball from Newry in midfield and sliced through the defence for an easy tap in at the back post. Newry did manage to get a consolation goal as they were awarded a stroke for a stick tackle on the line which Colin McKnight slotted home. Newry now have a break before they play South Antrim in their final group game in which they will be hoping to get back on the winning trail.
Team: Beck, C. Henning, D. England, A. Baird, J. Greer, C. McKnight, N. McKnight, R. Irwin, M. Russell, K. McCombe, M. McCullough, K. Fletcher, A. Irwin
Newry Olympic Ladies 1st XI 7 – Donaghadee 2nd XI 1
On Saturday 23rd September 2017, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI played Donaghdee at home in the first match of their new season.
Donaghadee won the toss and chose pass back. Within the first 20 seconds Donaghadee kept possession where their centre forward drove the ball up into the Newry circle and scored. With this early goal Newry were quick to retaliate and were soon to win a short corner where Shannon Robinson took a shot on goal and the ball was deflected into the goal off a Donaghadee stick. The scoreline didn't remain 1 each for long as through great team effort in mid field, Taja McIlroy played a great ball to Kathryn Baird who sent the ball into the circle from outside the 25m line where Laverne Inns inside the circle deflected the ball into the goal for her first of the game. Newry maintained strong possession where they had a few more chances but Donaghadees defence kept the score 2-1 until half time.
During the second half Newry continued to keep the pressure on Donaghadee right from the start with some great play by forwards Stephanie Smart and Inns and it wasn't long before Newry scored again. Smart yet again won a short corner for Newry where Laverne Inns scored from a straight strike deflected off the keeper into the net. Donaghadee didn't have many chances as Newry showed strong defence from Laura Simpson and Abbie Blakley who made some great passes down the pitch to the forwards where Robinson played a splendid pass into to Inns who popped the ball into the net scoring to complete her hat trick.
Newry continued to play hard and by the final whistle the score was 7-1 to Newry. Player of the match was captain Kathryn Baird in midfield.
NOHC Team: K Baird (Captain), T McIlroy, L Simpson, A Blakely, V Lewis, L Gamble, C Lambe, S Rollins, G Davidson, DL Inns, S Robinson, S Smart, A Murphy
Result
Kilkeel 3’s 1-1 Newry 2’s
Goal Scorer: Alan McMinn
