St. Kilian’s and Sutton Park gave us a thrilling final in KH on Friday 15th March.
We made three positional changes to the team for the final. Captain Robin Macarulay moving to left mid. Tristan Molphy to left wing and Ben McTiernan to centre forward. Would it work? Read on!
From the start both sides set out in a positive attacking frame of mind and gave us thrilling hockey. Goalkeepers and back fours were engaged early on and it led to great goalmouth excitement. After 12 minutes St. Kilian’s made the breakthrough when Ben McTiernan broke through and smashed home from the right side of the circle across the keeper to put St. Kilian’s 1-0 up. Back came Sutton Park who scored after 18 minutes to level the game at 1-1. Both teams had chances, but it stayed 1-1 to the break.
Half Time: St. Kilian’s 1, Sutton Park 1
From the start of the second half Sutton Park poured forward and won a corner. St. Kilian’s defended well to clear the danger. Both sides had corners but failed to convert. After 19 minutes Sutton Park won a corner. Ben McTiernan raced out, won the ball and raced down the pitch and played a delicious pass to Tristan Molphy who drew the keeper and slipped the ball to Jake Dempsey who slotted home to put St. Kilian’s 2-1 up. End to end it continued and Sutton forced a corner on the 25-minute mark and scored from a switch right to level the game. It ended 2-2 and went to 1v1s. Daniel Sheeran saved the first and so did Sutton. Robin stepped forward and despite crashing into the keeper and falling on to the ground he managed to sweep home on the reverse to put us 1-0 up. Sutton Park levelled with their next 1v1. Up stepped Jake Nourse who finished to put us 2-1 up. Daniel saved again and we went on to win 2-1. Thanks to Dan Rees for all his assistance and coaching with the boys.
This is a historic three in a row for the 3rd year boys who make up the bulk of the squad: they have won the Under 13 B, Minor B and now the Junior B leagues. This is their fifth final in three years. Well done boys!
Tom Parsons, Head Coach
